Landlords Reference

[chelsea_girl]

I'm currently living with my mother, along with my husband and 3 teenage children. As I was evicted by my last landlord for rent arrears, I've been unable to find any home so far, since May 2010, and have been living with her since then.

As it's 15 months since, I'm wondering if I need landlord's references now to rent a house. If not I'm laughing, cos I have rent money, plus the deposit for the new home.

[sandyRoe]

You don't need to tell a prospective new landlord that you were ever a tenant. Invent some story about why you're looking to rent now.

[chelsea_girl]

such as?

[sandyRoe]

You need to move to that area because an elderly relation is becoming frail and need looking after?

[Twenty20]

If you had rent arrears and were evicted it's probably you have a ccj? This would show up on any credit check which the landlord does and most probably would rule you out as a tenant.

Also, most checks will ask for previous addresses for at least the last 3 years. These would be checked to see if you were registered at those addresses. It's very probably that if you lie you'll get found out.

The alternative sometimes is to offer a larger deposit, pay 6 months rent upfront, or offer a guarantor (or all three).

[bushbaby_de]

Its unlawful to ask for a deposit that large, Twenty20. Agree a guarantor may be required though.

[chelsea_girl]

sadly bushbaby, twenty20 is right, they do ask for 6 months rent up front, they asked me to come up with £3,600 before now, for another place we were interested in.

[TonyV]

Chelsea - have you repaid your ex landlord the rent you owe them now?

[milly143]

That's 6 months rent though, which is completely seperate from a deposit. They can ask for 6 months rent up front.

Twenty is right in that they will require details of previous addresses and will run credit checks. I've always found it's best to be up front with the letting agent from the start when I had a shockingly bad credit rating and needed to move. It would be best if you can find someone who will act as a guarantor (sp) as long as you are sure you will be able to afford the monthly rent.

You might also find that renting through a private landlord, such as the ads you see in the paper might not be so fussy about references, etc.

[chelsea_girl]

No Tony, I havent, but I am repaying it.