Credit rating/private landlords

Stipend

I am about to enter into negotiations with my credit card companies, either directly or via the DCCC, to look at making my credit card payments more managable. I have always managed to find the minimum payments, and still can, but the interest rates means that I am making virtually no progress there.

If successful, I am aware that this will affect my credit rating whilst I am paying off, and for 6 years once I have paid off.

Not being able to get credit in the form of credit cards, shopping cards, etc does not concern me. To put it in a nutshell, I had a gambling problem which I came to terms with in April of this year. I do not want to abdicate my responsibilities and I have every intention of paying back the money I wasted (and it was wasted).

Since being "clean" I have found -with the help of a second weekend job- that I am more than capable of living within my means and saving up for stuff that I want/need. Taking out credit no longer concerns me and since cutting my spending habits I have enjoyed a better quality of life - despite the occasional quiet moments where I look at the total owed and think: "what a stupid bu**er. What have I done?"

I know that running up debts by gambling splits opinion on this forum. Some see it as an abdication of responsibility and feel that the person involved deserves all the hardship they subsequently get; others are more sympathetic (usually the ones who have fought/are fighting their own personal demon). I can appreciate both points of view and there are times where I am angry with myself. All I can say is it can be a powerful addiction. Either way, I am not looking for sympathy or special treatment to be let off my responsibilities; just space in which to make changes and an acceptance that I am trying my hardest to turn things around.

The biggest concern I have,however, is accomodation. I have plans for the end of 2009 to move in with a friend of mine. We have budgetted and it will be affordable. It's just that by that time, I will probably be well underway with my credit agreements and I am concerned that if a private landlord runs a credit check on me, then he may well knock us both back. Do they and can they do credit checks on potential tenants, or do they simply go off references and the security of a cash deposit?

A cash deposit I can probably arrange. A shattered credit score is something else though.

skintandscared_2

I would be surprised if a private landlord did a credit check. I'd expect them to want references, deposit and rent up front, but that's about it. I would only expect a credit check from a letting agency.

Best of luck to you. It takes a lot of courage to admit mistakes and put them right. I really hope it all works out for you.