private renting with no agency

newcook

Hi all!

Im after a bit of advice regarding renting. At the moment I rent a flat via an agency but next year I would like to rent a house. Unfortunately because of bad decisions moneywise a couple of years ago, my credit rating is not that great so even though I am much better with my money nowadays, I doubt I will be able to rent a house via an agency as I will probably fail the credit check (had a similar problem when I first took on my flat but my landlord kindly told the agency he was happy for me to rent it without a credit check).

Anyway, I know my local paper advertises privately rented accommodation but how would I go about making sure I am protected contract wise?! Is there a document I can pick up from somewhere that legally covers me?
I would hate to find a nice place to rent and pay my deposits/rent etc and be kicked out and not have a leg to stand on!!!

NEH

Some private landlords will also want to credit check you, something to bear in mind....Our new one did...

We were concerned renting privately, but we were sent the form AT5 and then once that as signed we were send the shorthold tenanacy agreement (we live in Scotland) . Hopefully your new landlord would do the same.

theartfullodger

Talk to as many landlords as you can, ideally face2face... and tell 'em everything...

What Landlords & agents hate is surprises, eg taking up references & then finding out a financial nasty when they were led to expect perfection

However if you explained it all in advance there's a chance someone might be reasonable, especially if you can show you are now a good bet (eg steady job, loads of salary, no debts, happy current Landlord, clean & tidy house, don't smoke, don't have 3 untrained incontinent Rotties etc etc etc..). Maybe be prepared to show bank statements, rent payment record etc etc...

Cheers!

Lodger

discplayer

You can buy sample ASTs on paper or as a download.
However, a landlord handling it themselves should still offer you a pretty standard AST agreement. If they don't it's a bad sign.

I rent a flat out avoiding agents but still use one of the credit and referencing companies that agencies use, as NEH said, this not unusual.

A LL might overlook the historic problems if more recent and other checks turned out well, especially if you told them in advance and maybe offered extra deposit.

newcook

Thanks for that – I can prove via bank statements/payslips I can afford the rent and my landlord/current agency would provide a reference stating I paid on time and that I am a trustworthy tenant etc. I just didn’t know if there was a form of some sort that proves I am a tenant until such and such a date (I currently have an annual tenancy with my letting agency).

ETA: was about to click thanks to the other 2 posts but the button has dissapeared!!!!

sequence

Agencies are more likely to make your renting experience worse rather than better, so I wouldn't worry any more with a private landlord than through an agency.

discplayer

The form you're looking for is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST), it's the standard tenancy agreement and almost certainly what you have currently.

Calling it a form is good. As sequence says, letting agents don't necessarily help. The agreement you have currently will have been obtained as a standard form by the agents some time ago and despite probably charging you, and possibly the landlord too, for writing up the contract they will have just filled in the blanks.

robin_banks

Also ask to prove that they've got permission to rent it out.

Something many 'amateur' landlords might forget.

theartfullodger

robin_banks wrote: »

Also ask to prove that they've got permission to rent it out.

Something many 'amateur' landlords might forget.

And, if you're feeling pushy, that they own the place...

Some places (eg Gumtree) are allegedly to be popular with tenants arranging new ASTs to new tenants, often when never having paid rent in't first place.

The really really good tenant/crooks arrange a new mortgage on the place... (ooohhhh!!!! )

Cheers!!

Lodger

Tuscan

other option if funds allow is to offer some rent up front say 3-6 months, ive spoken to several agents recently and have all said if i fail the check but all my other refs/income are good then in most cases they will be happy to except the rent in advance option..

kerrypn

Im by no means "in the know" but wanted to share my experience. I went BR in 2009(doesnt get worse than that credit wise I suppose) and we had to move out of our mortgaged home to rent privately. I really panicked and expected to have to pay 6 months up front, which to be honest I could not have done. We saw our house we rent on rightmove, and as luck would have it also saw the private ad on gumtree. I contacted the LL direct and was 100% honest with her, and she has been a fantastic LL-we paid standard deposit and month upfront. LL said she always goes on how she feels when she meets tenants. She has said we are fantastic tenants, we are never late with rent and we even bought her an Xmas present. When we phoned agents we got varying degrees of answers, but most seemed to be happy to go ahead if we had a guarantor. But our LL didnt ask for this either.

Just to let you know that even with REALLY bad credit, it can still work out.