Help needed regarding references

Phoebe-

Hey guys,

I posted a while ago that I have a really dodgy landlord, and the advice was to really move out asap which is what I am doing, but I'm a bit concerned regarding references.

Basically, to give you a bit of background history, I've been living at my current property for over 4 years. In that time my landlord has broken every rule in the book. He's never had the gas saftey check done, always demanded rent in cash, let himself into the property when I was home, had all his mail delivered here as he pretened to companies he lived here...etc etc etc.

Over the last few months, lots of loan companies and debt collectors have called our house phone asking for him as they think he lives here. And in amungst this it came about that he didn't have permission from his mortage lender to let out the property. We've worked that out because all his mortage letters etc come here.

He's fallen into arrears with the mortage, and he won't return my calls etc, and a debt counsellor person from the mortage company has been round to the house trying to find the landlord regarding the money he's in arrears with his mortage.

We've been advised by several people that it sounds like he may be being made bankrupt, and that repossession proceedings could be starting any day now, so we were advised to get out asap.

So that's what we're doing, and we are going to view some properties tomorrow and fingers crossed we can take one of them and get out of here asap.

However, the problem we have is that seen as the landlord ignores my calls etc, and he changes his phone number regularly without telling me and we don't have an address for him - I highly doubt we'll be able to get references from him.

So the letting agent will obviously want references, and I'm not sure what to do? My Dad's advice was to say as I'm only 21 that this is mine and my partners first time moving out from home, but when they do a credit search (which probs won't be great either) they'll see that I've lived at this address. So my Dad's advice was to say it was my Mum's addressand my partner lived there with home. And then I can get references from work or something.

He said if I tell the truth about the landlord it may sound like a 'line' and they may not believe me and I could risk not getting the house, and loosing the agency fees. But lying doesn't seem like a good idea, but neither does telling the truth! I'm so worried, and don't know what to do as it's not our fault this has happened.

Does anyone have any advice please? Anything at all would be so appreciated as I'm really stressed right now!

TrickyDicky101

I would say that if you are found to have lied before you have moved in then it would create a terrible impression and scupper your chances of moving in.

I am not a landlord so my view is only based on my personal opinion, but i would have thought it would be best to be honest with the potential landlord and explain the situation you find yourself in. If the landlord wants evidence of you having paid rent on time perhaps you could provide bank statements showing the rental payments being made/or you removing cash from the account to pay the rent?

Ankatden

4 years in a place counts as a decent enough reference, we would trust length of time someone in a property more than a piece of paper saying Miss X has been a wonderful tenant with no problems.

Despite what you may think LLs know other LLs, Letting agents know most of them as well so if he has a number of places then its likely his "working" practices are well known hence the likely question you will get asked is why did you rent from such a chancer in the first place and then why did you stay there.

Telling the truth to a LA may exclude you from some properties but a good LA will see beyond that.

McKneff

Never, ever lie about something like this.

The truth is much easier to remember because of what it is.

You have to remember which lie you told, when and why and invariably get caught out.

Like another poster says, 4 years in one place is a decent reference for any landlord.

Good luck,

BitterAndTwisted

DO NOT TELL ANY LIES!

Just explain to the LA the reason why you are seeking to move after having been in the current property for four years. Dodgy landlords being repossessed aren't that unusual alas.

Phoebe-

Thanks so much for your advice.

We're actually moving area a bit because our house was so cheap we can't afford to stay in Cardiff now, so we're moving up to Pontypridd so my landlord won't be 'known' as such to the letting agents up there.

I am definatly going to take your advice with telling the truth, as I agree that will be the best option really...as I hate lying anyway! We've paid him via direct debit for the rent for the last 6 ish months as he hasn't really cared as long as he gets the money, so I have no other proof of being able to pay the rent for the last 4 years. Also, my bank statements online only date back to last month.

However, I have proof of the tennancy that started in August last year as another one was drawn up when my partner moved in - and I also have the receipts and details from the letting agents from 2006 when I first moved in - so I have that as 'proof' I've been here for 4 years....so if I can prove like you've advised I've been here that long, so I obviously must have paid the rent, and I'm showing I'm a long term loyal tennant - would this be enough do you think?

Phoebe-

....Anyone?

westlondonbuyer

One of the most common reasons that tenancies end is because tenants are fed up with their landlord or letting agency.

There is no harm whatsoever in being straightforward with your new landlord about this, particularly if you have a good payment record/credit check/employer's reference.

poppysarah

Tell them he's a rogue landlord and being repo'd. And ask if they'd value his reference.

4 years in once place means you're a good tenant I should think.

tbs624

If you hadn't paid you rent on time then you quite simply would not have been able to stay put for 4 years. Even an amateur LL isn't that daft.

Don't feel you have to go via LAs btw there are plenty of LLs in the Rhonda Cynon Taff area who self-manage their properties. Just check out that BTL/CTL status before signing up

Phoebe-

I'm going to sound so dumb, I'm sorry! But what's a BTL/CTL status?