Moving home post BR

LuckyRedRobin

Hi everyone

We are looking to move home post BR, and are looking to move into a rented property that is cheaper than where we are at present, but I am concerned as we seem to be coming up against a number of obstacles:

1) The whole credit check scenario. I guess as we are both BR we will fail a credit check, but I understand you have to pay for this each time you go through an estate agent (I think we paid £150 before we moved in where we are now) - is this the case?

2) I spoke to one estate agent who advised me that we would either need to provide a guarantor or provide the full term rent up front - is this normal? We could maybe find 2-3 months rent up front but certainly not the whole term!

3) If we were to go through the same estate agent as we are currently with, would they want to run another credit check on us?

We absolutely have to move as our current rent is too expensive (I've since had a baby and am now on unpaid maternity leave - an extra mouth plus less income means cutbacks), and I thought the stresses of BR were behind us but I'm starting to worry now that we won't be accepted anywhere.

Can anyone offer any advice please on the best way to go about this?

Thanks for reading

dancingfairy

I'm not sure I would bother paying for credit checks since you both are bankrupt - you know you'll fail.
Yes if going through an agent you would need either a guarantor or 6 months rent up front.
Would the agents do a new credit check - yes probably because they seem to want to get money out of you at every opportunity (we had to even though not bankrupt or any problems with paying rent late or anything) - they say things change- :mad: you could always ask them?
Other than that I guess it's looking at private rentals via say gumtree/friends of friends/papers etc?
Sorry I can't be more helpful/positive - keep looking and I'm sure you'll find somewhere nice but maybe agents aren't the place to be looking given your circumstances?
Perhaps the council has a list of approved landlords? or maybe if you know any students they can get you a list of approve landlords from their college/uni?
df

philnicandamy

LuckyRedRobin wrote: »

Hi everyone

We are looking to move home post BR, and are looking to move into a rented property that is cheaper than where we are at present, but I am concerned as we seem to be coming up against a number of obstacles:

1) The whole credit check scenario. I guess as we are both BR we will fail a credit check, but I understand you have to pay for this each time you go through an estate agent (I think we paid £150 before we moved in where we are now) - is this the case? sadly it will be...BUT before they start the wheels on a credit check tell them your bankrupt beforehand...it'll save everyone in the long run & who knows they may be ok with it

2) I spoke to one estate agent who advised me that we would either need to provide a guarantor or provide the full term rent up front - is this normal? We could maybe find 2-3 months rent up front but certainly not the whole term! Most i've ever seen is 6mnths up front & a guarantor but after bankruptcy yep its pretty normal

3) If we were to go through the same estate agent as we are currently with, would they want to run another credit check on us? may do..may not depends on their rules but as I said...tell them & see what happens they may be fine with it if you've been a good tennant etc

We absolutely have to move as our current rent is too expensive (I've since had a baby and am now on unpaid maternity leave - an extra mouth plus less income means cutbacks), and I thought the stresses of BR were behind us but I'm starting to worry now that we won't be accepted anywhere.

Can anyone offer any advice please on the best way to go about this?

Thanks for reading

a few thoughts...

ani_26

I've had a similar problem, although i was'nt previously renting. Estate Agents and Letting Agents are a complete no,no, well for me anyway. Yes, tell them you've gone bankrupt first, before you waste their time and your money. Private rented. Even they want to be 100% sure they will receive their rent. If you have an employer, then you may have more success than me. The council do have lists of approved private landlords, but they are like gold dust,too. I tried gumtree, but they tend to be largely, rooms in shared houses, which may not be suitable for a family.I tried newspapers, even walking down roads with lots of To Let signs, ringing all the phone numbers and knocking on all the doors. Every single one said, i'm sorry its gone. It can be quite heartbreaking, as lots of people simply forget to stop advertising, wherever it be.


I've eventually found somewhere, although its only temporary, and i'm terrified of being thrown out, if the truth gets out.But your situation sounds rather more hopeful than mine, and i hope it all works out for you.

Nohope xx

LuckyRedRobin

Thanks for your advice everyone, we start today by going to look at a few different areas, then we will need to speak to the agents and see if they will entertain us... that will be the interesting part... I will post back and let you know how we get on, hopefully our experience will be useful for others

ani_26

All the best, LuckyRedRobin. With a name like that, you should have all the luck in the world. I know its really unsettling when you can't find anywhere to live, the basic neccessity of life.

Nohope xx