Renting a property with a private landlord

welshsue

Hi

I currently rent a property and am looking to move fairly soon. I would prefer to find a private landlord rather than having to go through an agent (they charge for their services and most credit check), being on disability benefits a lot of them won't touch me.

Are there any good websites where you can find private rentals or am I just best to ask around/check local papers etc??
Thanks in advance

aintshesweet

I found ours in the local paper. That's probably your best bet.

SwanseaPropertyAgents

Its not just the agent that will not accept you, but also the landlords. Some landlords mortgages do not allow benefit tenants.

We have never had problems with landlords not accepting benefits no matter what type they claim unless their mortgage does not allow.

You could try Gumtree. That is a website where many private landlords advertise although it used to be free to advertise, so not as many use it now. Vivastreet is a free website, so try on there.

Other than that you can try the classified ads in the local paper, post office or shop windows and many private landlords put ads in the property windows, so if you are able to get out to trawl the streets, keep an eye out for signs in the windows.

G_M

Don't assume 'private landlords' (I asume you mean LLs who don't employ an agent?) don't credit check. I rarely use an agent to find tenants, but I am very scrupulous about following up references, doing credit checks etc!

Red_Doe

I actually put an ad in the paper of the area I wanted to move to. Got quite a few responses too.
My current landlord is just the best, got to say, so I`m very happy with my situation aside from the isolation and remote location (didn`t set out to be so remote, the Highlands covers a biiiig area!)
so I would advise doing similar, you might be surprised at the responses.

welshsue

thanks ever so much for all the responses. I will try placing an an in the local paper and trawling the shops looking at ads.