Renting credit check?

willbutler

Hi everyone just after some advice.

I am about to start renting somewhere new after leaving my current property which I have been in for the past 6 months and move in somewhere new with my partner. I personally have a poor credit score (as checked by Experian) and the negatives are, my total outstanding is high (I have a few loans and a credit card etc), I am not currently on electoral role (but I have been told that this will be updated but the end of the month as I have now registered) but I have missed 3 payment to a online store (I have now set up a direct debit so it wont happen again) all these things make for a really poor credit score but I have made an effort to remedy two of them, but will this score be looked at when I look to rent a property or are they only looking to see if I have any CCJ's or bankruptcy??
Anyway it's really bothering me and I cant sleep so any advice would be great.

Kind regards
Will

stclair

My understanding is landlords are only looking for CCJs and BRs etc.

They wont see your credit file as if a lender would if you was applying for credit.

I hope that puts your mind at ease a little.

willbutler

thank you so much, I can now go to sleep a bit happier

regards
Will

Wildcatarmy

Credit Check went renting, through a letting agent (I used to have some dealings with one) was it went to an external company who checked the employment details were correct, gave any outstanding CCJ's etc... and gave an assumption if they believed the tenant(s) could afford the set amount of rent per month given the details that they had put down on their application.

Sometime it came back with an all ok, sometimes it came back with a guarantor could be necessary and sometimes it came back with a dont deal with at all. It was then up to us as the letting agent to use this as a guide, ie:- credit check came back bad, but reference from previous landlord said they had paid all year and no outstanding debts with that landlord.

I used to gauge an idea and come pretty clean with the tenants in that they seemed ok and if the credit check came back with anything negative I would give them the benefit of the doubt, but would hope I wouldnt have to come knocking on the door to chase rent etc... They seemed to accept my honesty and very rarely had any problems.

jamie11

What landlords are really looking for is a tenant that see's paying the rent as more important than keeping up the payments on the 52 inch panoramic wall screen they've just bought. To that end if you can get favourable references from your last two landlords they are likely to ignore small credit blips.

willbutler

That's all really great advice and thank you all so much, it's all such a worry and I've found you all really helpful,

Many thanks

Regards
Will