renting with bad credit, pls help....

djwmcnae82

Morning,

Im sorry, this has probably been asked many times but im so worried I just want to ask my question with my story behind it.

I have bad credit, a partner left me and went Bankrupt leaving the house in my name which I could not manage and defaulted on hte mortgage. I gave the keys back to the Mortgage company and that was that. The house was bought on one of the schemes where the building company buys 25% for you. I still owe this part of the company 18K but am uncertain what they are doing as I have not heard any thing from them and this was 2 years ago.
In the mean time I have also struggled to pay a couple of credit cards and so will have a poor credit score.

Now me and my partner (who has a good score as has never been in any bother at all) are looking to rent a house.
I was originally thinking we would just rent the house in her name but have since been dvised this is classed as sub letting....

My question... what should I do? It costs £240 to have a credit check done with the letting agents. They say if your score isnt 'too low' and with a guarntor (SP) then it will be ok, but £240 is a lot of money to spend if i think im going to fail.

How risky is it for my partner to sub let to me? If the house and bills etc were all in her name and all my mail went to say my parents home, who would know? What would happen? I know it would be wrong and maybe wrong to ask on a open forum but i really dont know what to do, it just seems like we cant catch a break all because of my blooming ex partner!!

jamie11

If you are living with your partner then it ain't subletting. If she takes the tenancy in her name she is responsible for the payments but she is also entitled to have her partner living with her. You would be a permitted occupier but if, for any reason, the landlord had to evict her then you would also be evicted.

djwmcnae82

jamie11 wrote: »

If you are living with your partner then it ain't subletting. If she takes the tenancy in her name she is responsible for the payments but she is also entitled to have her partner living with her. You would be a permitted occupier but if, for any reason, the landlord had to evict her then you would also be evicted.

Thank you for your quick response. This was my thoughts, it was just we asked one letting agent and they said it would be subletting and fraud! Which naturally got my partner very worried.

Is that not the case then?

jamie11

djwmcnae82 wrote: »

Thank you for your quick response. This was my thoughts, it was just we asked one letting agent and they said it would be subletting and fraud! Which naturally got my partner very worried.

Is that not the case then?

It is not unusual for an agent to be an idiot. They need no qualifications to be one and often make it up as they go along. It sounds to me as if this one is just trying to push up the fees he can charge, use another agent, ask for recommendations for your area.

djwmcnae82

jamie11 wrote: »

It is not unusual for an agent to be an idiot. They need no qualifications to be one and often make it up as they go along. It sounds to me as if this one is just trying to push up the fees he can charge, use another agent, ask for recommendations for your area.

She was a tool! Very rude and abrupt!
Ok, thank you for your advice, has put my mind at rest!

Dan2712

Me and my partner are in the same sort of boat. she has a credit rating of 985 whilst mine is 431. So we are worried about credit check. We have just paid 200 for the check and are waiting in hope. We were told by LA we couldnt have her as single tenant either had to have both names on it.

djwmcnae82

Ok, I have called anouther letting agent and say they it is the general rule that both people have to be checked.

No offence to Jamie, but does any one else have any thoughts? Would feel better knowing other people also agree.
I would hate to get my partner in trouble all because of my ex blooming partner!

djwmcnae82

Dan2712 wrote: »

Me and my partner are in the same sort of boat. she has a credit rating of 985 whilst mine is 431. So we are worried about credit check. We have just paid 200 for the check and are waiting in hope. We were told by LA we couldnt have her as single tenant either had to have both names on it.

Thanks dan, so seems If want to do it properly we both have to... great!

Where do you get your score from? I've been told if less than 700 would fail. Im sure mine is very low indeed.

Dan2712

djwmcnae82 wrote: »

Thanks dan, so seems If want to do it properly we both have to... great!

Where do you get your score from? I've been told if less than 700 would fail. Im sure mine is very low indeed.

Free check on Experian. We were told 600 but they may allow 500. But when I asked the question as my Mrs was really good would It go through? they werent sure Mrs wants the place so decided to take a chance. Just gotta wait a week now and find out

meadow408

this happened to me and my partner as well. In the end we dediced to go with private landlords explaining the situation and it was perfectly fine...A credit check doesn't cost the extortionate price estate agents charge you, they take the biggest cut that's why they have the incentive to push you to be both checked

Longships

As meadow408 says, there are plenty of private landlords out there who want to rent out their property without going through the agents. If you have a poor credit rating and can't afford to put down 6 months rent up front you could try putting an ad in your local paper saying what you want to rent and that deposit and refs are available.