Referencing on a rental property

Miss.Sian-Marie

Hello,

Thought I would post up on here for some advice really.

My boyfriend and I are currently looking for our first place together in Kent, I'm relocating from Leicester (I have a 2 bed flat there at the minute) I'm currently waiting to hear back from a desirable job which I have applied and had 2 interviews for.

We have a deposit together for somewhere already so we don't miss out on anywhere but after speaking to a letting agent it appears that there's a spanner in the works.

If I was to get this job and be put on a probationary period (3 months - Think most companies do them nowadays) I wouldn't pass referencing for a flat/house until my probation was completed, in the mean time my boyfriend would have to have the tenancy in his name only but he needs to be earning £21k a year which he doesn't. Now I've never heard of this before, I've been renting for the last 3 years and have never come across this problem.

Is it a common thing nowadays or does it just depend on the agent?

TIA,

Sian-Marie

pmlindyloo

Yes, it is common. If you look at it from their point of view, you may not pass your probationary period and then be out of work.

A possible way round this is to offer 6 months rent up front or provide a guarantor.

If you haven't got enough to offer 6 months rent up front try and borrow it from a friend/family and pay back your 'rent' to whoever you borrow it from.

tbs624

Alternatively try going direct to a LL who self manages his/her properties - try the local LL association and the local Council's private sector rentals officer for contacts( some local Councils run accreditation schemes for PRS LLs. LLs who don't use an LA are often more up for negotiation

thegirlintheattic

I've not heard of waiting for the probationary period to be over but I do know when we moved OH had to wait till he had started work before they did the credit check (which meant he had to live in a hotel for a few weeks). That was with a contract shown to them and them calling up the employer (who is very well known in the area).

CKhalvashi

If a prospective T called and could show a contract, then I’m all up for bargaining, perhaps taking last 8 weeks rent in advance to be used somewhere in the contract, on top of a deposit.

Speak to a LL directly, as we’re more happy to negotiate, compared to a LA, who need to provide set procedures.

CK