Cant rent due to CCJ's

Mistiek

Hi everyone, im new on here...

Im really stuck!! I live in a small 1 bed static caravn that my husband (now ex) which we bought for peanuts... we decided to do this so that we could save all out money to pay off dept etc. Unfortunately this has not really happened as the ex's work has been all over the place and nothing concrete..

We have decided for various reasons that we are going to go our own ways.. he would like to keep the static as he is self emplyed and would be less risky for him. I am a full time student but at the end on my 3 years nursing agree about to qualify... already have a job interview to start in Sept if Im successful. We both will have shared custody so both need a place for us to be able to have the children.

My problem is that thanks to a messy few years due to hubby loosing his job our credit rating is terrible. I recently applied to rent a 3 bed proporty (bursary, tax credits etc all amount to enough to afford to move) I was totally honest with the agents and told them that I had terrible credit history but that I was unaware of any CCJS (which was the truth). I failed the credit check and have found out I have 2 CCJ's from 2006 and 2007 (I have no idea for what). so I had to get a guarantor. I aske my mom and step father who ablidged but they failed too as they are on an IVA.

The agent has said that he will discuss this with the lanlord and see if he is prepared to rent to me but should he not be I will loose the property and £180 agent fees (Half of what I have paid). This will then mean that I will be totally stuck as no other agent will touch me. The council will not help either as they say I am not iminently homeless so will effectively be forced to share the static with the ex and share the sleeper sofa in the lounge or sleep on the floor in the childrens room....

I just want to start fresh. I have so much to look forward to and now that I have left the hubby I can pick up the peaces, look after the finances and get back on track.

I have looked for private lettings but at the moment there only seems to be houses I cant afford or house shares which I cant do as I have children... can anyone shed some light as to what I am supposed to do now. I cant live in the static until my depts are sorted as that will take years... their must be some other way???

I know I messed up in the past and im working hard to have a better life... but that counts for nothing!

DVardysShadow

One possible approach, which will take some time is to get the CCJ's set aside - although you need to show that whoever got the CCJ's did not give you a fair chance to defend. And then you need to be able to pay them off before they reinstate the CCJ's.

Another approach is to wait until 2013 when both CCJ's will fall off your record.

Playhouse

Does your local authority have a bond scheme? they will asses you to see if you qualify and if you do, they will put you in touch with LL's who let through the bond scheme, they are usually sumpathetic to bad credit ratings and many LL's will not ask for a credit check through the bond scheme

Mistiek

Shadow.. The Agent said the same thing, this year August one will drop off and next year August the other... they are for a sub total of £700 which I just dont have the money for. The one for 2007 confuses me as i was not in that propoerty at the time but dont think I have any proof...

Waiting until august 2013 is not an option! I cant be expected to share such a small living space with an ex husband. I just dont understand what people like me are supposed to do.... There are loads of us who have had some troubles in the past and I can understand that lanlords would be scared... but that makes things very difficult for people who are working hard to better their lives...

Sorry for the rant!!! Im just so tired of all this crap! I have worked hard to get where I am today and yet some people who have worse dept than me, cant be botherd to work, sell drugs etc have more help than those who genuinly work hard!!!

Cant stop crying this evening.... Im just so angry!!

Mistiek

Playhouse.. They do have a bond scheme but it is for the deposit. I have managed to come up with the deposit and the first months rent and can prove my monthly income.

They have a weekly bulletin that has homes to rent from LL's and some agents that will accept bad credit but almost all that I have contatced require a gaurantor and charge astronomical fees...

Most agencies in my area wont accept the bond scheme and again because I am not eminently homeless i wont qualify for it...

Playhouse

I know that our local bond scheme have LL's who advertise direct through the bond, does yours do this? no agency fees etc

Ive been in a similiar situation as due to my marriage breakdown, I was looking for rental properties and have found that most LL's who advertise directly through the bond understand that their potential tenants may have debt problems, be on benefits etc. It is sadly difficult to get an agent to accept the bond scheme, you are best off not going through an agent

DVardysShadow

If you can live with it until the 2006 CCJ falls off, it may be worth considering getting the 2007 CCJ set aside and saving up to be able to pay that one off immediately if it can be set aside. What I am suggesting is if that one is for £400, say, research setting it aside and if you think you have a chance, don't get it set aside until you can actually pay off the debt if they have another go.

If that would help, then go to the Debt Free Wannabe forum http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=76 and ask there about setting aside that particular CCJ. You need to say what the debt is for and how it came about that the CCJ was stuck on you without your knowledge.

Mistiek

I dont think our scheme is the same then. When I phoned the council I asked them if they had a list of LL's that were private so did not need credit checks and high fees she said all they have is the weekly buletin.

Its so frustrating... 10 years of marriage and what do I have to show... a huge dept and 2 ccjs now! In my name!!!

pmlindyloo

I am surprised that the council are not doing more to help.

I suggest that you get in contact with the CAB who will be able to help you with both your housing situation and debt problems.

Since the caravan is one bedroomed and your ex continues to live there then you can not be expected to continue to live there.

I suspect that you do have grounds to be accepted as homeless. Did the council give you a written reason as to why your application failed? If they did then you should take this with you to the CAB.

jjlandlord

Mistiek wrote: »

I failed the credit check and have found out I have 2 CCJ's from 2006 and 2007 (I have no idea for what). so I had to get a guarantor. I aske my mom and step father who ablidged but they failed too as they are on an IVA.

Well I hope that at least they know how they got there...

freakybritgal

who hasent got CCJS ?
The whole country is in debt .