Advice on private renting, credit checks??

xoxlauraxox

Hi,

My partner and I are currently looking to private rent, his credit rating is fine, but mine is really bad at the moment... is it possible for just him to be on the tenancy as he will be paying the rent or do they have to do checks on all adults living there??

Im not sure what to do if it can't be put in my other halves name as we have no chance if it is based on my credit at the moment....

Any advice woulod be much appreciated

Topsy1_2

If the tenancy is set up correctly - i.e. by a good agent or a professional LL - the both of you will need to be on the tenancy agreement. Agents/LL won't put just one partner on the agreement and let the other live there.

If you and your partner split up, and you carried on living there you would be classed as a squatter and would have no tenancy rights whatsoever - eg, peaceful enjoyment, maintenance/repair rights etc etc. To evict a squatter is far more complicated than to evict a tenant which is why *most* agents and LLs will not allow an "occupier" to live with a tenant.

However, on the upside, credit checks for tenants tend not to be as in-depth as for financial institutions so you may find that you're ok.. Are you working at the moment and have been working for 6 months or more? Have you got any ccjs? Also, check whether the credit check is for the full amount of rent for each of you, or for half the rent each.

If all else fails, you may find that you're asked to provide 6 months rent up front. Maybe from personal funds or maybe your partner could take out a loan for this amount if your credit rating is too bad to do?

Nenen

What about if adult children are living at the property? My DH and I are looking to rent at the moment (recently exchanged on our sale and can't find anywhere to buy yet). We have three children: oldest two are 21 and 19... both at university so only home in the holidays... youngest one is 17. Does anyone know whether they will have to be classed as tenants, have credit checks etc?

Topsy1_2

Theoretically adult children over the age of 18 should be on the tenancy agreement, however its unlikely that they'll have to be credit checked as, a) they are not working, and b) they are your children and therefore will not be classed as the main tenants.

There may also be some leeway over whether the eldest two will be on the agreement at all as they will not be at home continuously and presumably they have tenancy agreements of their own when they're away at uni!