Long-term expat returning to UK, problems renting?

hodd

[FONT=&quot]I'm a resp[/FONT][FONT=&quot]ectable sort of Brit who’s not really lived in the UK since 2000. I’ve been employed in mainland Europe during that time and have work contracts, pay slips, bank statements and all those good things.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]From September, I’ll be working again in the UK initially on a twelve-month contract, which luckily pays quite well. I’m in England soon to look at a few properties to rent.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Whilst I have frequently-used UK bank accounts and credit card, I’m slightly concerned that I’ve not really been financially active in the UK for over a decade. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Would I have any problems renting due to my relative lack of recent UK-based financial activity? [/FONT]

G_M

hodd wrote: »

[FONT=&quot]I'm a resp[/FONT][FONT=&quot]ectable sort of Brit who’s .....[/FONT][FONT=&quot] [/FONT]

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

OK. Chuckle over!

You may have a problem as you will have no credit history and so will fail a credit search.

Additionally LLs might be wary of someone who could vanish overseas again at the end of a tenancy (whether a foreigner OR 'respectable' Brit!) leaving arrears or damage behind.

Do you have anyone who would act as Guarantor? Ideally a UK home-owner/wage-earner.

hodd

Glad it was a chuckle. If you've lived abroad, you'll have met Brits teaching English or involved in boiler room scams, and my point is I was gainfully employed with contracts and pay slips to show this. I'll pay a year's rent up front if need be.

My parents are still around and could act as guarantors I guess.

I'm not being dismissive as you were good enough to reply, but surely I'm not the first outsider to rent a UK property.

G_M

Oi! Oi!

You can't lump teaching English together with boiler room scams! Granted some English teachers have little training, but
a) many, maybe most, do, and are highly professional and have 'contracts and payslips'
b) even those who aren't trained are hardly on a par with boiler room scammers!

Back to your query - beware paying a year up front.....

hodd

Well yes, maybe if someone else could kindly advise. I'm not particularly poor and would like to rent a place in England. I have an initial twelve-month contract which is signed and shows my income. The question should be more on the lines of: I have a limited credit history as I have not lived in the UK for several years. I have every payslip and bank statement since 2005. How do I prove my financial well-being to a potential landlord? Thanks for any advice.

ruggedtoast

When I came back from the UK after working abroad the only way I could get a place was to pay 6 months rent in advance. This mostly renders credit checks etc unnecessary, though they did send an email to my previous Japanese landlady who ended up getting hilariously confused about who they were and what they wanted.

Anyway I would see if you can get away with offering fewer months in advance in case the landlord does a runner.

kassi

Hi I moved back to the Uk after living in Ireland for 6 years. I managed to rent a property. My sister acted as guarantor and I paid 3 months rent in advance as well as the deposit. Had no problems. Hope this helps

hodd

kassi wrote: »

Hi I moved back to the Uk after living in Ireland for 6 years. I managed to rent a property. My sister acted as guarantor and I paid 3 months rent in advance as well as the deposit. Had no problems. Hope this helps

It certainly does help, kassi, thanks.

I'm a little surprised a guarantor is required, but I can certainly take steps to prepare for this before I start looking for a property. I take it your sister had to sign guarantor paperwork, etc?

Also, kassi, didn't you have pay slips and bank statements from your six years in Ireland? I'm not being nosey; I'm just curious.

kassi

Hi yes my sister signed some paperwork and had to give her details and work info etc. They didn't ask for pay slips etc but they did contact the council in Ireland who I had a house with to check that I had been paying my rent. Well they said they would contact them I'm not sure if they did.