Worried about credit checks for renting a flat. Need help please.

elbubsio

Hi all,

I'm applying for a flat to rent atm, and have to fill in a form for the credit checks. However, I'm a bit worried as I have a fair bit of debt on a few credit cards. I have 6 cards, about 13k of debt and stopped paying them a few years ago when I lost my job. I've made arrangements with 2 of the cards to pay a tiny payment (£1 a month), which I'm keeping up with and the rest are on hold. Ive read on some other forums that the letting agents won't be able to see anything to do with that info and only have access to whether or not I have CCJs. IVAs or bankruptcy (I don't). Is this true? The checks are costing me £95, so I don't want to disclose this info if it means I'm likely to get turned down. I'm not sure whether to just be honest and hope for the best or not mention it, which could be worse if they can see that info.

Help please... :think:

Many thanks.

19lottie82

Prob not what you want to hear but it doesn't look good. These will show up on the credit checks. This will wave a big red flag for any potential LA/LLs. I'd mention it first before paying the £95.

As far as I know you have the following options

1) find a guarantor who will pass the credit checks and is willing to guarantee your rental payments

2) offer to pay six moths rent upfront

3) try to find a private landlord who is a bit more lax re the credit checks

4) rent a room in a house share or as a lodger. Again, these don't usually require such stringent checks.

elbubsio

Hi Lottie and thanks for replying. I thought about going the guarantor route using my sister who says she's fine to do it, but she's in an IVA at the moment (ends in a couple of months) so may not pass the checks herself (even though she earns nearly double what they require).

The LA want 6 months rent up front as I'm not working anyway, which makes the whole credit checks bit seem odd to me. I get the feeling it's just an excuse to make a bit more money from me.

I've looked at a couple of places with private landlords, but both so far have been, shall we say basic .

I'm in my late 30s now so would really prefer to get somewhere of my own rather than sharing.

I neglected to mention in my original post that the house I'm in atm is in the final stages of sale (hence the move) and I part own it, so hopefully, I should have nearly 20k in the bank in a few weeks. This means paying 6 months up front won't be a prob, it's just the timing as I need to be out before the money for the sale goes through :mad:

Ho hum, I'll have to keep trying i guess. Thanks again