Lie to potential landlord?

evie234

Hi all. I know I sound awful - normally I'd tell the truth whatever the consequences as I'm a firm believer that honesty is the best policy. However, I'm really struggling to find properties at the moment. I've found two and both have asked for landlord references. I really want to say I've had a really bad relationship with my landlord so cant provide a reference. But, as I'm desperate I'm thinking of lying and making one up. If I followed this route would they do thorough checks?
I really want to tell the truth but I can't afford to lose these places as I'm being evicted by the court.
Or would being honest help me?
Thanks

mark?_3

providing a false reference could come back to bight you in a nasty way if the land lord were to find out at a later date - potentially being used against you for all manner of things from challenges to deposit claims to eviction procedures.
Explain the situation to the perspective landlord and possibly see if they would accept an employer reference or one from an earlier tenancy.

Blackpool_Saver

What an awful position to be in. But all you can do is tell the truth and hope you get a sympathetic hearing form a prospective landlord or their agent but it will not be easy. Do you have enough money to put down 6 months rent if asked to?

Werdnal

I assume you are thinking of typing a reference claiming to be from your old landlord to present to your new one? New landlord will want to speak to your old landlord, write to them, email them or whatever to make direct contact, so this would not work.

What sort of issues did you have with previous LL? Would they really have enough of a grudge against you not to give a reasonable reference - did you actually cause any problems to them?

Rather than lie, I would just tell them you had issues with your previous LL and cannot guarantee what sort of reference they would provide. You have not told any lies that way, and the new LL is prepared for the fact that there may not be a favourable report from the previous LL.

Just be honest and upfront about it - !!!!!! happens, people don't always get on, and unless you previous landlord is likely to tell them that you had all night parties 4 times a week, totally wrecked the property, had the police 'round on a regular basis and didn't pay any rent for the last 6 months - its best just to explain and be adult about it!

evie234

Thank you all for your responses. Werdnal, that's what I was thinking that they'd ask for ways to communicate with ex ll so I'd have to provide emails, telephone, etc. Yes ll does bear see grudge - had to go to court to get property back so doubt very much they'll care to write something nothing good. I did pay all my rent on time always. Is this the info that prospective lls care about? No parties or the like. I was a model tenant until he wanted me out to put a family member in.
Mark, I'm thinking that way too. I would rather prefer someone honest and respect them more even if I wasn't happy with what they were saying. I know it would come back to bite me later and I think I'd be on edge throughout the tenancy.
Blackpool_saver it is a rubbish situation. But can I afford to be honest and risk losing the properties or keep my mouth shut and lie and at least be in with a better chance of putting a roof over our heads.
The homeless unit is unhelpful and the best they would provide is a hostel and I don't want to put my children in there.
If I omit the information would that draw more attention to it?

sofaspud1234

I feel for you and hope you find a solution.x

BitterAndTwisted

"I was a model tenant until he wanted me out to put a family member in." And went court to achieve it.There's nothing about that which would alarm a prospective landlord.This kind of stuff happens all the time, especially if your current landlord is a newbie/accidental/not a long-standing professional one.If you can prove you've always paid your rent in full and on time, and you haven't left a string of semi-derelict properties behind you, you should be fine

G_M

As a landlord, I do thorough checks. I want to know who my tenants are. However not all landlords do.

Agents also vary - some are thorough, others take the 'tenant vetting' fee and then do F All!

But honesty IS the best policy.

If you applied to me, for example, and were upfront about your problems, I would ask why the relationship had been bad. I know there are bad landlords out there, and if I judged that the LL had been at fault, not you, I would not hold it against you (though I would still want to hear the LL's side of the story first!)

If you lied though, and I found out, I would not give you the time of day irrespective of whose fault the previous problem was.

teeni

speak to your new landlords and tell them you are not expecting a good reference because it was necessary for the landlord to take the full legal proceedings to regain possession because you could not find affordable accommodation for your family in time. Your bank statements will show the affordability of the new property and the rent statements will show that you paid your rent on time as the old place.

Should you lie and get found out after you move in the landlord may have grounds to evict you as you obtained the tenancy under false pretences,

Be honest most landlords appreciate that .

armour

Assuming your LL followed the correct procedure, giving you notice etc, why didn't you move on?
If you've given the landlord the hassle and expense of going through the courts, any reference he would give would naturally reflect this.
If you have proof that you have paid your rent even during the court action this may go some way to mitigate the LL's reference.
Be honest.