I have no proof of my rent

rufus79

I rent a room from an old boy I got to know while I was working in a pub a few years back (yes, I know it sounds odd but its not really). I have been here 3yrs, and have never had any formal arrangement or even rent book, I just pay him £330 inc of bills each month. Is this going to be a major problem with the OR?

allofadither

The short answer is "I don't know", but I suspect that in the absence of any tenancy agreement the OR would want to contact your landlord to verify that you pay the rent you say you do. Would that be a problem rufus?

rufus79

Oh god, I would hate that! It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't live in the same house, but the very thought of him knowing makes me feel sick. I really want as few people to know about this as possible. Would it help if I got an agreement drawn up and got him to sign it, and got a rent book as well? I could say I needed evidence of my expenditure without saying why?

allofadither

You could do that rufus, I think there are forms available from WHSmiths. But have you considered that you landlord might not want your rent payments down as legit. Perhaps he doesn't declare the income to HMRC....but you know your landlord not me. I only mention it because I came up against a similar problem renting business premises.

EDIT: I should also mention that the OR has every right to contact the landlord regardless of what you produce in the way of documentation, so don't bank on keeping it a secret. Sorry, I know it's not what you want to hear.

rufus79

Oh blimin eck, this is getting worse! I just want it done and over, and its getting me so stressed out.

allofadither

Getting an agreement is a good start rufus. If the OR has something that confirms your rent he is less likely to contact the landlord. Do you have a good relationship with your landlord? Is he likely to co-operate with regards to the rental agreement?

Mike_St_Helens

Rufus, Its very rare for them to ask for proof.

I have a mortgage and all sorts of expenses, not once was I asked to proove them. Ill tell you what, email the insolvency service directly and ask them anonymousley?

Rachael.Dufton@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk or
Lindsey.Chester@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk

rufus79

Yes, I get on well with him (couldn't effectively live with him otherwise!). I'm sure he will be ok with it, its just all overwhelming me a bit at the moment and is more than I can handle really. I feel like I could just do with someone to hold my hand the whole way, but there's no one I can tell (didn't tell anyone about my IVA either) and theres so much to it its making me a bit panicky!

allofadither

Mike_St_Helens wrote: »

Rufus, Its very rare for them to ask for proof.

I must have thee most awkward OR then Mike, she insisted I send in my tenancy agreement and gave me 14 days to do it. :eek:

Mike_St_Helens

allofadither wrote: »

I must have thee most awkward OR then Mike, she insisted I send in my tenancy agreement and gave me 14 days to do it. :eek:

Ooerr.... or I must have had a lax one ?

allofadither

rufus79 wrote: »

Yes, I get on well with him (couldn't effectively live with him otherwise!). I'm sure he will be ok with it, its just all overwhelming me a bit at the moment and is more than I can handle really. I feel like I could just do with someone to hold my hand the whole way, but there's no one I can tell (didn't tell anyone about my IVA either) and theres so much to it its making me a bit panicky!

Yes..I'm sorry if it seems like I'm making things worse, but I can only give my personal experince on the rental thing. The BR process is a rocky road and very uncomfortable at times, but there's lots of virtual hands here for you to hold rufus.