Application for tenancy - screening process

underhanded

Hi,

Me and 3 friends have just applied for a tenancy, and are currently going through the screening service.

All 3 of our tenancy histories should be fine, we haven't been late on payments or !!!!ed anyone off, so we're not worried about that.

2 of us have full time jobs, and earn above 3 times our rental amount, so I'm not particularly concerned about that either.

The only issue is the 3rd tenant. He went travelling recently (was in full time work beforehand), got back and just did some casual work for his dad, painting and decorating etc. He's since, literally this week, got a job with a temping agency, so is in work, and income is not really an issue for him (he hasn't really been out of work since hes been back, just had quite a casual approach to it, temping etc).

Now on his form he used his dad as an employee reference, as this was the person who he was working for at the time....technically, but he was starting this temp job in a matter of days... The only way this was indicated on the form was that he ticked yes for the questions 'is your job likely to change in the near future?'

Do you think this will have a significant affect on our application, he's happy to give a guarantor if it comes to that, but I hope this slight ambiguity isn't going to give an outright decline, or even worse, they feel we're being dishonest (we feel we were pretty truthful, but didn't 'over explain' the issue as we were scared this could affect the outcome). Also, can these referencing companies access detailed employment history, as because the work for his dad was pretty casual, I'm not sure if he was on a proper contract etc.

Any ideas? (1st time renting not as a student, its bloody stressful!)

Thanks

G_M

Assuming this is a joint and several tenancy:

Personally I would look at the joint income of the 3 and see if I was confidant that it could reasonably cover the rent. I would want to know that if, say, 'casual worker 3' could not afford his 'share', I could still get the full rent from the other two.

I would, however, credit check all 3 and look for bankrupcy, CCJs etc.

I would totally disregard dad's reference!

monty-doggy

I wouldn't worry. Most of the time as long as they know they can get the rent they disregard the rest anyway!

underhanded

Thanks guys. I'm sure I'm just over-worrying. Just keen to have a bit of a dialogue if they do have their reservations, we're all pretty organised, good with our money and ironically the 'casual worker' is the one with no overdraft, a few savings etc - so probably in the best financial state! If they did have issues with his work situation, you guys think they'd just ask for a guarantor, they're not going to just straight decline us? Thanks again!

underhanded

p.s. absolutley no ccjs, bankrupcies whatsoever!

monty-doggy

Yep. I had a crap credit rating and no previous ll reference as I lived in Spain for a while when I rented my last place. My mum just stood guarantor when they asked.
And trust me ain't no way I wasn't paying and having my mums disapproval!!

underhanded

thanks, we're on quite a tight deadline for a few reasons, so very keen to get it sorted.
A plus is we're using an agency that doesn't charge tenants fees, and the agents been very helpful so far! fingers crossed

monty-doggy

If they are not charging fees I bet they don't do in depth references either. I hope it works out for you!

underhanded

Bit of an update, 2 out of 3 of us have passed the screening. I was actually recommended for a decline due to a late payment on rent over 2 years ago! However LL and agent spoke with my previous landlord and he didn't have a bad word to say about me so they accepted...However, referencing company were asking millions of questions about my friends employment status with his dad, payslips, p60s, payroll numbers etc. He's a soletrader, a lot of cash paid in hand etc, and hes so busy he couldn't really do it....So he's decided to use his mum as a guarantor instead. Should this be okay? I see no problems myself, just wondering if anyone thought they may not like the fact he went for a guarantor rather than proving his employment status (maybe they think hes lying?) The letting agent and landlord seem very positive about the situation, letting agent says we have nothing to worry about, I just hate the fact theres some agency out there judging us all, not a nice feeling!

Thanks

ognum

underhanded wrote: »

Bit of an update, 2 out of 3 of us have passed the screening. I was actually recommended for a decline due to a late payment on rent over 2 years ago! However LL and agent spoke with my previous landlord and he didn't have a bad word to say about me so they accepted...However, referencing company were asking millions of questions about my friends employment status with his dad, payslips, p60s, payroll numbers etc. He's a soletrader, a lot of cash paid in hand etc, and hes so busy he couldn't really do it....So he's decided to use his mum as a guarantor instead. Should this be okay? I see no problems myself, just wondering if anyone thought they may not like the fact he went for a guarantor rather than proving his employment status (maybe they think hes lying?) The letting agent and landlord seem very positive about the situation, letting agent says we have nothing to worry about, I just hate the fact theres some agency out there judging us all, not a nice feeling!

Thanks

I agree that it is not pleasant feeling judged but is taking a tenancy so different from applying for a credit card or getting a mortgage. Both of these things require an indication that you will repay.

Landlords are running a buisness (or they should be ) they need to know that you will pay your rent in a timely manner, some will have mortgages to repay and that depends on the rental return.

I think things have tightened up a lot lately there is definitely more stress in getting a rental or a mortgage than there used to be. We all need to be aware of what late payments do to our ratings for future times.

underhanded

Yeah, I know they need to know our ability to pay...I just feel with these reference agencies there's little chance for dialogue and it feels like a very one way conversation...just worries me that things could be declined or rejected, yet some explanation would let LLs and LAs understand that we're all very capable of paying rent, and responsible for the property we live in. Can't help but get the feeling when these are referred onto referencing agencies you just become another number, and circumstances aren't taken into account!

Again, I think i'm just overworrying, just got to wait I suppose!