Credit Checks And References For Renting

TCA

Can someone enlighten me as to what sort of details are checked and required for prospective tenants?

I'm returning to the UK after a 5 year absence so not on the electoral roll and self-employed, so no current employer reference, no income verification and no recent tax returns. I have however retained a UK bank account and credit card at a UK address, which have been in use with no overdrafts, defaults, charges, etc....

Can anyone offer advice as to how I stand please. Would I be a certain credit ref fail? Should I get on the electoral roll immediately even though I'm obviously looking to move? And/or should I try a free credit report with Experian? What should I be looking for? Would offering to pay a full 6 months rent in advance avoid all this and would it be accepted by an agent?

Any pointers appreciated.

monty-doggy

I lived in Spain and rented when I moved back all same probs as you and I didn't even have a uk account.

They did all the checks anyway but asked for a guarantor.

If you can afford 6 months rent that might alleviate the need for a guarantor, each LL is different.

Worth asking anyway but I don't think you'll have any major issues unless you left a big black credit file before you moved away.

sandsni

Do you have any proof of income or equivalent tax returns from wherever you were working for the past 5 years? Anything to show you're a good risk going forward? Any checkable references from when you did live in the UK?

Some LLs might accept 6 months rent in advance, but police have been advising LLs to be wary of that in case it's a front for organised crime :eek!:

TCA

sandsni wrote: »

Do you have any proof of income or equivalent tax returns from wherever you were working for the past 5 years? Anything to show you're a good risk going forward? Any checkable references from when you did live in the UK?

Lived in a tax-free regime so no equivalent of returns, although I can demonstrate monthly income. No refs to hand of any sort from UK, although I did rent previously (2004 and 2006), so could potentially approach those letting agents for refs. If they still exist. Good suggestion. Thanks.

A credit check wouldn't turn up anything bad, I just don't know if it would turn up enough!