I need a landlord reference but my living arrangements are complicated

abrasumente

I had an offer accepted on a beautiful rented property today after months of failed attempts and now I need to provide a landlord reference to the estate agent but my living arrangements are complicated.

I lived in student halls last year (sept 2011-july 2012) but when the new school year began I struggled to find a house in time so moved in with my boyfriend temporarily who was renting from a landlord. Eventually I ended up staying throughout the course of the year, but I paid half of his rent every month (on time and in full). His landlord was aware I stayed over there a lot but wasn't aware that I was living there permanently until June this year, when my boyfriend told him I would be staying throughout summer and he was fine with this. Now even though he knows I've lived there for the past 3/4 months I can't really use him as a reference because I'm not on the tenancy agreement so he has no record of me paying rent on time etc, so I was wondering if I'd be able to use my student halls as a reference instead? I got my deposit back from them and I paid my rent on time.

I don't know what to do I am so desperate for a home because my boyfriend's contract ends in 4 days and we have to move out then. I do not want my silly decision to live with my boyfriend without being on the tenancy agreement to get in the way of living in this new home! I have an employer who I know will give me a good reference, but if I put my student halls will they question what my living arrangements have been for the past year?

Guest101

abrasumente wrote: »

I had an offer accepted on a beautiful rented property today after months of failed attempts and now I need to provide a landlord reference to the estate agent but my living arrangements are complicated.

I lived in student halls last year (sept 2011-july 2012) but when the new school year began I struggled to find a house in time so moved in with my boyfriend temporarily who was renting from a landlord. Eventually I ended up staying throughout the course of the year, but I paid half of his rent every month (on time and in full). His landlord was aware I stayed over there a lot but wasn't aware that I was living there permanently until June this year, when my boyfriend told him I would be staying throughout summer and he was fine with this. Now even though he knows I've lived there for the past 3/4 months I can't really use him as a reference because I'm not on the tenancy agreement so he has no record of me paying rent on time etc, so I was wondering if I'd be able to use my student halls as a reference instead? I got my deposit back from them and I paid my rent on time.

I don't know what to do I am so desperate for a home because my boyfriend's contract ends in 4 days and we have to move out then. I do not want my silly decision to live with my boyfriend without being on the tenancy agreement to get in the way of living in this new home! I have an employer who I know will give me a good reference, but if I put my student halls will they question what my living arrangements have been for the past year?

Ok first of all why do you HAVE to move out in 4 days? What do you mean his contract is finishing???

Secondly i would ask his LL for a reference, better for 3/4 month recently, than over a year ago. And explain that you moved in with the LL's permission, but were never placed on the tenancy.

[Deleted User]

Speak to the new letting agents, they're probably quite reasonable if you meet all their requirements. Explain your situation (you lived in halls, then you moved in with your boyfriend -- all entirely normal) and see what they say. I rented an apartment at 19 without a guarantor and without any references and without any credit history and when I explained my circumstance (just got a good job, looking to move out) they said that was fine.

People live crazy lives, they've probably had tenants like you hundreds of times before. If you have a good reference from your employer, a salary that meets their requirements and you can explain why you don't have a previous house reference... you'll be fine. Worst case: say your boyfriend owned his own house, that's why there's no reference.

abrasumente

Guest101 wrote: »

Ok first of all why do you HAVE to move out in 4 days? What do you mean his contract is finishing???

Secondly i would ask his LL for a reference, better for 3/4 month recently, than over a year ago. And explain that you moved in with the LL's permission, but were never placed on the tenancy.

His 12 month contract is coming to an end and all the tenants are moving out, we've known about it from the start so its not an issue! I've just been having trouble finding a new place.

I guess so, but I have only ever met the landlord briefly (they dont have much contact with him) and I feel a little cheeky asking for a reference if he barely knows me! I've been paying the rent through my boyfriend but I'm not 100% sure he knows about this... and the landlord can be a little unpredictable at times (last time he came round he was screaming and swearing at one of the tenants about paying his rent on time...) plus what if the estate agent checks where I've been living previously? Because there's a large gap from where my student halls tenancy ended and when the landlord was made aware that i was staying at my current address :S

abrasumente

citricsquid wrote: »

Speak to the new letting agents, they're probably quite reasonable if you meet all their requirements. Explain your situation (you lived in halls, then you moved in with your boyfriend -- all entirely normal) and see what they say. I rented an apartment at 19 without a guarantor and without any references and without any credit history and when I explained my circumstance (just got a good job, looking to move out) they said that was fine.

People live crazy lives, they've probably had tenants like you hundreds of times before. If you have a good reference from your employer, a salary that meets their requirements and you can explain why you don't have a previous house reference... you'll be fine. Worst case: say your boyfriend owned his own house, that's why there's no reference.

Thanks! i really don't want to lie to them, but I don't want to screw up my chances of getting this place by telling them something they don't want to hear (I was living in a house without the landlord knowing!) Do you think I should call them and explain that I've been living with my boyfriend but paying half the rent through him and not directly to the landlord and that the landlord has only known I've been living there for 4 months? Or should I just leave it and put my student halls instead? I dont want them to think that I'm dodgy!

Okydoky25

Is he moving in with you? Could you not use his reference and then your student halls reference and explain for the time between you were living with Parents/friends?

JimmyTheWig

I'd say be as honest as you can be. It sounds like a reasonable situation.
When you were living with your boyfriend unofficially where were things like your bank statements being posted to?