Bad landlord reference

ntycame

So,

I was asked to move out of my property in July 2013 with only 6 weeks notice given. With such little time I moved in with my partner- temporarily (not under his tenancy just staying whilst finding a place) during this time and we're currently putting a joint tenancy application in now for a lovely house.

Now, there were a few issues with my landlord. Firstly after I moved they had very little contact with me regarding the deposit- I heard they were disputing the state of the garden. I emailed them informing them it was in an even worse mess when I moved in (Rubbish everywhere, weeds, overgrown etc) and although it had overgrown slightly it is no where near as bad as it was when I first took up the tenancy 3 years ago. I also only missed one rent payment and this was when i switched bank accounts however paid as soon as I realised- I'm currently putting in a tenancy deposit dispute with the scheme I'm under as their communication with me has been shocking to say the least and actually rather rude and it's 6 months on now and no deposit or even information on checking out/inventory etc!!!!

I naturally need to ask a reference from them to process my application with the new house. This is very concerning me as I worry it will be a bad one from them and not truly reflect the fact I spent 3 years in the house, rent always paid on time and if anything had to clean it up from how it first was!

I'm just considering saying I never rented before and this property was 'living with friends/relatives' but I hate the idea of lying and being dishonest- but also really want to find a place to live!


Help

FR_262

You new LL will probably ask you to complete a credit reference detail form so he can credit check you. This will include all address for the last 6 years.

He'll probably ask to see bank statements too.

It's best to come clean and explain the situation. Do you have photos?

Show the new LL your rent statements.

ruggedtoast

In your situation I would not ask for a reference from the other landlord. May well be difficult to get a new one to take you on without one though.

thesaint

Why were you asked to move?

ntycame

thesaint wrote: »

Why were you asked to move?

The landlord was a charity which was doing it to make a profit however couldn't afford it anymore and decided to sell- was a genuine reason as the charity now no longer exists and the house was for sale literally a week after I moved!!

ntycame

FR_262 wrote: »

You new LL will probably ask you to complete a credit reference detail form so he can credit check you. This will include all address for the last 6 years.

He'll probably ask to see bank statements too.

It's best to come clean and explain the situation. Do you have photos?

Show the new LL your rent statements.

Would my new LL be aware of whether I was renting privately etc though? I know they can do land registry checks however

Top-ranking_Bug

Did you put on your inventory when you moved in that the garden was in a poor state?
I would say that 6 weeks notice is plenty of time to have got the garden tidied up!
Also, do you have a record of your correspondence regarding the missed rental payment, showing that you clearly advised them of the reason (bank change)? I had a similar problem but because I could prove it was not my deliberate error, it was fine.

ntycame

I'm really tempted to say I lived with family/friends- it gives me that option and I can offer a guarantor also and say I've never rented before.

Looking at my credit score it doesn't say whether i rent privately just that I lived there etc- and I moved after the new rules about defaulting rent payments came in

ntycame

Top-ranking_Bug wrote: »

Did you put on your inventory when you moved in that the garden was in a poor state?
I would say that 6 weeks notice is plenty of time to have got the garden tidied up!
Also, do you have a record of your correspondence regarding the missed rental payment, showing that you clearly advised them of the reason (bank change)? I had a similar problem but because I could prove it was not my deliberate error, it was fine.

No...I didn't, didn't even have an inventory come to think of it. We did tidy the garden up don't get me wrong, we cleaned it out- but as it was a large garden and I'm a little woman it was a 'tidy' up so to speak rather than a full de weeding, I felt that I did leave the house in the same if not better standard than when I moved in. I do have photographs I took but only of the outside portion of the house from when I moved in,

I don't have a recorded correspondence no, I just phoned them and paid over the phone....This isn't looking good is it.

The letting agents are well known for being pretty terrible and looking through my application it seems I can just say I was 'living with family/friends' but it's not ideal.

FR_262

Your new LL will want to see proof of your address so will want to see such things as a bank statement.

You really shouldn't be worrying over one missed payment. I'm a LL and wouldn't be concerned over one missed payment. But if found out you'd lied you wouldn't get the property.

bouicca21

The last place I rented had a dodgy landlord who refused to give me a reference when I left (the flat was under threat of repossession as he pocketed the rent and omitted to pay the mortgage). I explained the situation to the letting agent for my new flat and the solution was for me to provide back copies of my bank statements to prove that I had always paid rent in full and on time.