Struggling to find a place to rent..

emilybean

1) You say you're fussy, and from your post it seems it too. You have a limited budget so chances are you will have to lower your standards based on your situation, I'm afraid.

The budget isn't the problem! There are some we really like for that price, it's the homeowner guarantor that's the problem

19lottie82

i'm sorry to say but if you're not having any luck, then the only solution is to wait until your mother can act as your guarantor.

surely you can do most of the packing around the kids, then you can spend the day at your mothers, or a friends with them, while your husband and a couple of mates (or 2 men and a van) do all the actual moving.

again, I appreciate it's not ideal, BUT it's by no means impossible.

emilybean

19lottie82 wrote: »

i'm sorry to say but if you're not having any luck, then the only solution is to wait until your mother can act as your guarantor.

surely you can do most of the packing around the kids, then you can spend the day at your mothers, or a friends with them, while your husband and a couple of mates (or 2 men and a van) do all the actual moving.

again, I appreciate it's not ideal, BUT it's by no means impossible.

It's not my mother it is my Grandmother. An agent has just told us they wouldn't take her as she's over 67.

19lottie82

emilybean wrote: »

It's not my mother it is my Grandmother. An agent has just told us they wouldn't take her as she's over 67.

ah ok, apologies, I didn't read that properly....

yes, a lot of agents require a guarantor to be employment, earning over a certain salary AND be a homeowner, so if your gran is retired or on a low wage, this would make her ineligible straight away.

if you can't find anyone to accept her, your options are....

1) keep hunting for a private rental.

2) if you can access the cash, look for someone who will take 6 months rent up front. yes, some don't like it, but some do!

3) stay where you are until you are in a better financial position and don't need a guarantor. again I know it will be a squash, and the moving a PITA, but it's doable.

just to put it into perspective, I live in a 2 bed flat with my OH and his 2 daughters who are 10 and 14, who have to share a tiny bedroom, and my bedroom is small too. it's a pain in the rear but we are making do until we have the cash saved up to get a larger place.....

emilybean

19lottie82 wrote: »

ah ok, apologies, I didn't read that properly....

yes, a lot of agents require a guarantor to be employment, earning over a certain salary AND be a homeowner, so if your gran is retired or on a low wage, this would make her ineligible straight away.

if you can't find anyone to accept her, your options are....

1) keep hunting for a private rental.

2) if you can access the cash, look for someone who will take 6 months rent up front. yes, some don't like it, but some do!

3) stay where you are until you are in a better financial position and don't need a guarantor. again I know it will be a squash, and the moving a PITA, but it's doable.

just to put it into perspective, I live in a 2 bed flat with my OH and his 2 daughters who are 10 and 14, who have to share a tiny bedroom, and my bedroom is small too. it's a pain in the rear but we are making do until we have the cash saved up to get a larger place.....

Thankyou... the guarantor thing though again.. there is nothing wrong with the financial situation and from the looks of it atm, short of financial situation improving enough to buy a house or going private, near enough every agent we have spoke to have wanted a homeowner guarantor. It has literally been can we ask a few questions, "Are you both in employment" (I am but my partner is a student) "How many people will be in the property" "Do you have a homeowner guarantor"

We are not in a major rush to move, it would be handy to move soon but that isn't the problem. I just feel like after ringing that other EA today and them saying no as she's over 67, that we are going to be here for the rest of our lives.

*Robin*

OP, you could try working on your credit rating / appeal as potential tenants:
* Both adults on the electoral roll.
* Landline 'phone and utility bills [not pre-pay meters] in your names.
* Partner find part-time job so he can change his status on the application.
* Buy something on a credit agreement and make all repayments correctly and on time. (Sorry this one isn't very MSE in the short term, but does make credit reference agencies up your score).
* Save to increase the deposit you can offer.

emilybean

*Robin* wrote: »

OP, you could try working on your credit rating / appeal as potential tenants:
* Both adults on the electoral roll.
* Landline 'phone and utility bills [not pre-pay meters] in your names.
* Partner find part-time job so he can change his status on the application.
* Buy something on a credit agreement and make all repayments correctly and on time. (Sorry this one isn't very MSE in the short term, but does make credit reference agencies up your score).
* Save to increase the deposit you can offer.

Again none of this is a problem. We're not even getting credit checked because as soon as we say don't have a homeowner guarantor they are not interested.

*Robin*

emilybean wrote: »

Again none of this is a problem. We're not even getting credit checked because as soon as we say don't have a homeowner guarantor they are not interested.

That's because your husband has to write "student" on the application forms.

If you could both put "employed" there would be the option of credit referencing (which you'd have to pay for, but is the way around lack of guarantor - only worth doing if you've a reasonable expectation of getting a good enough score, of course).

Keep advertising in the area you want to live; a private landlord who self-manages one or two properties is more likely to accept six months' rent up-front. Shop noticeboards, Gumtree, local paper.. Go to the area and talk to the locals in the corner shop, at the kids' playground and maybe even the pub.

Good Luck; perseverance will pay off.

harrys_dad

How long until your partner finishes their course? If they then get employment the necessity for a guarantor is removed. The advice from most on this site would be "never be a guarantor", even to your own family.

FR_262

This might be a bit of a longshot but does your Grandma own her house outright? Does she have any savings? Does she have an pension or income or both?

If the answer to all the above is yes, you might be able to persuade teh LL to give you the tenancy.