Helping daughter to rent proving problematic

JMB2

My daughter is currently a paid intern with a years contract. She has found a flat to rent with two other friends but has been rejected by the company the letting agents have used to check her credit worthiness. She graduated last year and of course does not have much credit history. Whilst I understand she may not look on paper as being credit worthy, my husband and I have agreed to be her guarantor, but that has also been rejected. We are homeowners and my husband is in regular employment and would have no problem covering the rent, indeed we will be paying her rent for her anyway. In trying to come up with a solution before she has to let her friends know that she will have to let them down which would mean that unless they can find someone else to take her place they will all lose their deposits, we have even taken the risky decision to pay all her rent up front to the landlord but that has also been rejected. Does anyone have an idea how we can get over this problem? Thanks

jjlandlord

I don't see how the landlord could keep deposits if he is the one refusing to let...

Only other advice is to keep looking.

JMB2

As far as I'm aware the landlord knows nothing about what is happening, it is the credit check agency the estate agent is using that is refusing to accept my daughter

leccyblue

Seems strange that they have said no, to paying the rent upfront. Having no credit history is one thing - have they uncovered any BAD credit? Defaults, missed payments, CCJs etc? If so, that could be the reason - it might be the landlord doesn't want to risk even with the money upfront. Did her friends, who I assume are in similar positions - pass theirs?

JMB2

My daughter and indeed we have no bad debts, she has savings which they have evidence of, but they are insisting that she should have £12,000 in her savings account ( which is far more than what she would have to pay in rent for the year) which she has to prove has been in there for over a month. Her friends have passed theirs because they have training contracts which are for three years. The sticking point is that she may not have a job during the time of the tenancy which is why we have agreed to act as guarantors and if necessary set up a standing order to pay the rent or pay up front for the whole twelve months. I am pretty sure the landlord doesn't know what is going on and it is just the organisation doing the credit check who are being difficult.

leccyblue

This does seem a bit bizarre! I can understand their concern that she may end up without a job - but obviously with you acting as guarantor (and indeed paying rent up front) - the risk should be alleviated. Unless they are worried that even with you paying the rent for her, she couldn't afford to live there (and the expenses that entails) without an income - however that really shouldn't be any of their concern.

It does sound like they are following everything by the book and it's a case of "computer says no" - so perhaps ask if they can run this past the landlord - or ask to speak to the landlord directly yourselves?

19lottie82

if your daughter cannot get a private house share type rental, she should look for a lodger type arrangement elsewhere. there are plenty of ads on gumtree and spareroom.

BitterAndTwisted

If this property is being let as a joint-tenancy rather than each individual renting their own rooms on a separate agreement you should think yourselves lucky that she's been rejected and you haven't signed up as guarantors. Or you could ultimately be at risk of guaranteeing the rent for the whole property for the entire duration of the tenancy.

Under the circs you have a number of choices:

Your daughter accepts that she has to let her friends down and they each make other arrangements.

They all decide to rent a property through a different agent whose tenant-referencing is more realistic and flexible.

They contact the landlord direct and see if they will agree to offer the tenancy. Be warned: some tenant-referencing organisations can be very stringent indeed where the landlord has a rent-guarantee-insurance arrangement.

JMB2

Thanks BitterandTwisted, We are aware of the problem of acting as a guarantor on a joint tenancy that is why we were hoping to come up with a different arrangement. We are now hoping that the estate agent will contact the landlord as if they have to put it back on the market he will miss out on at least a months rent by looking for other tenants as the process has now being going on for 5 weeks. We are keeping our fingers crossed!