No guarantor - how to rent own place in Manchester?

Bubbly85

(My background: 29 years old, female, salary £24k, health professional, debt = 15k and 1 CCJ, on a debt management plan, no savings, and have no guarantor).

Hello, I would like some advice on renting my own property in the Greater Manchester area. I have been living in shared houses over the past 4 years, privately rented through spareroom.co.uk. I have experienced the usual problems of noisy housemates and not being considerate if you have an early start at work the next morning etc. The websites of Spareroom, Easyroomate and Gumtree have been very useful for finding a privately rented room in a shared property without any credit checks.

I have now reached a point in my life where I will begin doctoral professional training, which requires 3 years of hard work and quiet study. Therefore, I would like to rent my own 1 bed apartment/flat or house in the Greater Manchester area. However, this seems to be impossible so far, as even private landlords on Gumtree are requesting a credit check or guarantor Both of which I don't have!

Because of my background (see above), I am unable to rent using an Estate Agent. I contacted approx 20 estate agents in Manchester, I explained my circumstances and told them I could provide excellent references from previous landlords, employer reference, bank statements, take out rental insurance and even give them a big deposit. They all refused me! They told me to either pay 12 months rent upfront or provide a guarantor.

I was thinking to myself, surely I'm not the only person in debt who is struggling to find a place to rent? This is causing me a great amount of stress. Please could someone advise me on how to proceed with finding my own property to rent?

Thanks for your time.
S

poppysarah

Apply to the council. Got to be worth a try.

pmlindyloo

Are you doing your doctoral professional training through a university? They may know of a landlord who would be willing to rent to you.

Basically you need to avoid estate agents as most of them, as you have found, either demand rent up front or a guarantor.

Have you looked in the local paper? On notice boards in shops?
Asked friends/colleagues?

thequant

Bubbly85 wrote: »

(My background: 29 years old, female, salary £24k, health professional, debt = 15k and 1 CCJ, on a debt management plan, no savings, and have no guarantor).



Because of my background (see above), I am unable to rent using an Estate Agent. I contacted approx 20 estate agents in Manchester, I explained my circumstances and told them I could provide excellent references from previous landlords, employer reference, bank statements, take out rental insurance and even give them a big deposit. They all refused me! They told me to either pay 12 months rent upfront or provide a guarantor.

Been in a similar position myself in Manchester, if you need quite time for study then central library in the city centre or the Manchester University library on Oxford road are a gift. You don't need to be a student at Manchester Uni, access is available to all students in Manchester.


If having your own place is essential, then with a CCJ and No guarantor then NO respectable Landlord will rent to you on standard terms, although some shady ones in some shady areas you wouldn't want to live probably would.


The 12 months upfront is quite steep, I have been able to negotiate in the past 6 months up front with half rent payable during the term. Most LL's when thinking about this realise it's a very good deal. It's benefits both you and LL, i.e. LL has plenty of buffer if you start defaulting on your rent, you get get the chance to build up a "credit history" and hopefully a good relationship with a LL

stclair

Where in Manchester do you want to live?

Avoid estate agents they are robbing bar stewards.

SimonSays

Theres places in Prestwich that are decent and don't need a credit check/a years rent in advance.

Jenniefour

Have you already tried putting your own ad on Spareroom which states you need a quiet environment and space to study? Or applying to those who are looking in older age groups, putting your case? I ask that because those live in landlords are usually looking for a lodger who is past the party animal stage.

Getting your own property is going to be nigh on impossible, as others have said. Credit checks are routine these days.

whodathunkit

With that much debt and on a DMP, can you actually afford a flat of your own and all the attendant extra costs? Why not concentrate on looking for a room in a small house/flat share with someone else who also likes to live quietly?

penguingirl

I think I recognise you from another forum bubbly (one linked to your career aspirations). As someone on the same course in the same area I would recommend trying to share with another trainee or at least other postgrad students. I know quite a few people who've done it as a lot of people relocate for training and my course admin were very willing to email round ads beforehand to put people in touch.

dimbo61

http://www.manchesterstudenthomes.com/Home

Start here! they have several one bed flats for rent

Lots and Lots of students looking for 1/2/3 bed flats and houses around the Universities.

dimbo61

http://www.manchesterstudenthomes.com/SearchResults/1

2 bed flats are cheaper so look on the MSH website for someone to buddy up with.