Zero hour contract and renting first time

Topaz1

Hi
I'm new to this site but in need of some advice.


I'm about to rent a flat for the first time and I have been going through the paperwork that the letting company have asked for.
They want a work reference stating what hours I work and my annual salary.


now here's the issue I am on a zero hour contract so I don't have an annual salary, I do 50 hours plus a week so can defiantly afford the rent. I am concerned that if I tell the letting agency I am on a zero hour contract they wont want to take me on as a tenant.


what should I do ????


thanks

slopemaster

Can you find a guarantor?

Topaz1

yes I have a guarantor would this be enough or could they still refuse me ???

slopemaster

Well, I suppose they could, but if you have a (working, houseowning) guarantor I think it would be unreasonable, and hopefully unlikely.

PasturesNew

Remember though - a guarantor is being asked to underwrite the payment of your rent .... FOREVER. Until you move out..... so if you lose that job how would you pay the rent? Does LHA cover the amount required?

HappyMJ

Topaz1 wrote: »

Hi
I'm new to this site but in need of some advice.


I'm about to rent a flat for the first time and I have been going through the paperwork that the letting company have asked for.
They want a work reference stating what hours I work and my annual salary.


now here's the issue I am on a zero hour contract so I don't have an annual salary, I do 50 hours plus a week so can defiantly afford the rent. I am concerned that if I tell the letting agency I am on a zero hour contract they wont want to take me on as a tenant.


what should I do ????


thanks

I would provide lots of payslips showing consistent hours being given to you over a long period of time. Any employment really could end with a few weeks notice so it isn't really much difference to a zero hours contract.

You should also provide good evidence of saving for the weeks when you have no income.

Topaz1

ok thanks you've put my mind at rest somewhat

Topaz1

LHA??? I am sharing with my bf and he earns enough to cover rent if I ever lost my job

slopemaster

PasturesNew wrote: »

Remember though - a guarantor is being asked to underwrite the payment of your rent .... FOREVER. Until you move out.....

Not necessarily.
I accepted a guarantor for the one-year term of the contract only, on the basis that asking him to commit to something completely open-ended is unreasonable.
At the end of the term, if my tenant wants to stay, I can decide whether I need to ask for a further guarantee or not.

slopemaster

If he earns enough on his own, then you shouln't even need a guarantor, assuming it's a joint tenancy.

Topaz1

yea its a joint tenancy but they want both of us to provide details of employment and previous landlord experience. As this is my first time renting I had to provide a guarantor.