Post-bankruptcy and renting property

babsiccles

Hi all!

I have a couple of questions regarding renting with bankruptcy and wondered if any one could help?

I was self-employed for 7 years from the age of 18, made a couple of bad business decisions and ended up owing a lot of money to HMRC. In the end, and after years of struggling to pay what I owed them, we both agreed it was best for me to declare myself bankrupt. I had no assets, nothing to lose, but it mean't I could be debt free. It was the best decision I've ever made.

It's not effected my life in any way. I kept my bank account, kept my job, even kept my rented property!

I was discharged a year later, all went OK with no complications.

However, I've just come out of a relationship, the tenancy's ended on my current property and I've just passed probation on my new job in London. I need to find a flatshare but I'm absolutely dreading a credit check.

I've never failed to pay any rent, despite a dire financial situation in the past. I have four landlords who can provide excellent references covering the last 10 years and I'm in a stable job with a decent income, and no financial commitments beside my rent!

I can't provide 6 months rent in advance or a guarantor, so does any one have any idea's how it works? Am I going to find it difficult? At what stage do you tell the landlord of the situation?

I'm currently just going with private landlords who say they pay for 'tenant checks', not quite sure what that involves?

Any help would help immensely!

adindas

You did not mention in which area you are planning to live.
In London especially in case the letting agent involve then many indeed will do credit check.

I was renting and living in various part of the country and I never get credit check, just reference and in some occasion pay slips to shoe that I am employed. The best advice is that try to find the landlord or agent which do not do credit check.

babsiccles wrote: »

Hi all!

I have a couple of questions regarding renting with bankruptcy and wondered if any one could help?

I was self-employed for 7 years from the age of 18, made a couple of bad business decisions and ended up owing a lot of money to HMRC. In the end, and after years of struggling to pay what I owed them, we both agreed it was best for me to declare myself bankrupt. I had no assets, nothing to lose, but it mean't I could be debt free. It was the best decision I've ever made.

It's not effected my life in any way. I kept my bank account, kept my job, even kept my rented property!

I was discharged a year later, all went OK with no complications.

However, I've just come out of a relationship, the tenancy's ended on my current property and I've just passed probation on my new job in London. I need to find a flatshare but I'm absolutely dreading a credit check.

I've never failed to pay any rent, despite a dire financial situation in the past. I have four landlords who can provide excellent references covering the last 10 years and I'm in a stable job with a decent income, and no financial commitments beside my rent!

I can't provide 6 months rent in advance or a guarantor, so does any one have any idea's how it works? Am I going to find it difficult? At what stage do you tell the landlord of the situation?

I'm currently just going with private landlords who say they pay for 'tenant checks', not quite sure what that involves?

Any help would help immensely!

dancingfairy

how long ago was the bankruptcy as this would presumably affect your credit rating?
df

TheGardener

If you are/have been a good tenant - you always paid your rent and looked after the property then get a reference from your landlord - its worth 20 credit checks to have a glowing reference.

babsiccles

dancingfairy wrote: »

how long ago was the bankruptcy as this would presumably affect your credit rating?
df

August 2012, discharged August 2013. I just assumed so long as it's on there then my credit score will be the lowest possible?! lol

alastairq

On the contrary....be up front when giving details to enable the check to be conducted.....probably find [with a lot of agents?] that having BR on the record means, having zero debts..therefore more able to pay the rent??