Urgent advice required regarding renting!!!!

Gwyneth2328

I need some information regarding renting a property, this advice is actually for my daughter & I am desperate for any "Proper" advice that any one can give, she has sold her house (due to a divorce) & has to find somewhere to rent but the agents are all saying that she has to be able to prove that she earns 2.5 times what the rental per yr would be, this has been confusing as another agent said that is not always the case!! We are really desperate for information as she has two small boys to think of!! Thank you to anyone that can help....:o

bbk87

Most estate agents ask this of prospective tenants.

When we moved 6 months ago, we had to prove we learnt 30 times the monthly rent before they would let us take the flat.

MisterB1959

has she tried going to landlords direct and not through an agent? she can advertise, ask etc in a variety of ways/mediums


I haven't heard of the 2.5 'issue' - it might be some sort of follow on from mortgage approvals

Gwyneth2328

It's not possible to go direct to landlords as you HAVE to go through agents & most people use an agent (which is understandable), one agent said that they do sometimes waive the 2.5 issue but lengthy conversation today with an agent seemed to say that ALL would ask for 2.5, it so expensive where she lives but the boys are at school & she is also a teacher, they wont take maintenance into consideration which seems ludicrous!! I wish I could speak to Martin directly I am so desperate for some help!!!

ViolaLass

She could offer to pay six months up front or you could offer to be a guarantor.

jjlandlord

It is an affordability test. Income of 2.5-3.5 times rent is the 'normal' range.

Going direct to a landlord who knows what he is doing will not significantly change the situation: If she earns less than 2.5x the rent she is not looking like a good proposition.
If she has dependants then that's even worse.

To try to soften the agents\landlords up the options are to offer to pay rent upfront or to have someone to guarantee the rent. The former would probably not help much, though, as they are bound to wonder what would happen afterwards.

PasturesNew

Welcome to the horrible world of renting.... and all the cr4p that comes with it.

theartfullodger

Gwyneth2328 wrote: »

It's not possible to go direct to landlords as you HAVE to go through agents ....

Not true: Some landlords operate direct, and also sometimes using an online agent simply to find a tenant: e.g. I usually go direct and often use upad, but I've also advertised on Gumtree & in shop windows.. (Sorry, nothing free now..)

It is entirely up to the landlord and/or agent what financial constraints they put on tenant. For example some landlords happily rent to those only getting benefits. Suggest you/she keep talking to agents and landlords and hopefully something will come up. Good luck!

Eliza_2

Gwyneth2328 wrote: »

It's not possible to go direct to landlords as you HAVE to go through agents & most people use an agent (which is understandable), one agent said that they do sometimes waive the 2.5 issue but lengthy conversation today with an agent seemed to say that ALL would ask for 2.5, it so expensive where she lives but the boys are at school & she is also a teacher, they wont take maintenance into consideration which seems ludicrous!! I wish I could speak to Martin directly I am so desperate for some help!!!

I've rented lots and never gone through an agent, I absolutely refuse to. Plenty of landlords advertise direct through local papers, in newsagent windows or she could put a 'wanted' ad in the paper. Word of mouth is good too. I was offered a lovely place when I let it be known I was looking. I didn't take the offer up in the end but it would've made someone a fabulous home. The owner had just let it stand empty and hadn't got round to doing anything with it.

Alternatively, as has been suggested, a guarantor or 6 months rent in advance.

MisterB1959

I advertised on gumtree and local shops and even had my own TO LET sign made. so you don't HAVE to go through agents. get the word out there that she is looking, school gate conversations with other mothers might help

Gwyneth2328

I know some landlords don't use agents but at the moment the only houses she has seen advertised are via agents so not possible to contact those landlords direct. She has put the word out and aske around but to no avail, I will speak to her about gumtree and local shops etc.. nothing in local paper though....:-) They say guarantor would also have to prove 2.5 times the rent!!!!