Renting with bad reference

Caz3121

not me but for family
Previously a brother and sister rented place together...neither particularly good with money (very young and first time renting) rent often paid late (never more than a couple of weeks) and when left property all was up to date (there was some issues with the property and they (wrongly) decided it was ok to pay rent late as they were so fed up with no action being taken - black mould in the property for 10 months)
The sister is now looking to rent with her partner and his brother and viewed a property that was ideal. Problem being that partner and his brother are self employed and do not have enough books and she, although working, has some bad credit (not sure how bad but overdraft was passed on to debt agency but she did sell her car to pay off credit card bill) and an income not big enough to support the full rent.

Spoke to owners who were at the property and explained situation honestly and confirmed that they would be able to pay deposit and 6 months rent up front as they knew there would be problem with credit check / previous landlord reference and all seemed to be fine.

She was contacted today to say that the landlord would not be able to get insurance if they rented to someone that had failed checks so could not go ahead

Any suggestions to what options they may have given that the references and credit checks will not change and they are what they are for the immediate future anyway. They have the deposit and 6 months rent up front. Currently sofa surfing (in different places) and keen to get their own place...she is so upset and thinks that they are stuffed and have no options and not sure what to suggest to her

Any help gratefully received

edit: title updated as it appears it is the previous landlord reference that they are saying is the problem

Guest101

Uhm don't tell them, since she's of passed the credit checks, but clearly not the affordability checks. So rent cheaper.

They only check ccjs, ivas and bankruptcy - public records.

fishpond

Caz3121 wrote: »

not me but for family
Previously a brother and sister rented place together...neither particularly good with money (very young and first time renting) rent often paid late (never more than a couple of weeks) and when left property all was up to date (there was some issues with the property and they (wrongly) decided it was ok to pay rent late as they were so fed up with no action being taken - black mould in the property for 10 months)
The sister is now looking to rent with her partner and his brother and viewed a property that was ideal. Problem being that partner and his brother are self employed and do not have enough books and she, although working, has some bad credit (not sure how bad but overdraft was passed on to debt agency but she did sell her car to pay off credit card bill) and an income not big enough to support the full rent.

Spoke to owners who were at the property and explained situation honestly and confirmed that they would be able to pay deposit and 6 months rent up front as they knew there would be problem with credit check / previous landlord reference and all seemed to be fine.

She was contacted today to say that the landlord would not be able to get insurance if they rented to someone that had failed checks so could not go ahead

Any suggestions to what options they may have given that the references and credit checks will not change and they are what they are for the immediate future anyway. They have the deposit and 6 months rent up front. Currently sofa surfing (in different places) and keen to get their own place...she is so upset and thinks that they are stuffed and have no options and not sure what to suggest to her

Any help gratefully received

That's a new one on me.
Anyway, paying 6 months up front is quite acceptable to most LL's.
Also they were honest about the situation which also goes in their favour.

Caz3121

fishpond wrote: »

That's a new one on me.
Anyway, paying 6 months up front is quite acceptable to most LL's.
Also they were honest about the situation which also goes in their favour.

thanks - she is giving up saying....no one will rent to us as we have a bad reference which means the insurance company will not cover, so that means it will be the same everywhere so no one will rent to us

I just wanted to confirm whether a bad reference would mean could not get insurance and it will be the case everywhere or whether they were just saying that rather than saying they did not want to rent to them and there may be other places that would accept it

theartfullodger

There are several types of insurance for let property -- the usual type, buildings & contents is not usually a problem with no or bad references..(eg think about the many, many, many tenants on benefits with no job.. landlord still needs insurance in case the place burns down...)

However "Rent Protection" or "Rent Guarantee" insurance does usually require reference & credit checks to be passed to pay out.. but not all landlords take that insurance (eg I don't, Im just careful with references & credit checks..).

PS The offer of 6 or 12 months rent up-front sounds wonderful.. but some landlords/agents will worry that it may be to run a brothel or cannabis farm.. (both happen, oh yes...) -...

Keep trying, keep smiling, don't give up!!..

alibean121

I've never actually had a LL reference taken and have always found tenancies no problem. I'd definitely keep applying and keep quiet!!

xHannahx

A friend of ours has a similar situation, and she has had no problem getting rentals from landlords who don't use agencies, and do it direct themselves.