evicted by court references

cowsnhope

Hi
I have a friend who was evicted by court from his last rented flat through a letting agency (long story). My friend will be looking to rent again soon and is concerned that he will not be able to find anywhere as he will now get a terrible reference from his former letting agency. Does anyone have any advice re this?
Many thanks

Guest101

Yea be honest about the reason for eviction.

But chances are he has no reference, rather than a bad reference. Which means more to some LLs than to others.

Generally better or more experienced landlords put less weight on a reference- it's the opinion of a single person, usually who hasn't met the tenant.

alchemist.1

1. Look at a house share. Not all require references.
2. Look for somewhere which isnt in a popular area

theartfullodger

Unless the letting agent was the actual landlord or a solicitor it would have been the landlord who evicted them.

Is there an earlier landlord or landlords?? - who might give references. It is just possible, depending on why the eviction, that the landlord or agent might be happy to give a good reference.

For example if they were evicted as the owner wish to sell (and did sell rather that that was used as an excuse..) and they used the "no fault" s21 route then agent/landlord might be OK. Ask!

Of course if the have been living with relatives for a bit.......

Prothet_of_Doom

On the opposite side of the coin, how should Land Lords protect their investment from muppets and scammers ?

My wife reckons a reference is worthless, as they'd just get a mate to make it up.

cowsnhope

Thank you
My friend has been living with me and has been a good tenant so I am happy to give him a reference, also he will get good references from previous letting agencies, he was a good tenant in the flat he got evicted from he just wasn't able to move as had no-where to go and being on benefits without a guarantor meant that no LA would let to him - he gets turned down by most anyway. I know from previous times when he has rented that the LAs get references going back years and they will therefore pick up the bad one as it was less than a year ago.

Hello theartfullodger - thanks for the advice yet again :-)

alchemist.1

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

On the opposite side of the coin, how should Land Lords protect their investment from muppets and scammers ?

My wife reckons a reference is worthless, as they'd just get a mate to make it up.

Employers reference

[Deleted User]

I think its an accepted fact that new accommodation is hard to find for tenants who are in receipt of benefits, who are being evicted. Its become harder in certain areas. I don't think this is a serious worry for your friend unless he was in rent arrears. If he kept his rent payments up to date, he will look like a good tenant, not bad. The eviction shouldn't affect his standing.

Unfortunately, the fact that he is in receipt of benefits may do though. There are areas of the country where a whole area might be on benefits, and properties are rented to these people.., but they may need a guarantor. I wouldn't advise anyone to be someone else's guarantor though, just in case, it is a huge liability if things go wrong.

A lot of the country however, is like mine, not enough rental properties and too many tenants so tenants on benefits just don't get a foot in the door with private rentals. Your friend might find it easier if he house shares. The best thing to do is start trawling Letting Agencies, ads in windows and newspapers to find out how he can best find somewhere to move to.

I've found it useful to take bank statements and budgets with me to prove I am a reliable tenant.

thesaint

Why was he evicted?
Was he instructed to pay the court costs? If so, has he?

macman

Has the eviction affected his credit record?

Guest101

macman wrote: »

Has the eviction affected his credit record?

It wont (unless he fails to pay any costs / arrange a payment plan)