Couple renting..one with good credit score and one with poor..advice

Blackdhalia

Hi all

My husband and I are about to rent somewhere. He has a good credit score and I have a poor one. We can afford the payments and my poor credit status is due to am old default and not making minimum payments when I left teaching due to a bit of a stress breakdown.

Financially we earn enough to pay rent and have been renting privately but now have seen a place but through an agent. What's the chances of renting and getting accepted when one has a poor rating?

Thanks

Pixie5740

Credit scores and meaningless. They are made up by the CRA to sell people products they do not need.

All letting agencies and landlords see are your public credit files and all that's on there are CCJs and bankruptcy.

Blackdhalia

Thanks very much

flashg67

A good agent should look at affordability rather than just credit scores. Do you need to go on the tenancy if you're worried about your credit score?

Blackdhalia

I guess I don't but just assume that's how it would work? I guess my husband can just do it in his name

Pixie5740

Yes affordability also comes into it but you've already said you can afford the rent payments. You're a married couple with a joint income so I don't see why you couldn't have a joint tenancy.

HappyMJ

Blackdhalia wrote: »

I guess I don't but just assume that's how it would work? I guess my husband can just do it in his name

You wouldn't be able to live there though.

I am a landlord and require all adults living in the property at the beginning of the tenancy to be on the tenancy agreement.

Landlords need to know who is living in the property and must do identity checks on all adults.

If you explain why you have CCJ's or have declared bankruptcy before the landlord finds out about it through the referencing agency then you have a better chance of convincing the landlord you are a good tenant. Bankrupt tenants can actually be good as rent is a priority bill paid above all unsecured debt repayments.

xHannahx

My credit file is poor, but never had a problem renting as we have perfect payment history On our rents. I gave up work due to health resulting in a household income drop of around £20k, and from hubbies salary we correctly prioritised our bills, always ensuring rent and other priority bills were paid first.
Unsecured debt get about a fiver a month each through stepchange so have all defaulted.

Blackdhalia

Thanks guys
My husband is a teacher and I am a PA so we have good traceable income and my husband actually owned a property with his dad they just sold but for no profit but he has ten years of not one missed payment on that. I had a default from 6 years ago due to drop off rest was older missed payments no CCJs

Guest101

HappyMJ wrote: »

You wouldn't be able to live there though. - Yes she would. If her husband wanted her to. The tenant has absolute control of who does and doesn't live there.

I am a landlord and require all adults living in the property at the beginning of the tenancy to be on the tenancy agreement. - That is as may be. But the tenant can still invite whomever they wish to live with them.

Landlords need to know who is living in the property and must do identity checks on all adults. - Actually landlords must make reasonable efforts to check the right to abode of all occupants. However you cannot check what you do not know.

If you explain why you have CCJ's or have declared bankruptcy before the landlord finds out about it through the referencing agency then you have a better chance of convincing the landlord you are a good tenant. Bankrupt tenants can actually be good as rent is a priority bill paid above all unsecured debt repayments.

I agree, honesty about any CCJs etc. is paramount early on into proceedings (assuming CCJs aren't for rent arrears! - As this will be a big red flag)

pelican19

Hi, I was in the same situation a few years ago. My partner and I wanted to rent somewhere that was actually really quite cheap at the time, and because my partner had a poor credit score plus he was on a debt management plan, the estate agent refused our application. I then asked for more info and they said that many landlords just don't want to take anyone on with a poor rating and even if we could afford the rent, we would never be in the running.

I might have just had a really mean estate agent but it certainly didn't seem fair when my rating was fine.

After a couple of years, my partner finished on his debt management program and his credit rating increased. We'd split up by then, but he was able to rent somewhere soon after. So it can happen after a bit of time