Joint tenancy issues

afriendindeed

Hello all! I've been in the process of attempting to rent a house through a local agency (first time!). My partner, who lives between my current address and his father's address will be moving in with me (all his work stuff comes to my address, and his bank stuff to his old address).

I initially wanted a tenancy in my name only but the agent insisted on a joint application (and a larger fee of course!). So forms were filled in, and a holding deposit and a ridiculous amount of processing fees paid. My partner hadn't been able to obtain recent bank statements (father is an ill alcoholic and tends to hide post etc and my partner is changing his bank address over to mine, but due to his working hours hasn't been able to get into the bank yet!) but the agency had initially said this was OK.

After two weeks of waiting, they tell me today that my application is fine. Then they call my partner to tell him his is not as the credit check couldn't be done as he has two addresses. They've told him that the application will likely be rejected! He's going into the bank on Saturday to get his bank statements sorted out in the hope that this will help the application.

What I need to know is this - can they reject us if I pass (and can afford everything on my own) and he fails? Can I offer to be sole tenant and he just lives with me but I have responsibility for all the bills and rent etc? We've even got six months rent saved up, would offering this help perhaps?

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Guest101

afriendindeed wrote: »

Hello all! I've been in the process of attempting to rent a house through a local agency (first time!). My partner, who lives between my current address and his father's address will be moving in with me (all his work stuff comes to my address, and his bank stuff to his old address).

I initially wanted a tenancy in my name only but the agent insisted on a joint application (and a larger fee of course!) - Learn to say no. . So forms were filled in, and a holding deposit and a ridiculous amount of processing fees paid. My partner hadn't been able to obtain recent bank statements (father is an ill alcoholic and tends to hide post etc and my partner is changing his bank address over to mine, but due to his working hours hasn't been able to get into the bank yet!) but the agency had initially said this was OK. - It's one phonecall to change address and order copies. It takes 10 minutes. That's a poor excuse.

After two weeks of waiting, they tell me today that my application is fine. - Great, as it's a JOINT tenancy, there is only ONE application. Then they call my partner to tell him his is not as the credit check couldn't be done as he has two addresses. - That's absolute rubbish. They've told him that the application will likely be rejected! He's going into the bank on Saturday to get his bank statements sorted out in the hope that this will help the application. - Well which is it, accepted or rejected?

What I need to know is this - can they reject us if I pass (and can afford everything on my own) and he fails? - I don't know, whats the pass / fail criteria? Can I offer to be sole tenant and he just lives with me but I have responsibility for all the bills and rent etc? - Yes ofcourse (Bills are private anyway) We've even got six months rent saved up, would offering this help perhaps? - Perhaps

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Ring them and ask what is happening

afriendindeed

Thank you for a prompt, if rather harshly worded response! As stated, this is my first time dealing with such things. They made it seem very much like they wouldn't accept anything other than a joint application, if I'd known I could say no I would have! Finding a property where I live is not easy as they rarely come up so I jumped onto the first suitable one. My partner did call his bank for statements but was told he'd need a password etc mailing to him to access telephone banking hence the delay. I've been on to the agent a few times today for clarification since they called but so far have only got an answering machine and I've asked them to call me back.We're now pretty convinced this is just due to lack of bank statements. I'm still onto them. Are you currently a landlord or a letting agent or have industry knowledge? I just wanted to know what my rights are here. Thanks.

Guest101

afriendindeed wrote: »

Thank you for a prompt, if rather harshly worded response! As stated, this is my first time dealing with such things. They made it seem very much like they wouldn't accept anything other than a joint application, if I'd known I could say no I would have! - Maybe they would, maybe they wouldn't, but if you were applying initially 'on your own' then there's no reason for them to even remotely consider that you have a partner who would also live there. unless you told them. Many letting agents don't know tenancy law either and think everyone must be named, simply not true. Finding a property where I live is not easy as they rarely come up so I jumped onto the first suitable one. My partner did call his bank for statements but was told he'd need a password etc mailing to him to access telephone banking hence the delay. I've been on to the agent a few times today for clarification since they called but so far have only got an answering machine and I've asked them to call me back. We're now pretty convinced this is just due to lack of bank statements. - Just to be clear, I would never in a million years supply bank statements to a letting agent. I'm still onto them. Are you currently a landlord or a letting agent or have industry knowledge? I just wanted to know what my rights are here. Thanks.

Neither a LL nor a Letting Agent, but I'd like to think I have a good knowledge base on such matters.


(definitely more than most LLs and LAs that's for sure)


Your rights are, and always have been, the same, apply as a single applicant and get the tenancy in your name.

afriendindeed

Update - managed to wrangle the contact details of their vetting guy. Turns out it was nothing to do with any of the things the agency told me, my partner's crappy HR department sent them the wrong information about him to the vetter! Good god! Such a bloody roundabout of crap.

Guest101

afriendindeed wrote: »

Update - managed to wrangle the contact details of their vetting guy. Turns out it was nothing to do with any of the things the agency told me, my partner's crappy HR department sent them the wrong information about him to the vetter! Good god! Such a bloody roundabout of crap.

Still doesn't address the issue of the letting agent being totally incompetent.

Pixie5740

I was going to say that the address issue sounded like cobblers because people with more than more than one correspondence address can apply for credit cards and loans so a credit check for renting a property should be ok. I'm glad you got it resolved in the end.