13 months upfront!

AimOx

Hi FBaby

Yes of course, an en-suite could suit, and I am always looking into these options (Gumtree in particular is my current new best friend!), again the rents are high, so it's swings and roundabouts.

I'm going to see the agent tomorrow so will chat with them face to face and see what they really think!

pinkshoes

AimOx wrote: »

Hi FBaby

Yes of course, an en-suite could suit, and I am always looking into these options (Gumtree in particular is my current new best friend!), again the rents are high, so it's swings and roundabouts.

I'm going to see the agent tomorrow so will chat with them face to face and see what they really think!

You have other options.

If an ensuite is ok, then how about this:
https://www.spareroom.co.uk/flatshare/flatshare_detail.pl?flatshare_id=5552854&search_id=428277412&city_id=&flatshare_type=offered&search_results=%2Fflatshare%2F%3Fsearch_id%3D428277412%26mode%3Dlist%26&

It's an ensuite double, the £600 includes all bills, and sharing with people in their 30s. The town is also less than an hour by bus to Central Oxford.

Plenty of similar options in surrounding villages. Witney is more expensive due to lots of shops and facilities.

AdrianC

AimOx wrote: »

I work in Central Oxford, so a one hour commute is about as close as I could affordably be rent-wise!

With regards being a lodger, I struggle here, as I have active Crohn's disease which is embarrassing enough at work, but being able to have privacy at home is of enormous importance, and sharing a home with anyone else wouldn't provide that.

So find a room with an en-suite.

Most shared houses/HMO's, whether full of students or professionals (BTW I'm 32) are £500-600 per month, and the property I am keen on is £650, so that's where my preference lies.

Mmm.
https://www.spareroom.co.uk/flatshare/flatshare_detail.pl?flatshare_id=3303465
https://www.spareroom.co.uk/flatshare/flatshare_detail.pl?flatshare_id=405041
and others.

They ARE out there. Stop making excuses to justify something you can't afford.

Crashy_Time

FBaby wrote: »

Unfortunately, renting is all about demand and supply. If demand is higher than demand, then LL will be able to afford to be more demanding in terms of requirements. It is understandable. Why take someone who has poor credit when you can have someone with perfect credit? It's no different to a job applications.

Your only alternative is to lower your standards for a while, whilst rebuilding your credit score and maybe saving to be able to put a bigger deposit. At least with renting, you can agree to a 6 months engagement or less to give you flexibility as to when to move.

I understand that you are not willing to share, but could you consider it if for instance you had your own en-suite?

Why isn`t he just taking someone with good credit then, and they are opening up their wallet, instead of telling the OP what she has to pay? More likely that the landlord is in trouble and just trying it on. Walk away.

glasgowdan

AimOx, get on gumtree and local facebook pages plus newsagents windows and get a rental of the slightly less than formal variety. You'll get something cheaper and with less fussy landlords. Granted, you have a higher risk of dealing with issues down the line, but if you're careful you'll find something right.

tim123456789

Crashy_Time wrote: »

Why isn`t he just taking someone with good credit then, and they are opening up their wallet, instead of telling the OP what she has to pay? More likely that the landlord is in trouble and just trying it on. Walk away.

Reading his posts it seems to be a rule imposed by the agency, not the LL

my solution

find another agency

Crashy_Time

glasgowdan wrote: »

AimOx, get on gumtree and local facebook pages plus newsagents windows and get a rental of the slightly less than formal variety. You'll get something cheaper and with less fussy landlords. Granted, you have a higher risk of dealing with issues down the line, but if you're careful you'll find something right.

Private landlords you mean? Probably less chance of "Issues" than at present IMO.

FBaby

Why isn`t he just taking someone with good credit then

From the LL's perspective, it's a case of reducing loss of rental income vs minimising risk, so they will want to get someone in as quickly as possible, but reduce the chance of the tenant not being to pay after a few months.

Getting full rent in advance is the safest way to minimise risk, although of course, there is still the issue that when the fixed ast comes to an end, the tenant can't afford rent and getting them evicted becomes long and costly.

So on one hand, they can wait for someone with a better credit and safest (in appearance obviously) chance of getting regular monthly rental, or someone who pays all upfront, but more likely to stop paying at a later stage.

What is clearly the more risky is to take someone on poor credit with little deposit and no advance payment.

Maybe OP needs to do some research. Most agencies will only check for CCJs rather than credit scoring, but some will also ask for bank statements whilst others won't.

Miss_Samantha

Frankly, asking 6 months rent upfront and 7 months deposit means the landlord should just find another tenant.