Renting and Changing Job

SeasideSally

In the next few weeks, my husband and I are going to need to find somewhere to rent. We haven't rented anywhere since 2003, so I don't know how much things have changed.

The last time we rented somewhere, a change of job was a huge issue. At the time, we had to pay several months' rent up front, plus the deposit, plus other fees.

Now, my husband is about to change his job. By the time we are looking for a property to rent, he will be serving his notice period of three months, and then he will have a probationary period of six months in the new job. We have nobody to act as guarantor.

What are our options? Will we have to hand over six months' rent? Would that even be enough to persuade a landlord to take us on, given the change in job?

It's been so long since we did this, we're clueless. We've been planning this move for a while, and it has only just occurred to me that the job thing will be a problem. :shocked:

knightstyle

You need to talk to the letting agencies in the area as they all have different rules.
Our GS has just got his first job so is renting for the first time, apart from digs at uni and did not need a guarantor, just proof of the new job and references from the uni accommodation.

quotememiserable

Why say anything about the job change? They ask if you have a job, payslips etc, provide them. I assume you'll have the resources to actually pay the rent for the duration of the AST?

SeasideSally

knightstyle wrote: »

You need to talk to the letting agencies in the area as they all have different rules.

Ah, I didn't realise that. I thought there would be some standard process they all follow. I'll make up a list and call all of them tomorrow.

SeasideSally

quotememiserable wrote: »

Why say anything about the job change? They ask if you have a job, payslips etc, provide them. I assume you'll have the resources to actually pay the rent for the duration of the AST?

Yes, we can afford the rent. Last time, the letting agent wanted an actual letter from an employer (on paper). Don't they do that now? I wouldn't like to go into it without being upfront, though.

Sharon87

I would ask my employer for a letter saying you're employed - ask them to not put the date you're leaving on. I work contracts and do this all the time. It's truthful - yes I'm working there at this moment in time. Doesn't matter if I finish in a month, I always have other contracts. Just don't mention the move. It's still being truthful. Unless he asks if you're going to stay there, then mention you have another job you're going to. I wouldn't flat out lie if they ask, but they don't need to know the exact circumstances.

Remember anyone at any time could get made redundant/lose their job.

SeasideSally

Sharon87 wrote: »

I would ask my employer for a letter saying you're employed - ask them to not put the date you're leaving on.

The person responsible for instructing the people who deal with references is not going to be in the right frame of mind to agree to that. My husband has had the audacity to find himself a better job, and his manager (who's actually in the US) is the type to take things personally. We're a bit concerned that he might refuse a reference altogether.

We did manage to get hold of a letting agent this morning, though. It seems that they're quite flexible in these parts. They take a lot of things into consideration, including the fact that we have no children or dogs. It's not at all like it was fifteen years ago.