need 4 bed house but having trouble renting

elysia_2

my husband and i have 6 kids we currently rent of our inlaws and need to move to a bigger house .But as soon has agency's hear that i got six children they make an excuse and say we can't rent that property the landlord won't allow it .Ain't there any way around this they don't even know us but treat us if we would reck the place.I've told the agency that i can get refs bond even willing for them to come to my home to look around but no hope.My house is lovely my inlaws haven't done anything to it we do it all our self other wise we would still be living in the 80 styles.We don't won't council estates because more often than not there's trouble my children are well behaved and don't go out much at all so how can i get round these agency's or landlords any help i'm willing to try.:mad:

dolce_vita

elysia wrote: »

.......But as soon has agency's hear that i got six children they make an excuse and say we can't rent that property the landlord won't allow it

OP - I have been a landlord for over 20 years and have experienced good and bad tenants in my time.
I do not use an agency (because they are lying thieving b*stards-but that's for another thread) and always deal with tenants directly.

I can tell you that 6 children will put landlords off regardless of how
well-behaved they are simply because children make more mess and are more likely to cause damage.

Doozergirl

It's hard with any children, let alone six You're treated like a second class citizen as soon as you mention the 'ch' word.

I let my own house to a couple with four kids and a dog, complete with cream carpets and a magnoila walls. The place was nigh on perfect when I got it back after a year. You just have to find someone willing Landlords, spoken to directly might be more understanding than agents who can be quite black and white about things.

kunekune

The other response from tenants who have children is willingness to pay any costs involved ... We know that during our tenancy that the house will not be perfect, not even remotely perfect. But we'll pay for any costs that results in. I think that's fair.

silvercar

Shame you have to mention the kids to the letting agents.

When it comes to a property inspection and they are spotted, just introduce them Blue Peter style, "Here's one I made earlier".:)

clutton_2

as a landlord i would be looking for a substantially higher than normal deposit for so many children - as they do "up" the wear&tear stakes considerably .... also it depends on their ages.

PasturesNew

Do you have to tell the letting agent/landlord how many you've got?
Is it on the form then?
If not, just stay quiet... they might be your little preciouses, but to the rest of the world it's an "OMG" moment.

merlinthehappypig

I certainly sympathise with you here. You become a second class citizen if you have 4 children or more (we have 5, though 3 have left home now). I used to work with a senior social services manager (ironically responsible for child protection) who also had 5 children and she said that social services automatically consider children from larger families to be 'at greater risk', regardless of background.

Whilst I normally advocate the truth in all my dealings I have to say that we usually ended up not declaring all the children when asked, simply because of this prejudice. Most times forms and so on ask for numbers of children when it isn't remotely relevant.

I'm not sure how you would stand legally if you 'lose' a few children on your application form, so wouldn't advocate doing this without proper advice. Perhaps you could give Shelter a ring and ask them about the implications - you won't be the first person to have this problem.

Like you we wouldn't dream of taking advantage of someone else's house and would always make good any damage, if it happened. I can see it from the landlord's point of view as well, but that doesn't make it any easier for you.

chaliepud

We are renting with 3 kids and 3 dogs. We had 3 landlords willing to take us on. We offered (before they had to ask) to pay a higher deposit and to have carpets cleaned on departure. Our landlady has even been around to inspect the property and had no problems. The houses were all through agents too but when one said it was unlikely the landlord would accept us we insisted they contact the landlord and ask, offering the above...

mumoftwins

Sorry to ask but do all the children live with all of the time (hard to know these days with step-siblings etc) ?

Also, is there room to extend the property you are in - would your in-laws agree and pay or contribute?

These are just ideas I had whilst reading your thread

merlinthehappypig

mumoftwins wrote: »

Sorry to ask but do all the children live with all of the time (hard to know these days with step-siblings etc) ?

That's the other assumption when you have 4 or more children - that you have been married before and they aren't all 'yours' We aren't all Catholics or Mormons either..........