Landlord changed his mind.

PecrySugden

My partner and I viewed a house in the village where we're currently living. Straight away we said we'd take it and the agency continued with all their checks which were satisfactory. My partner works for the police and I'll be a mature PGCE student from September. Last night the agents called to tell us the landlord is concerned only one of us is working and he's worried we can't afford it. We've passed affordability checks and we've also got a decent amount of savings. Can he just simply say no? Our next move is to put 6 months up front. If he won't accept that, there's something else going on surely. 

Cheers. 

NortheastEA

The landlord can decide against taking you as tenants based on this Im sorry to say. I deal with many that will stipulate professionals only and both have to be working. I appreciate this doesn't seem fair.  If you have paid a holding deposit then this must be returned to you as the landlord has pulled out of the deal. I would look for another property if you can find one .

davidmcn

PecrySugden said:

Can he just simply say no? Our next move is to put 6 months up front. If he won't accept that, there's something else going on surely.

Yes. Creditworthiness isn't a protected characteristic, so there's nothing unlawful about turning you down, I'm afraid.

Morbier

Yes, you can try offering 6 month's rent up front, but at the end of the 6 months, you will still be in the same financial position as you are now and, in the LL's eyes, still as much of a risk.  That's the way it works with rental applications. The LL will choose who he perceives to be the least risk.  You are entitled to your holding deposit back in these circumstances. 

AdrianC

PecrySugden said:

Can he just simply say no?

Yes, of course.

The only reasons he cannot say "no" are if he's doing so because he's breaching one of the protected characteristics enshrined in the Equalities Act 2010 - age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. And he'd be a bloody idiot to outright state that, even if one of them was a factor...

"Six months rent up front" is also far from a panacea - it's a favoured trick of those who want to use the property for nefarious purposes, often recreational horticulture or providing a base for ladies of negotiable virtue. It also doesn't do a thing to reassure the landlord that they will be paid month 7's rent... If he won't accept that, there's something else going on surely Such as...? Are you and your partner a same-sex couple, or do you think one of the other protected characteristics might be the key?

PecrySugden

AdrianC said:

PecrySugden said:

Can he just simply say no?

Yes, of course.

The only reasons he cannot say "no" are if he's doing so because he's breaching one of the protected characteristics enshrined in the Equalities Act 2010 - age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. And he'd be a bloody idiot to outright state that, even if one of them was a factor...

"Six months rent up front" is also far from a panacea - it's a favoured trick of those who want to use the property for nefarious purposes, often recreational horticulture or providing a base for ladies of negotiable virtue. It also doesn't do a thing to reassure the landlord that they will be paid month 7's rent...

If he won't accept that, there's something else going on surely

Such as...? Are you and your partner a same-sex couple, or do you think one of the other protected characteristics might be the key?

AdrianC said:

PecrySugden said:

Can he just simply say no?

Yes, of course.

The only reasons he cannot say "no" are if he's doing so because he's breaching one of the protected characteristics enshrined in the Equalities Act 2010 - age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. And he'd be a bloody idiot to outright state that, even if one of them was a factor...

"Six months rent up front" is also far from a panacea - it's a favoured trick of those who want to use the property for nefarious purposes, often recreational horticulture or providing a base for ladies of negotiable virtue. It also doesn't do a thing to reassure the landlord that they will be paid month 7's rent...

If he won't accept that, there's something else going on surely

Such as...? Are you and your partner a same-sex couple, or do you think one of the other protected characteristics might be the key?

PecrySugden

We're a gay couple. 

AdrianC

PecrySugden said:

We're a gay couple. 

That explains why you might be thinking he has "other reasons", then... Like I said - he'd be a bloody idiot if he came out and said it outright.

But, so long as he doesn't say it outright, there's not a thing you can do, unfortunately. I'm sure you'd rather not have a homophobic landlord, anyway.

PecrySugden

I'll see what happens today. My partner can more than afford it on his wage, plus I'll be getting a student loan. We can even pay 12 months up front, we've got savings that would cover the whole term. We live in a rural area and properties don't come up often. 

PecrySugden

All sorted. Thanks 😊

CheesyWiggles

PecrySugden said:

All sorted. Thanks 😊

Lol, don’t leave us hanging like that! 🤣🤣