What are the real possibilities on renting a private property

Masha_2

Rambosmum said:

Have you told agents you can pay upfront and have considerable savings? 
Find a property online, call the agent and ask for a viewing. You shouldn't be expecting the agent to find you properties and ofer you viewings - you need to find and ask. 

Hi, thanks for your response. 
Most of the time, have no opportunity to let them know that I could pay in advance.  when I call to enquire for just a viewing about a property, they ask me before hand how much I earn, then it´s not enough, then I say i have a guarantor, and the payment in advance,  but they have asked for minimum 2.5 times the rent income . They wouldn't show me the property. there are few properties. Went to an agency telling them about the money indvance for 6 months, they said it should be ok, but they didn't have any properties. If I mention that part of my income would be the housing benefit then is a no no.  I do know how I go over it. 

Masha_2

AdrianC said:

Trouble with "But we can pay six months up front" is that that's a common tactic from people wishing to use properties for less-than-legitimate purposes - either recreational gardening or ladies of negotiable virtue.

Even without that - if you don't have any income, then the landlord is going to be asking how you are going to be able to afford the rent in the future. Chances are that you're committing to a 12mo minimum tenancy, and the landlord has very little chance of seeing his property back for an extended period once that initial 6mo rent-paid period has ended and if rent is not being paid.

Can we ask a rough age for your daughter? Are you able/willing to work? Will you be able to earn more than minimum wage? Is full-time possible, or will you be restricted to part-time because of childcare?

I appreciate that, exactly it's understandable the fears Landlords have, but obviously I would just like the opportunity to demonstrate the contrary. I'm graduated, really been in a bad relationship and I refuge in growing and giving my daughter that he didn't receive from that, so left aside my career. My daughter is 7. I'm also looking for a full time job. I have hopes to get a good initial from the equity of the house to be sold when divorce finishes. But really need to be out from where I'm asap

greatcrested

An asset rich guarantor with a decent income is usually a perfectly adequate alternative to relying on your own income. It is, of course, a major commitment by the garantor, but it means if you (ever!) default on the rent, the landlord can claim it from the guarantor. Far better from the LL's perspective than 6 months paid upfront which begs the question in his mind of what will happen in month 7...

But I do wonder where you are in the divorce process. Have you negotiated or received a divorce settlement? Surely as the main child carer the house should go to you? And if a mortgage makes that unattainable for you, surely a forced sale and distribution of equity should be happening?

I know you asked about renting, but the divorce process is not separate - your and your child's housing needs are part of that.

Masha_2

bouicca21 said:

When this happened to me (my commiserations, know how horrible this situation is) I found a place and was accepted on passing the credit check.  I still remember that the agent was surprised that my credit score was so high, that should have been a clue that the landlord was a dodgy one.  Keep looking, make friends with the letting agents. Something will come available.

Financially,  moving out was not a good move as it meant my ex had no incentive to sell our house and sort out a settlement.  I hope you have taken good advice on a settlement - have you registered matrimonial home rights? And get yourself over to wikivorce for practical and emotional support.

The other thing I remember about moving out was how the stress just rolled off me as I made the journey to my rental.  Financially poor choice; but best choice ever for my mental health.

It gets better.

Hi, Many thanks for your comment. My credit check is high too. never failed a payment on anything, but also never really asked for money or loans. I'm scared to on giving money in advance directly to a Landlord. and realise direct rentals with landlords are way more expensive than with agency, and there are no rentals with private landlords on descent areas.

Yes, first thing I did was to register my home rights and this upset him a lot. There was no possible agreement so had no option that that to apply for financial remedy at courts and also with child arragements orders. 
So true. It's miserable really in the way, my ex is a proper narcissist and would purposely put me in such stress in so many ways that now not loving him anymore is wearing me off and cannot stand anymore. 
Thanks a lot! 

Masha_2

Falafels said:

Regarding the six months rent up front - while there are mutterings about cannabis farms and brothels, I've rented two properties in the last ten years offering six months rent up front. I had no trouble at all.

As for references, with the first one I explained that I hadn't rented since the 1980's and couldn't give a landlord's reference, but I gave them a previous employer's one and that of a very respectable friend, and that was fine too. That one didn't go through an agency, though, so it's worth looking at properties being rented out using other means. Do you subscribe to social media at all? Have any friends who might know someone? Have you tried websites like Spareroom.com? (Despite the name, you can search for entire properties rather than just a room or flatshare, and many private individuals advertise on there.)

It can be a difficult process, and you have to be proactive - but I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to find somewhere.

Good luck!

Hi. Thanks for that advice. I actually could say agency i have good respectable references actually. 
I'm on facebook... yes probably I can contact few people I know if they know anything... got to try. I hadn't look in spareroom I will of course. thank you! 
Thanks

Masha_2

fiwen30 said:

If you’re part way though the divorce process, I suggest speaking to your solicitor first and finding out what way you voluntarily leaving the marital home will impact on what financial assistance you’re due to receive from him.

I know it must be tough still living there, I’ve been through it myself, but please make sure you’re not leaving yourself and your daughter financially vulnerable by moving out.

Hi, thanks for being thoughtful on that . I have been at the house for the same reason. i have no solicitors but the information in websites tells me that at the sale of the house, the equity should at least be 50/50. So, I am hoping there is not much to loose there. I know it could impact on receiving less as I would be already in a place. but then things are not really nice around. my ex is not nice with me.

Masha_2

greatcrested said:

An asset rich guarantor with a decent income is usually a perfectly adequate alternative to relying on your own income. It is, of course, a major commitment by the garantor, but it means if you (ever!) default on the rent, the landlord can claim it from the guarantor. Far better from the LL's perspective than 6 months paid upfront which begs the question in his mind of what will happen in month 7...

But I do wonder where you are in the divorce process. Have you negotiated or received a divorce settlement? Surely as the main child carer the house should go to you? And if a mortgage makes that unattainable for you, surely a forced sale and distribution of equity should be happening?

I know you asked about renting, but the divorce process is not separate - your and your child's housing needs are part of that.

Hi, thank you for your comment. Yes I offered my guarantor, who is still thinking about it, to show my affordability and even to put money in his account. He is a business owner actually. because he is just a friend was so ashamed to ask really, I was thinking in case I do need him. 
Yes, even when offering payment in advance. people without seeing you are still dubious about whether the tenant will stop payment after the 6 months and refuse to leave the property. My other friend which is landlord said that, in the case of a single mum then cannot be evicted that easily. It's the picture of me being now a single mum that doesn't look good to the agency I guess. 
The divorce is still in courts. The house is in his sole name and still with mortgage. as understand if he wants to keep the flat, he should buy my share of the divorce split or sell it and split the equity. The divorce is taking a long way, and all the court could order is about the share I should own of the apartment considering my and that of my daughter's. 
Thanks a lot!

greatcrested

It's not being a single mum that makes eviction harder (except perhaps emotionally) - it's the new Covid eviction rules combined with the suspension of court hearings, plus the huge backlog of cases in the court system .

mattyprice4004

The problem is a lot of landlords prefer working tenants - so may discount you if you're mainly relying on benefits to pay the rent.

This is especially true when it's through an agent - agents want the minimum of fuss, so will tend to steer towards 'low risk' tenants who work full time and have an income 3x the rent or more.

One thing to note is that private landlords direct aren't always more expensive than agencies - I rent out directly, and it was slightly under average market value for the area.

[Deleted User]

You might find however, that private rentals for most areas are more expensive than LHA rates so you'd need to be able to top the LHA payments up.  Openrent is a good place to look  for a property where you will be dealing direct with the LL.  This is often better than dealing with LA's with very rigid criteria for prospective tenants.