Renting in the UK

jammin_2

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Badger_Lady

You can always look at private rental - many private landlords won't carry out a credit check at all.

And the easiest way to find out whether it would be an issue for a Letting Agent is to ask them - probably best not to mention the possible CCJ, but just point out that he's been living abroad "is it likely to affect him?".

jammin_2

Badger_Lady wrote: »

You can always look at private rental - many private landlords won't carry out a credit check at all.

I had thought of this. Not easy to find private rental advertisements though.. or is it? I can't find much on the net. Would a local newspaper be the way to go?

Badger_Lady wrote: »

And the easiest way to find out whether it would be an issue for a Letting Agent is to ask them - probably best not to mention the possible CCJ, but just point out that he's been living abroad "is it likely to affect him?".

True. I've also heard that some letting agency may accept a guarantor from a parent, in lieu of recent UK address history. Is this correct? If so, this would be possible in my friend's case.

Badger_Lady

jammin wrote: »

I had thought of this. Not easy to find private rental advertisements though.. or is it? I can't find much on the net. Would a local newspaper be the way to go?

Local newspapers are always best, but many have online versions too. Find out the name of the local paper and Google it!

Also, check out online classifieds like Freeads: http://property.uk.freeads.net/houses_for_rent/

...and Fish4Homes (mixture of private and letting agents): http://www.fish4.co.uk/iad/lettings

jammin wrote: »

True. I've also heard that some letting agency may accept a guarantor from a parent, in lieu of recent UK address history. Is this correct? If so, this would be possible in my friend's case.

If they've got family in the UK, it's worth asking .

jammin_2

Badger_Lady wrote: »

Local newspapers are always best, but many have online versions too. Find out the name of the local paper and Google it!

Also, check out online classifieds like Freeads: http://property.uk.freeads.net/houses_for_rent/

...and Fish4Homes (mixture of private and letting agents): http://www.fish4.co.uk/iad/lettings



If they've got family in the UK, it's worth asking .

Great - thanks a lot for all your kind help, Badger_Lady. And Merry Christmas!

kunekune

We were in a similar situation a year or so ago, although without the possibility of discovering a CCJ. We found our first rental through a private landlord, who did not do a credit check, although I know he did a bit of digging around to check our story was accurate. We moved on after a year, and this time we did go through an agency. They were happy with a year's worth of credit history. What we had done overseas seemed to be irrelevant. Whatever your friend finds first, get planning for the next one (since with ASTs you may not get to stay anywhere long term) and make sure you have a bank account, are on the electorall roll, perhaps even a credit card with a good payment history.

Colincbayley

Don't be tempted to lie to a possible landlord / agent about your past.

See ground 17 of section 8 of the 1996 housing act [tenancy obtained on false pretences].