Private rental: Estate agent requiring tenants to earn certain amount to rent. How to get around.

CopyrightIssues

My landlord is selling the property. Trying to find new flat is made impossible by estate agents wanting me to earn over what I do earn.  I get that there are risks having someone that does not earn a certain amount, but I have been doing this for over 7 years and can provide proof.

So I come here to see if anyone can give me some suggestions how I legally get around this brick wall that the estate agents is putting in front of me.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

400ixl

Is you current rental through an agent or direct? You could ask for a letter of recommendation to see if that helps.

Can't see how you can get around the salary limit as they are not doing anything illegal as far as I know and not being honest about your income is not a good idea as they will likely want proof.

Myci85

The criteria are usually to enable the landlord to get rent guarantee. When I used to work in lettings the only get around was usually to pay 6 months rent upfront, but for most people this may not be an option. 

CopyrightIssues

Thank you for the replies, I do pay direct to the current landlord. No estate agent involved.  I do not mind going through estate agent even though it will cost more.  I just dont know how else to convince the estate agent that I have been doing this for years and will be paying without issue.  I am on UC and if needed could pay more months if needed, but still estate agents wont take me on.

theartfullodger

Just because Landlord is selling does not end tenancy nor compel tenant to leave.  Have you been served with a section 21 ,notice? 

Flugelhorn

was helping a relative to find somewhere - agents made it clear at some viewings that they had to be earning a certain amount to be able to rent it - £38K comes to mind - other options were to pay upfront or find a guarantor who earned more 

CopyrightIssues

No notice given yet, very fair landlord, given me 3,4,5 months to find a place.  Has given me a letter for referencing purposes. I just do not know how to go about telling them I can do this as I have done for years.  I tell them this, but as soon as they hear I am on UC and DLA and a carer, it does not matter that I have enough coming in and can prove it.  It seem to me that estate agents want tenants to treat the place as a hotel and go out every night and never cook or 'live' in the place.

anselld

CopyrightIssues said:

 It seem to me that estate agents want tenants to treat the place as a hotel and go out every night and never cook or 'live' in the place.

That is not the reason.  It is because they prefer a workiing tenant who is self-sufficient.  They do not wish to rely on Council funding because of the risk that the Council may make life difficult through no fault of the Tenant.

Of course it would be ilegal to discriminate against dissability but it is not illegal to set an income "affordability" criteria.

CurlySue2017

Just because someone has money, it doesn't mean that they will be a good tenant or pay the rent, that is never guaranteed.  A lot of these "nightmare tenant" situations end up being people who have plenty of money and on paper are the model tenant, but once they are in, they cause no end of problems and when finally evicted, they simply move on with all their money and do the same to some other landlord. 

luvchocolate

Try Openrent...my son is a landlord and advertises on there...mo Estate agents and you deal directly with landlord 

housebuyer143

CurlySue2017 said:

Just because someone has money, it doesn't mean that they will be a good tenant or pay the rent, that is never guaranteed.  A lot of these "nightmare tenant" situations end up being people who have plenty of money and on paper are the model tenant, but once they are in, they cause no end of problems and when finally evicted, they simply move on with all their money and do the same to some other landlord. 

Of course not all council tenants are bad and not all rich self sufficient tenants are good, but tenant aside, the council make it unappealing to rent to benefit tenants. A few things come to mind - 
1. They will always advise a tenant not to leave a property 
2. They pay 4 weekly and in arrears.
3. If you are getting a paper bond,I have known the council inspect the property and pick up things and then make the landlord fix them. One was to redo the whole kitchen because they didn't feel escape access was sufficient. 
4. You can't get rent guarantee insurance etc. 

If you had the choice to take someone working who passes all the references then I don't see why a landlord wouldn't. 

You might find private rentals not through an agent your best bet. Falling that, the council will advise not to leave and they will have to put you in accommodation of some kind once the landlord has started court proceedings.