Calling all landlords - how to prove I'm the perfect tenant!!

Eliza_2

Afternoon all

I am interested in renting a house nearby which is currently being renovated.  It is an estate cottage (stately home type estate, not housing estate!) and I've heard the landlord is very fussy about his tenants.  He uses an agent to find the tenant then the tenancy is managed by his own land agent thereafter.

So I would like some advice please from landlords about how to show I'll be the perfect tenant.  What do you look for?  I know he visits prospective tenants in their current homes but other than checking the place is clean and tidy and the garden maintained, what else might he look for?  Will he need to look over the whole house?  I don't know what the normal procedure is.  The other main question is about the credit check - do letting agents just check your current bank statements and credit reference agencies or do they dig back through the Gazette to check  for previous bankruptcies?

Also I'm in my early 70s - would that go against me?  I've never been in this situation before so no idea how to prove I'm a better tenant than any others who might apply.

It's going to be advertised in early Spring but I want to be sure I'm ready as soon as it is.

Thank you for any thoughts.

Sapindus

I'm curious - do you mean the landlord himself comes and looks round the homes of prospective tenants, or he gets the agent to do so?  I've never heard the like!  About thirty years ago I was interviewed over the phone by a prospective landlord, similar sort of feudal set-up, I do recall he asked me if my partner and I were married and seemed mollified that the wedding was planned!  I think he may have wanted us to go round to his place to be interviewed but we were several counties away and said it wasn't possible.

My current landlord used that "tenant find" service and then takes over all admin himself, and the first question he asked when he came round to seal the bath was "how long are you planning on staying?" He wants long term tenants but the agent never asked me that, so the system doesn't always work.

theartfullodger

Good luck: Evidence of full rent paid on time for say 3 years, evidence of income (I'm 76 so understand challenge - in my case the usual OaP benefits or state pension, free 'bus pass, £10 xmas bonus etc etc plus other pensions, savings etc- ), good references from landlords (current and previous).  He'll likely if interested want to see copies of bank statements. And no CCJs.. 

You could get a credit check for yourself to see what they'll report (not always getting it right..)

Such as shame that we don't see ""  Calling all tenants - how to prove I'm the perfect landlord!!  """ and don't see tenants requiring references from previous tenants about the landlord (as legal, fair etc as landlords wanting references from previous landlords.. )

There is no requirement for any checks by landlord or agent, so can't say what this landlord/agent will do.

My best tenants had only recently arrived UK so there was no history, only reference was from a neighbour of mine who told me "Mr Artful, they very nice people!" - and they were.

Will probably want to know your family position (wife/partner, kids, grandkids etc etc..) - who then might turn up/move in...

Some landlords just operate on gut feel (entirely legal as long as not unlawfully discriminating: Some discrimination lawful - eg check sensible income, history...)

chrisw

Bear in mind though that they will probably also expect you to remain the perfect tenant at all times with very little leeway. Sometimes life gets in the way.

dinosaur66

i use open weekend to let a property so all intrested come and i get the biggest pool of people to chose who i want.

this is a pretty unique rental

from a landlord perspective if it were me i would like an OAP couple / totally self funding / as garden will have to be maintained weekly and i have always found OAP tennants houseproud /clean and always pay on time.

in your case i would get bank statements of your savings in advance / put black ink through the account numbers and show the landlord/estate agent proof of funds if you want it ,

 

if you cannot do gardening it might be the case that the estate do it in this circumstance / or you can get a local gardener advertising in corner shops to do it once a fortnight.

Murphybear

Eliza_2 said:

Afternoon all

I am interested in renting a house nearby which is currently being renovated.  It is an estate cottage (stately home type estate, not housing estate!) and I've heard the landlord is very fussy about his tenants.  He uses an agent to find the tenant then the tenancy is managed by his own land agent thereafter.
E
So I would like some advice please from landlords about how to show I'll be the perfect tenant.  What do you look for?  I know he visits prospective tenants in their current homes but other than checking the place is clean and tidy and the garden maintained, what else might he look for?  Will he need to look over the whole house?  I don't know what the normal procedure is.  The other main question is about the credit check - do letting agents just check your current bank statements and credit reference agencies or do they dig back through the Gazette to check  for previous bankruptcies?

Also I'm in my early 70s - would that go against me?  I've never been in this situation before so no idea how to prove I'm a better tenant than any others who might apply.

It's going to be advertised in early Spring but I want to be sure I'm ready as soon as it is.

Thank you for any thoughts.

Being in your early 70s shouldn’t  go against you.  In fact many landlords prefer older tenants.  They are often quieter and less likely to move around for work.  Plus their income is much more secure as pensions won’t just “disappear” as younger tenants incomes may if they lose their jobs.  We were letting agents in Devon for years and many of our tenants were older.  One local agent used to accept housing benefit if the tenants had a guarantor.  Unless they were retired in which case they didn’t need a guarantor

Eliza_2

Thank you for these answers - really helpful.  One of the reasons I want this house is that is has a decent sized and interesting garden which I don't have at the moment and would love to work on.  Also good to know that my age is less likely to count against me than I thought.  I'm not on any benefits so although my income isn't huge, neither are my outgoings so I hope that will be ok.  Feeling hopeful now and will take on board the rest of your advice - thank you.

Has anyone visited the prospective tenant in their current home as part of the selection process?  Makes sense but doesn't seem very usual.

Thanks again

dinosaur66

i have never done it personally but if you live in a nicely presented well kept property it would be of great advantage to you getting in front of other rivals if you tell the your potential landlord that they are welcome to come round and view your property .

i would view it if i was the landlord and you offered and it would put you on a short list /

as a landlord we want someone who will pay on time / has means to fund the property even if things come up / will keep the property well looked after 

especially for this type of property .

Grumpy_chap

Eliza_2 said:

 I know he visits prospective tenants in their current homes 

 I don't know what the normal procedure is.  

This is a bit odd, quite creepy, very intrusive, and, possibly, raises some red flags as to the sort of LL this individual will be.

The normal procedure does not include the LL visiting your current home.

FlorayG

I would want to know you have been always paying your rent on time and keeping your current place in good order. I wouldn't ask to visit, but if I was invited by the prospective tenant then I would.
Do you have any social media accounts? Lots of LL check on those to see how you spend your time.
As for your age and being single, that would be perfect for me as a LL, you are a stable person with a stable income, likely to stay a long time, past (hopefully) your partying days. Few tenants like to maintain gardens because it's work done for the future, so make a point of telling the LL that the garden is one of your main interests

Eliza_2

Some brilliant advice here, thank you all so much.  I'll definitely highlight my interest in the garden.  I don't really use any social media accounts, just our family ones which are not public.  Can't be bothered and I can't see why anyone would be interested in my goings on!  So nothing adverse there.  I'm pretty certain my current landlord will give me a good reference.

So nothing I can do but wait though I might just shampoo the carpets!

Thanks again.