Couple renting, credit of one good, the other bad

blue_monkey_2

Yes, I see that, never really thought about it before. Sorry, it was just questions really. We are being evicted by our LL next week (my mother, the section 21 runs out) we've nowhere to go and my son has ADHD/AS and is a little 'handy' around the house but having read a few posts over the last week it has suddenly become clear that we cannot rent a private property for this reason. If he damaged anything (none of it is intentional in his eyes) it would mean setting it right but the care he needs means it would be impossible to keep on top of decorating it back to the condition it was. It was your responses that made me realise how difficult it was to get somewhere to live if you rent on top of the usuals such as bad debts and it never dawned on me before, so it was just theoritical questions, thinking aloud, so thank you for taking the time to answer them, it really was appreciated.

Tori_Bellatrix

subjecttocontract wrote: »

Can I ask another question, I forgot to ask last time, if the partner wanted to move in and had bad credit then would they not be able to (pregnant or not, again, just thoughts and asking questions really)?



Its the same situation and most landlords would say no.

In fact if you rent there are lots of things that work against you for many landlords......here are a few:

* pregnancy &/or children
* pet owners (especially cats & dogs)
* any criminal records
* poor credit history
* smokers
* people on benefits
* poor referencies
* low income
* unable to provide a guarantor
* any tenant who doesn't work full time

That counts out most of the renting population then I suppose ...

Although I've never had any problems renting because of my cats ...

Benabongo

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

But what are the facts and how does one assess the position fully. Hence my response would be 6 months rent in advance. When I allowing someone to live in my property I have to be 100% certain of 1) the ability to pay and 2) the will to pay. If there is a CCJ, then it makes it difficult to feel this is the case.

Hi - You are asking the right questions.

I am actually the one with the bad credit rating based on two CCJs from store cards that, due to an administrative failing, were not paid whilst I was on a career break/travelling in Australia two years ago.

I recently started a very well paid job of a very responsible nature both for other people and for large sums of money.

I actually earn more than my partner. We live together now - our landlord is happy.

To answer your valid concerns as a Landlord:

Ability to pay: Rent and bills for the property are c. 25% of my net monthly earnings, and another c. 25% would meet all my debt repayments. So, I have 50% disposable income (lucky me!), which = c. 1.2 times total property rent.

Will to pay: We want to move into bigger / more homely accommodation closer to our workplaces to cut down on commute time and petrol costs . We're prepared to wait three months until it's available as we really like it.

I can provide references from previous:
landlords to confirm full and timely payment of rents
employers to establish evidence of honesty and good character.

But now I find myself unable to live with my partner based on the black and white assessment of my credit history. I am not asking to borrow money, but to give my money to the landlord so I can enjoy living in a lovely home with my partner! I would understand the problem if I was asking to borrow money.

As you say, a CCJ makes it difficult for the LL to 'feel this is the case'. This suggests that the widely accepted implications of high risk associated to poor credit history provokes feelings which are hard to qualify.

I think it is a blind system that fails to take into account any mitigating factors or even allow exploration of wider positive factors/good proven nature of the prospective tenant.

e.g. If a £100 CCJ means I can't live with my partner for the next 6 years, I would suggest that the use of the credit rating system in this arena is fundamentally flawed, unfair, separatist, too general for it's own good and almost draconian in nature.

It is being widely promoted and utilised to make uninformed decisions that affect people's lives, when perhaps a bit of common sense would do the trick. I am not a machine.

right, that's prob. enough for now.

subjecttocontract

Yes I understand your point BUT you are in competition with all the other potential tenants, There are hundreds of people out there who DO meet ALL of the criteria and more.

Its similar to a job vacancy....if you don't have the qualifications, your not even going to get shortlisted for an interview.

I & all my landlord friends have no problem finding tenants that meet the criteria so you have to ask yourself.....why would we change our criteria ?

There are always going to be landlords that will rent to people without asking any questions but I suspect you will find that they are not going to be the best properties, in the best areas with the best schools and the best decor & furnishings.

dazco

I am a tenant looking for a house and I was saying to my brother today that I cannot believe landlords allow people to live in their houses because they have passed a credit check. If it was my house I would wish to interview the applicants and take it from there.

In my opinion, meeting someone will tell you a lot more about them than a credit check.

Or maybe do both.

subjecttocontract

I agree and I most definitely do meet them.

Many potential tenants think they just have to turn up & say if they want it or not.......they don't realise its an interview.


Whats worse is that in 9 years, never once, has a tenant asked me for references........there are some pretty crap landlords out there but I've never yet met a tenant that does ANY checks.....not even a few simple questions.

izzybusy23

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

Personally as a landlord, I do not want the risk of a tenant with a bad credit history. As has been pointed out, if there was a break up of the relationship, and the credit worthy tenant left, where does that leave the landlord. It may seem unfair, but that is the way it is. The landlord may not be informed that the credit worthy tenant had left, and his risk has substantially increased. The alternative would be for a six month tenancy with the rent paid in full in advance.

See now I think that is unfair. What if this CCJ was not due to 'bad credit history' but a change in circumstances such as a job loss??? BUT this person, apart from this one CCJ has always had a spotless credit history previously?

I think LL are far too quick to tar everybody with the same brush. If a place stays empty with voids for too long I would assume any LL would be happy for one good credit and one bad credit tenant to fill his voids.

Sorry, these things get on my nerves, same as no pets, no kids, no smokers etc etc.

subjecttocontract

I think LL are far too quick to tar everybody with the same brush. If a place stays empty with voids for too long I would assume any LL would be happy for one good credit and one bad credit tenant to fill his voids.

Sorry, these things get on my nerves, same as no pets, no kids, no smokers etc etc.

Izzybusy23,
Thats OK you are entitled to your opinion BUT it still won't get you a contract into the more attractive rental properties.

Tori_Bellatrix

subjecttocontract wrote: »

I think LL are far too quick to tar everybody with the same brush. If a place stays empty with voids for too long I would assume any LL would be happy for one good credit and one bad credit tenant to fill his voids.

Sorry, these things get on my nerves, same as no pets, no kids, no smokers etc etc.

Izzybusy23,
Thats OK you are entitled to your opinion BUT it still won't get you a contract into the more attractive rental properties.

I disagree ..... slightly .... I'm moving to a very nice brand new property next month ... Admittedly, I don't smoke, have kids or CCJ's but I do have pets ...

Whilst what you say is probably the case for the majority of LL's ... there are some more lenient ones around.

scoff_2

subjecttocontract wrote: »

I think LL are far too quick to tar everybody with the same brush. If a place stays empty with voids for too long I would assume any LL would be happy for one good credit and one bad credit tenant to fill his voids.

Sorry, these things get on my nerves, same as no pets, no kids, no smokers etc etc.

Izzybusy23,
Thats OK you are entitled to your opinion BUT it still won't get you a contract into the more attractive rental properties.

I am shortly to be moving into a beautiful rental property. At the open day viewing, there were LOTS of people interested in taking on this property. I have children, a dog, an appalling - REALLY appalling - credit history with ccj's, defaults, etc etc, which I was honest about at the interview as I knew there would be credit checks involved so didn't want to get 'caught out'. My saving grace must have been the fact that I could pay 6 months rent upfront.

Money talks.........