applying to a housing association...can they view my renting history?

jobbyjones

Hi guys.

Applying to a Housing Association just now. However, when I was 18 and daft, I had a council flat which I was evicted from for non-payment of rent (I was a silly student with lots of debt). This was September 2004. I then moved into a flat with a well dodgy landlord who would definitely not give me a good reference. In Feb 2005, moved back to my parents.

Anyway, I'm still there but I'm a different person now, with a good job etc and can afford their rents. Obviously I've no chance with the council; so trying the Housing Association. However, I need to list all of my addresses for the past 5 years. If they speak to the Council and my old landlord, will they just turn me down straight away? What if I forgot to put these addresses on the application? Would they or could they find out?

Please help.

Thank you.

Fran

I wouldn't risk not putting them down. If they check your name and find the eviction details you would be blacklisted throughout your area I would have thought. You could give the HA an anonymous phone call asking about their policy regarding people who have been evicted by the council in the past. You could say it's just an enquiry and you'd rather not give your name. Make sure you get on all the HA lists in the area as they will have different policies.

Or wait 18 months/look for private rented until the 5 year period is up so you don't have to state the council place details on the form.

jobbyjones

Fran wrote: »

I wouldn't risk not putting them down. If they check your name and find the eviction details you would be blacklisted throughout your area I would have thought. You could give the HA an anonymous phone call asking about their policy regarding people who have been evicted by the council in the past. You could say it's just an enquiry and you'd rather not give your name. Make sure you get on all the HA lists in the area as they will have different policies.

Or wait 18 months/look for private rented until the 5 year period is up so you don't have to state the council place details on the form.

Thanks for that mate. I've just discovered that if I have a repayment plan in place to pay back the arrears from the Council flat, and adhere to it for three months, the eviction cannot be allowed have any impact on my application to a housing association. However, the Council have never tried to recover this money (I can't even remember how much it was but I'd say well over £500) but they know I live at my parent's house as they were chasing me up for a Council Tax debt. I'm reluctant to remind them of the rent debt.

Being reading up on private landlords just there and it seems they all do credit checks and ask for references - which means I'm pretty much screwed. If I don't tell them about the previous tenancies (and pretend this is me moving out for the first time), is there anyway they can find out that's not true?

Generali

If they're not chasing you for the debt then I guess there's a good chance that they haven't notified the credit agencies either. You can get a copy of your credit record for a couple of quid.

<OT>I'm not sure you'll get a lot of sympathy for your question frankly.</OT>

kunekune

You say you've changed but if I was the HA I wouldn't be so sure. When you started the thread I thought ... poor thing, it must be difficult to escape your youthful indiscretion. But now it turns out you have never paid the rent you owe. And, rather than do that, you are considering lying to the HA. That is not the way a grown up, reformed character would behave. And, while the HA might be happy with you once you have paid your debts, what landlord is going to take on someone who, three years later, is still trying to get out of them?

Get real. Pay your debts and THEN move out.

asandwhen

I wouldn't tell them - i would be suprised if this had been updated on your credit files - the only way it would be is if ther is a ccj - check anyway though -

Debt_Free_Chick

What exactly does the application form say? Does it include a statement that you agree that they can apply to your previous Landlords for a reference?

Engelbert

If you were evicted they would have taken you to court and thus you will have a county court judgement in your name.

If you leave your previous addresses out, and get a tenancy, then in theory you could be evicted for lying on the application form.

I have no patience with people who don't pay their rent. Your £500 (and if you were evicted its likely to be a lot more), is directly affecting the ability of the council to do other repairs. You are lucky they haven't referred your debt to a collection agency.

squinty

If you withhold information when you apply for housing this could be viewed as fraudulent and if discovered you could be excluded from the Housing Association list, or evn be evicted from any property you have been allocated.

Rent Arrears from a local authority are, in effect, stealing from other tenants. If you have now changed, a good way to demonstrate this is to contact your council and set up an affordable repayment plan.

LondonDiva

If you now know better, you should contact the LA and arrange a payment plan asap to repay the debt.

Until you do, you are effectively stealing from every council tax payer in the borough.