Self employed and private renting

[Ihatepeelingoranges]

Has anyone here rented privately and self employed? Is it best to rent from the landlord directly or via a estate agent? What if you've only been self-employed for a few months and never lived alone before so cannot provide references from former landlord, living in council property with DHs name on it.

Thanks

[lostherenow]

Could you offer any rent upfront? Amazing what checks etc aren't required if you have money in the bank.

[sixteenapples]

Me. Only option was six months rent up front. The only check they did then was the county court judgements one. It is expensive though - especially if it includes a deposit and it feel a bit scary when the landlaord has all your money in his account and you don't really know what might happen. So far, so good.

Other option is a guarantor. They aren't easy to find though. (Parents?)

[specialsubject]

I had a tenant like this. You need to ask what I did - where is the money kept how is it secured. It will be given to the landlord a month at a time.

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

I'd be a mite wary about paying 6 months upfront, unless it's your only option. A colleague's daughter did it - nice flat, quite modern, apparently efficient letting agent - but then the washing machine packed up and the agent took over 6 weeks to get it fixed. Since she had no leverage, they just couldn't BA.

[specialsubject]

Leverage? Stopping rent to get things fixed is not how it works.

Get landlord detail and nag them . they may not realise they have a useless agent.