Any landlords on here?

[londoncrawling]

Dh and I are looking for a private rent for the first time (current house is provided through his job and is about to be no longer an option) we are also not entitled to council housing.

I've just done our credit score for a private rent, he earns a good wage but has a score of 686 I only work part time but have a score of 773.

We were soooo stupid with money for years and only now are starting to build our credit ratings and hopefully get a mortgage in a few years.

We are offering six months upfront rent as well as two months deposit in lieu of a guaranteer.

How would we look on paper to a landlord. Would the low credit scores put you off. We're new to this and live in an area where private rents get snapped up really quickly (looked at one today that had 60 enquiries) so wondering if we're in for a long slog

Sorry should have said scores were with
Experian.

The estate agents who look after our property didn’t give me any credit ratings when they presented the prospective tenants to us, they just gave us their job titles, lifestyle, ie young couple looking to settle down and have a family, young family with primary aged kids, etc, and their salaries. I was actually shocked at how much information they gave us but no credit rating. We chose our current tenant because we wanted someone who wanted to settle there and be there for a good few years before wanting to move on, so steady career, stable relationship with view to have kids and use the local schools won us over. A big deposit I guess might look like you’re serious about staying? But then every landlord might have different preferences.

Thank you Brown, we added a covering note on our last application even though there was no room for extra comments
so nice to know that could go in our favour as well.

They won't get your credit score. Only notification of ccjs. They don't see the depth of detail you would on a credit check.

We just get a basic credit check and in reality we ask for contract of employment, recent wage slip and 3 months bank statements.

Effectively - have you been paying rent and do you have enough to pay rent?

You will be fine earning a decent wage.

My current tent ants have been there 6 years.
I just got information re jobs.
I don’t remember credit score.
I certainly wouldn’t turn you down.

They are restricted by law to take onl 5 weeks rent.

They will still want evidence you can pay the rent on a monthly basis even with the offer of 6 months' rent up front because if at the end of 6 months you don't pay or can't pay they will still not be able to get you out for approximately a year (currently). The lump sum will be attractive but less important than being able to pay on an ongoing basis.

We are landlords and we aren't given the credit rating but the agency who manage the properties get last 3 months pay checks for each person on the contract plus proof of salary (eg job contract) and guarantors. 6 months up front would be an attractive offer however could you just ask a friend to be a guarantor? I'm sure it would never come to them having to actually pay anything but to me no guarantor would be suspicious as most people just ask their friends, parents, family etc

@SeasonFinale yes exactly, need proof of being able to pay ongoing which is where the guarantor strengthens their case

One of our applications has asked for a credit check done by us in the last 48 hours. I phoned the agents to ask how to do this and show them the results and they said a screen shot of the free Experian report would be fine.
I've screen shotted it today but it shows no date and only my first name so surely I could get a "Sarah" with a better score to print me hers off?
I'm not sure if the printed screen shots will go to the landlord or not. Have to say this application is a headache to fill out but the house is gorgeous so feel it's worth a punt.

I do not recall ever seeing a credit score.

Just a confirmation of earnings and a deposit.

DH has said the real estate agents do credit checks but we have not seen them. Just told they were fine.

Our tenants have been there 10 years and 6 years respectively. The 10 year lot asked us nicely if they could bring their cat. Until then we did not know the standard contarct said no pets and we said 'of course!'.

Then we discovered taking the no pet clause was a winner and the 6 year tenants have an alsation. :)

Will the landlord be providing a credit report for you to prove they pay the mortgage on the property? I would not be providing that information to them, they can use a referencing agency who will get a basic check to see if you have outstanding ccjs.

@HowQuicklyTwoAndTwenty890

Our tenants have been there 10 years and 6 years respectively. The 10 year lot asked us nicely if they could bring their cat. Until then we did not know the standard contarct said no pets and we said 'of course!'.

Then we discovered taking the no pet clause was a winner and the 6 year tenants have an alsation. :)

sorry for the segue. I am a glass of wine down.

How quickly you sound like my kind of landlord! I'm dreading finding somewhere then being told we have to move a year later. I'm kicking myself we are in this position my credit report is 100% better than it used to be but it's still as attractive as a dose of d&v!
I don't know how we ever managed to avoid Ccjs but we've no late payments or
defaults for two years now so hopefully only another few years till we are back on our feet.

Thanks op. :) I like to think we are good landlords. We take it seriously and do everything we can to make our tenants comfortable and happy. Fix things promptly for example, and we give a hamper at Christmas. We feel grateful that good people rent our property and allow us to pay the mortgage!

From what you describe though OP I cannot see anything at all that would make me concerned in any way about you.

Good luck!

You need to calm down.
It'll make no difference unless you have ccjs

Never saw a credit score, but I think the agency checked they had the funds and what they did for jobs. Been there 6 years, hope they never leave. They pay up on time and look after the property. I think we’re good landlords, I removed the agency when I found out they’d been with no hot water for 3 days, I was horrified. Now if they need something, they just text and we run up and fix it. Much easier.

Mouldyhouse if you think I need to calm down now you'd hate to be around me when we do finally look to buy 😁
Thank you everyone I feel more positive now I think our first knock back just dented my pride a bit.

@londoncrawling

Mouldyhouse if you think I need to calm down now you'd hate to be around me when we do finally look to buy 😁 Thank you everyone I feel more positive now I think our first knock back just dented my pride a bit.

Again with buying, credit score makes no difference, it's whether you have the correct income and no ccjs or anything

I'm recently renting and I dont think a credit check was done. I had to have my employers reference to prove I could afford it.

We got a house 😁
Thank you to everyone who commented.
After a few disappointments the last few weeks we found out we got the house of ours dreams (till we actually buy the house of our dreams but I'm not sure we'll ever effort one like this) so pleased just now.

Great news. :)