Single mothers ... is anyone else finding it hard to find a house to rent due to discrimination/stereotype?

[newyearsresolurion]

That's it really. I've recently left my husband and have been looking for houses. Am finding that once I mentioned that's it's just me and my children letting agents are finding excuses either lying that the house is gone, it's not suitable etc. Is anyone else experiencing this??

I found this with my mortgage lender when I tried to remortgage to release equity to pay ex and was declined. Even though I was always the much much higher earner. Found that there is a lot of nervousness when it comes to single income households - and also where you are in receipt of CMS which might stop at anytime could be a big chunk of your "income". I suppose because on paper we look like less secure prospects compared to a couple with 2 incomes as the likelihood of both losing their incomes at the same time and defaulting on the rent or mortgage is really unlikely compared to a single parent losing an income

Yes I have been through this.

It's so horrible when people think in stereotypes and make baseless assumptions about you.

After being on the receiving end of it one too many times I told one young letting agent that I had been paying rent for more years than she'd been on this Earth, had never missed a payment and never trashed a property. At least she had the grace to blush.

No advice I'm afraid, except maybe lie and say you're a widow. That'll wrongfoot the fuckers. Best of luck to you.

Why do you need to tell them?

Presumably they ask who will be moving in and paying the rent??

Why tell them? You are clearly on a good income if you can private rent with no benefits. That's all that should matter. Tbh we only got this property because our landlord didn't want children in the property. It's more likely them than single person status that's the concern.

They always ask ' so who is moving in with you?'. It's horrible and disgusting it looks like staying in an abusive relationship is the only option. No wonder there are so many suicides. Council housing is not even an option in my area. That will take 10 years.

I totally understand this predicament, tbf your personal details are none of their business. Lie. Say you're widowed and be as direct and take zero nonsense.

Are they worried about taking housing benefit?

No not at all, the only thing they were worried about was ability to pay the rent the children were with me when I viewed.

Of course you have to tell them, unless you're willing to hide the children's clothes/toys/belongings whenever you have an inspection. I've had this. I'm a lone parent on a good wage but was turned down for a whopping 16 properties before I was offered one. I suspect it was because I was a) single and b) had a large childcare bill on my bank statement.

I used to have a holiday cottage (converted barn next door) and looked into renting it out permanently. The estate agent told me that they weren't allowed to ask about benefit payments etc. but they did ask certain questions to filter out benefit claimants. Which I thought was really cheeky but I suspect they are making assumptions about you. Maybe best to lead with your incomeso they don't discount you automatically.

We are landlords. The rent is guaranteed by an insurance scheme, so if an applicant applies to rent, they provide their financial details and the insurance co approves them or declines them for the rent guarantee. That is literally the only thing that matters, that the rent is covered. I have absolutely no opinion about who is renting it, it's none of my business. Also families change their makeup once they are in a property, sometimes children grow up and move out, other members move in, sometimes they sublet a bedroom when their kids move out. All fine by me.

Hopefully I find one in the end it's soul destroying

Keep going op! I had the same thing but did get somewhere eventually. I agree with the poster who said you should lie. It's a good idea.

Can you pay a years rent upfront? Out of reach for most but if you do have the money it’ll really help

Even when I was with my husband, it was so difficult getting quality housing as if poor people don't deserve anything but slum houses.
We (my 5 kids and I) were lucky that leaving abuse gave us an opportunity for a government grant. This allowed us to move into a better house. I looked for 8 months before that with no luck.
I'm very worried what I'd do if we lost this place. My older children are adults now, two are working and studying part time and one is chronically ill so can't work. I've thought about buying a house just for my two younger kids and I but we'd need to move rural and it would be cruel to my adult children. I don't have many options.