To be miffed at prospective landlords not accepting children in a rented property

[MolotovCocktail]

We are looking to rent a larger property. We want to remain in the same location, but just need a bigger house. There's me, my DH, and our 2 DDs, aged 4yo and 11mo.

This is the second time that, when I've called to arrange a viewing, I've been told 'the landlord doesn't accept children' when asked who the property would be for.

Why is this? Surely, if any of us caused damage to the property, that's what the deposit is for?

AIBU to feel miffed and want to question the reason why such landlords are holding onto 3-bed family properties within walking distance of school?

[PureQuintessence]

"So where are families who cannot afford to buy their own home supposed to go?"

Good question. I spend half my time in shock and amazement that a country can get so totally Effed up in regards to housing and difference between Rich and Poor. Coming from a country where there is a very flat structure and few socio economic differences, and were home ownership is the norm not some diamond in the sky I find it hard to get my head around the whole thing.

The question should be (from my perspective)

"How did it happen that a society has been allowed to develop where there is not adequate and affordable housing for all?"

Why did not somebody say "hang on a minute, this is not right, we need to put measures in place to ensure we all have a decent standard of living"?

[BeeBopDingALing]

Grindmygears, what you have to remember is that it is the landords property so they are going to try and safeguard it. Not all landlords are rolling in money and nasty. It's not discrimination, it's doing the best thing they can for their position.

For us we tried and tried to sell but couldn't, but had to move for DH's job which ment the only option for us was to rent our house and then rent ourselves in another part of the country. If we had a tenant in that wrecked our house then financially we would be totally up shit creek, totally without a paddle. A lot of people are in the same position.

[elfycat]

I let out 2 houses, and at one point we let out our house while we moved around with Dh's job. I have always allowed pets and children (2 bed terraces, town center locations). I rented long enough, and I would love to have had a cat in this time. I got pets as soon as I bought.

Luckily at the moment I have longer term tenants who seem to be looking after the places and reporting things I need to know. I fully expect to have to redecorate when they leave and I won't be charging it against their deposit. One house is fully-furnished and I'll need to replace the table and chairs and a few other bits that were getting aged and they asked if they could buy their own and dispose of mine. Again not a charge to them.

I know what kids do to a house (looks at the germolene smear down the cream paint in the hall) and it's fair wear and tear. Some landlords don't want the hassle but I don't get voids and that pays for any mess.

[RustyBear]

It does seem that a lot of landlords would rather let bigger houses to students or groups of friends/ young professionals - when DD was at Exeter University, there were many areas that had a very high proportion of multi-occupancy houses. So much so that the council has now established several areas where no new licences will be granted for multi-occupancy. I think other university towns may go this way too.

[jojane]

When we were last looking to rent we saw a lovely 4 bed detached house right in the country side near the village we wanted to get our children into. Good price and was perfect.
Unfortunately they stated
No children
No pets
No smokers
No dss
No house sharers

So basically they wanted a couple to rent this big 4 bed house! It wasn't I macular either (basically the sort of place good for children as you wouldn't be worried they would fall through the trendy glass bannister and the tiled floors would be easy to wipe mud up when you weren't quick enough about getting wellies off etc.

[TheRivieraKid]

I find it interesting that landlords who have families of their own won't rent out their properties to families 'in case the kids wreck things'. Just seems a bit wrong to me, but then we are a nation of haves and have-nots.

Rustybear is right about university towns, I live in one, and the majority of rental places, especially in the less expensive parts of town, are house shares. This prices out a large section of people needing homes. I own my home, but am currently seriously considering divorce with my husband. The fact that I have a small DD and a cat so will struggle to find suitable housing is one of the major reasons why I'm still flogging this dead horse that is my marriage. And I suspect I'm not alone in being in this situation.

[DontmindifIdo]

Another thought is that if the house is in the catchment to a very good school, the landlord might be sick of families renting it for only long enough to get their DCs in the school then moving again - leaving them to go through the hassle of finding new tenants again.

It could be worth contacting the letting agent again and offering to sign a 1 year (or longer) tenancy agreement if they are worried about that...

[DontmindifIdo]

TheRivieraKid - it makes perfect sense, people with DCs of their own have a much better idea of the damage DCs can do even with the best supervision...

[quoteunquote]

Where I live, most the properties are rented on the bid ahead, so anyone suitable to be a tenant, will bid the rent in advance,

So you pay, a deposit, and the months advance rent, minimum six months, usually twenty four months (with a provisos for increase in rent or early eviction) , if you don't renew, six months before the end of the tenancy, it opens for bids again, this is becoming the more popular way of letting.

If you are interested in a particular property, contact the landlord directly and offer a deposit, that will stop them worrying about repairs, often people tick the no pets, or children box, because they go for the easiest option.

[expatinscotland]

I have a mate who is working in a fairly well-paid job, a lone parent to two older children, about 9 and 11. Her LL is selling up, she found another home to rent, gave notice, packed up. 3 days before she was due to move, the LL of the new place said, 'Sorry, I've let it as a houseshare.'

WTAF?!

[TheRivieraKid]

Which takes me back to my point about us being a nation of haves and have-nots, Dontmind - those who rent out the properties have somewhere their own children can grow up, while renters don't.

Anyone of any age can make damage to a property. But I appreciate everything is down to the landlord's decision.

[specialsubject]

this was such a reasonable and interesting thread, until the usual landlord-haters turned up.

I had both sharers and families. More damage from the family with small kids, sadly -wall scribbles and scribbles on the bath (WTF?). That said, it wasn't the small child who left the hair straighteners on the windowsill.

BTW many landlords cannot take DSS tenants due to insurance restrictions. House-shares make more money BUT there are a lot of extra duties on the landlord.

[curiousgeorgie]

I phoned one to rent for six months as our buyer wanted to move into our place and we hadn't found another place yet.

We have a pretty crazy spaniel and (at the time) a 1 year old DD...

They said the landlord was fine about the dog but wanted a couple with no kids.

Now that makes no sense AT ALL.

[expatinscotland]

People are asking questions, not 'landlord hating'. Where are people supposed to go, honestly? Fewer and fewer people are able to purchase their own home because of lending restrictions. More and more need a place to live. Yet, this OP, who is in a good position, references, good job, deposits, is finding it hard to get a place to live.

[FreudiansSlipper]

I can understand why people prefere not to rent their properties to families. I came across this when I was looming did not think twice about it or them not wanting pets.

I rent out my flat no dss and no pets and preferred to rent it out to a couple who now have a baby on the way they're good tenants so I am happy for them to stay

[FreudiansSlipper]

I prefer no children becau I know what damage ds did to the walls with a box of crayons and to the carpets with playdoh

[MolotovCocktail]

I've been really taken aback by some of the responses this evening, particularly the 'haves and have nots' comment and how, as private tenants, we are currently backed into a very tight corner due to restrictions.

Both very (and sadly) true.

I'd love to buy our own house, but we just can't raise the usual 25%
deposit. I'd love to have space; to put our roots down with the house as well as the location.

I'd like to add that this isn't a "LL hating" thread. We've had some wonderful LLs and I understand that some/most want to preserve their property whilst making maximum profits. That people earning a good wage like us cannot afford to buy, yet cannot get what we need rental-wise is, for us, a result of high-demand for few properties and picky agents/LLs. Not to mention the legacy of previous governments and the actions of the current coalition.



Will give gumtree a go!

[chickenfactory]

We bought our four bed house from couple with no kids, deposit/money issues meant they couldn't buy again, they are renting another four bed house in same area. Go figure.
My uncle is in a four bed with his three kids, 8 identical houses in the same street, the rest are all retired or professional couples. Supply and demand I suppose, if there are plenty of renters with no kids.

[blackeyedsusan]

I was going to say dcs have not caused much damage.... then I remembered the blu tak in the carpet... the living room carpet I estimate at £300 to replace (without underlay) or about £400.

considering ds has asd we have got away with damage lightly.

their dad rented the place before we bought it. he let someone rent out the little bedroom. the was a stain/burn in the middle of the carpet about 2 feet coss, black oil on the paintwork and he ruined the cooker top with burrned on food that has never come off. (and I haave tried) ( til I decided that the cooker was so old and decrepit anywy that i would not bother!)

the only reason he did not lose the deposit was that we bought off the landlord and inherited the mess.

[ihategeorgeosborne]

I hear you Cocktail. We rent from a private land lord and we have 3 DC. In fairness he has grandchildren about the same age as our DC and so that has never been a problem for us. We've been here for 6 years and still desperately trying to save for a deposit to buy our own house. The house we rent was never in the best state of decor to start with. I think we've painted it more than they have. I do worry though about what would happen to us if our land lord wanted us out for whatever reason. We still aren't close to a 20% deposit and I didn't realise it might be so hard to rent elsewhere with DC. Something seriously needs to change on the housing front in this country. Maybe once renters start to out number owners, governments might start to do something.

[CloudsAndTrees]

I don't think it's about haves and have nots at all. It might be easy for some people to see it that way if they feel they have no chance of ever owning, but it's not the truth. There are wealthy landlords, but there are also many many more that are landlords through circumstance, or because they have their own problems because of the state of the housing market, or even just because they are investing in property rather than risking a pension. That doesn't make them rich 'haves' it just makes them people trying to get along like everyone else, not people who are spending their tenants hard earned rent or HB on shoes and sports cars.

[ananikifo]

I don't see how this isn't discrimination. Landlords (influenced by estate agents, from the sound of things) are basically refusing to rent to someone based on the age of some of the residents (the children), or based in their family situation. I've often wondered how these leases would hold up if taken to the human rights court, ie isn't there protection for families, pregnant women, and children?

I'm now pregnant, living in a "no children" rental, and thankfully we are in the process of buying a home so we can put nonsense like this behind us. It's horrible to think that people all around the country are in the horrible situation of being able to afford a rental property for their families but not being able to find one because of this.

[CuriosityKilledTheCrap]

I've just come to the end of my 2 years renting (hopefully for good). It has been horrid. I have been a really good tennant with children and dog (thank you LL) and now we're wrestling over deposit return. The LL has SOLD the house and yet we're still negotiating cutting back shrubs and replacing a lost grill pan. WHY??? The new owners have had their offer accepted on the basis of the condition they saw the house in(that was ME that hoovered, showed them round etc...)

I'm aggrieved that they've had over 24k in rent from me. The deposit is loads of money to me, but they've made a considerable sum on rent and house sale. They've had their pound of flesh, let me have my money back please!

[expatinscotland]

And yet no one has answered the question, 'Where are tenants like the OP supposed to go?'

This is someone with good wage, good references, good job. It's not like you can just walk out on that job and move because you can't find a place to rent that will take your children. And moving farther and farther out may mean it becomes unaffordable, but in this day and age, you really need to hang onto a good job.

If LL's are allowed to say, 'No children', fair enough, but it doesn't help people in the OPs situation or the growing number of people who find themselves in it.

In the recent past such people would have probably been able to secure a mortgage. Now, they can't.

What is the government going to do about it vis a vis the private rental market, where they ultimately want most people who don't own to be. Fair enough, again, but the system as it stands isn't working for more and more who are in private rent.

We've seen from threads on here and in real life that the private rental market is becoming tighter as fewer and fewer people are able to buy at all.

Yet the only policies we've had are those that worsen things.

Why? Why is it landlord bashing to start talking about these things?

Because it's already happening.

[CloudsAndTrees]

The only thing the government could to to help would be to build more housing. It wouldn't even matter if it became social housing or private, because if there was more housing then landlords wouldn't be able to pick and choose tenants like they can now.

Whatever the government does, if they do anything, they can't and shouldn't do anything that benefits one group of people while being detrimental to another group of people.