To be fed up? (bit long sorry)

[catgirl1976]

DH and I rent our current home. Been there for 4 years.

Our LL has given us notice as he his selling his home and wants to move into this one to downsize.

Where we live there has been nothing on the rental markets at all but after weeks of searching, we finally found the perfect home to rent. I fell in love with it.

I don't have a great credit history and have a CCJ the will be 6 years old in August (satisfied) and a more recent one. Both are for small amounts around £500. The recent one was with a company who messed up taking my payments time after time and admitted the issue was their fault, yet still applied really punative fees. I got into a dispute with them and stupidly thought if I let them take me to court I could argue my case to get the fees removed and only pay what I owed. This didn't happen and I got a CCJ registered which I am paying in 2 payments (1st paid)

I was up front with the letting agent and explained my situation. No problem they said. We do a credit check, but disclose everything and write a letter explaining things. Worst case scenario, you will need a guarantor.

So we pay the £250 fees for the referencing, I disclose everything and write a letter. I then ask my DSIS if she would act as a guarantor if needs be. She says yes so I let the agents know I have a guarantor if needs be.

I have excellent references from my current landlord showing I have been a model tenant and never been late with the rent and the same from my previous ll covering another 4 years.

I have been with my employer for 9 years and have excellent references from them.

I earn around 6 times the annual rent.

I have character references. DH is a SAHD and has a good credit rating.

Anyway, 2 days pass and my employers haven't been contacted by the referencing company, so I ring the agent who say

"Oh. We were going to call you. We haven't done your references yet. We felt in "your situation" (said in disparaging tone) we had to speak to the landlord first and they are not entirely comfortable".

I was gutted and said I have a guarantor and great references. I offered to pay an increased bond to provide extra security. They said they would speak to the LL and get back to me, but haven't.

I loved that house and there is literally nothing else out there. Nothing through any estate agent or private landlord and moving day is looming.

I feel so upset. I know the CCJs are an issue but I just feel so stressed out by having thought we had sorted a home to being back to square one with the clock ticking. I am also worried I won't be able to rent from anywhere.

AIBU to feel really, really gutted. And, if you are a LL would you have rented to me in the above situation or am I doomed to not find anywhere?

Not an LL, but really hope the issue does get sorted for you. Any chance your current LL would be prepared to have a short call with the possible new one to help with re-assurance?

I'll take the lack of response as a big YABU then

Sorry x-post Moonlight

That's a good idea. Might have more resonance that just a third party check

Thank you

Could you offer to up the rent? It would provide more incentive than extra deposit that a ll has to fight to keep anyway, and the idea of having to chase a guarantor doesn't appeal to many landlords as well.

Bear in mind that some BTL mortgages and insurance policies will not allow tenants with one CCJ, let alone two, so it might not all be down to a LLs choice. It might help if your DH has an income as well, even if it's just a small one.

I would ask the agent to contact the LL again and tell them all the good points you have made above. Better still, ask them to ask the LL to call you directly. It is understandable that they may think, not worth the risk on paper, but you are the person behind the facts and you are clearly a good tenant. Try to open discussions and don't let the agent put you off.

If you have no luck, try another agent and keep your credit history to your self.

Good luck.

Thank you all. I'm going to ring the this morning and say:

• I have 2 guarantors available

• I can pay an increased bond

*I can pay an increased rent

• My current LL is happy to speak to the prospective LL as is my previous LL and current employer of 9 years.

• I would like to speak to the LL directly to see if I can reassure her

If none of the above works I guess there is nothing I can do.

I wish I could keep my credit history to myself, but all the agents do a credit check. Unless something comes up with a private landlord, I could have the same problem again (although other agents I have spoken to have seemed less bothered providing there are good references from LL and employer and a guarantor).

I am dreading another days fruitless house hunting. There really is nothing about. :(

When you call make sure you insist on a response from the LL. The agents have taken £250 of your money, and they are charging the LL for finding a tenant, remember they aren't doing you a favour here, they're doing their job.

Thanks WooWoo. I will. I feel if I could talk to her directly I could put her mind at ease.

I really don't think the agents are pushing this for me.

I have rented to tenants with a guarantor and would be wary about doing it again tbh - as if you do need to take action itis a lot harder.
that said my situation was different in that the tenant was not a good risk on a standalone basis -I would look at your salary.job history - I am not sure my agent does a credit check.

Thanks fragile

In terms of salary and job history etc I am a really good bet (9 years with employer). It's just the credit check that is stopping me. :(

I am a LL and I would be wary. However, there is no need to pay more rent - if a prospective tenant has CCJs I would be worried they were going to over stretch themselves and get into more financial difficulty.

What I would suggest is 1) can you afford to pay off the CCJ now and clear the debt? and 2) can you pay more than one month's rent in advance? Money in the bank is worth more than the promise you will pay on time in the future IYSWIM.

I wouldn't offer to pay more rent, but I would offer to pay more deposit. We have done this as we have dogs - this calmed the LLs worries about carpets needing replacing etc. Hope you get it sorted.

The CCJ is half cleared and the other half will be cleared next month. The older one is satisfied.

I could possibly pay 2 months rent in advance, plus a months bond. I will suggest this as well, see if that would help

I wouldn't offer to up the rent but I would offer increased bond and as much rent in advance and you can afford.

I'm a LL with tenants in your situation, I advertised privately through gumtree, they came to look and were upfront, I liked them so took the time to call their LL and work. They've been in 3 years. I'm glad I got rid of agents and rent privately as agents just go on paper, I go on my gut feeling and paper.

Good luck. Not long to go and you'll be clear of your woes.

Thanks Joys

I've still not heard from the agents. I'm reluctant to ring again as it will be my 3rd "chasing" call and I guess no news is good news.

I'm going to view somewhere else at 6pm tonight. It's not as nice but it is a lot cheaper and the (different) agent is fine about the CCJ provided my other references are ok and I have the guarantor.

If I haven't heard by 4 I will ring them and if it's a no I guess it wasn't meant to be.

How did you get on this evening?