To wonder where you live if you have crap credit?

[tillylit]

It’s proving quite difficult.

Private renting seems to all be done via an agent and my credit isn’t good enough, but then where are you supposed to live? Anyone know?

Yup its hard.

Private renting if you have a family member who is a home owner act as a guarantor for you.

If its just you and you don't have children, as a lodger.

Yes but being a lodger is just awful really. What about if you have children?

If you have children you should speak to the council as they should prioritise you, either with a permanent home or at least temporary accomodation in a B&B. Longer term your best bet is to hope for a council flat, assuming you can't improve your credit rating and don't have a guarantor. Private renting is aimed at making a profit for the landlord, so they can't take a risk with someone with poor credit. (Remember, it's a home to you, but money to them.)

I do have quite a well paid job so would I be entitled to council accommodation? I earn nearly 50,000.

Highly unlikely, if you are single with no extra needs, you would way down the councils priority housing list.

If you have children, it will depend on how many, their ages, whether there are any additional needs.

Can you make inroads into sorting out your credit scores? Pay off some debts?

The problem is a CCJ; no one will touch me because of it.

I'd say a rather large deposit and 6 months rent up front.

You’d think that would be sufficient but it isn’t. The agencies have a credit check system in place that you automatically fail if you have a CCJ.

Look for a small local independent estate agency. I know they are few and far between but we rent through one who doesn't credit check or take a deposit instead we have a guarantor.

I don’t have a guarantor unfortunately. I know people with crap credit who do and so are OK.

I live in a house I can barely afford with my 4 kids. Can't rent anywhere because of bad credit and also because rent is more expensive than my mortgage!! struggle to pay the mortgage every month

I'm a landlord and we have some tenants that had to claim bankruptcy after their factory burned down.
They offer to pay us a larger deposit 2 months and they were always on time.
They've been with us for 15 years.
Talk to a estate agent see if you can maybe always be a month in advance?
It's all about risk.

Some private landlords don't credit check and take a chance on you.
I have been lucky twice and my credit rating is awful. I have never missed my rent in almost 2 years. Us people with bad credit deserve a chance.

Thanks, but where do you find private landlords?

I have a Housing association home, I has a private rental years ago, my Mum was guarantor for me.

Is the CCJ now settled and how old is it?

I just kept Googling for private landlords in my area and they sometimes come up.
I didn't gave to pay all those extortionate fees that estate agents charge either just simply gave them a reference from previous landlord and employer and one months rent upfront and I was in.

You have a good income so that counts for a lot.

If you have settled the CCJ and can show a clean credit file since then you could try showing proof to the agent

Gumtree
That’s where you will find private landlords. You might not get exactly what you want, but I was a private landlord and I just did bank ref and personal references. And asked for proof of income. None of which show up a ccj

It will take you longer to find one, but you’ll get there eventually.

You could try websites like spareroom or the tenting sections on right move or zoopla for private landlords

Renting*

OpenRent is a website where landlords advertise directly without agents.

Thanks. There is nothing in my area though

My cousin was in this position, young single mum, lots of debt racked up when with abusive alcoholic ex. Her mum had been able to act as guarantor for her, it's the only way she could get away from the area she was in before.