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?

I don’t know. I’ve got my credit file but it doesn’t tell me anything about when it is from or where it’s from actually.

Hi OP

Step Change advise that you can get details of a CCJ from the public database for £4.

www.stepchange.org/debt-info/ccj/how-long-does-a-ccj-last.aspx

I think it’s worth doing this to find out what the CCJ is and when it was registered against you. Also the creditor is meant to send forms to your address so you have a chance to respond. If you never got these you may be able to ask the court to set the CCJ aside. Step change has good advice on this via their website.

Thanks holly

Did you not know you had a CCJ?

I do now!

You’re welcome Tilly. I’m hoping if you can deal with the ccj (get it satisfied or set aside) and you will find it easier on the renting front as it must be a lot of stress. Step change are a great charity if you need help too. Good luck.

I don't think the ccj matters, the credit check is only a very basic one not like the type you have if you apply for a loan. I know a few people who have terrible credit including a couple with ccjs and they all rent through an agent, no problem at all.

All the ones here won’t rent to you if you have CCJs or have been made bankrupt.

I think the problem might be that you don’t know what it is and it’s not resolved

Ah that's a shame Tilly, the ones round here seem to have no problem with most things except bankruptcy. Could you try with a guarantor? Or offer to pay a few months upfront?

I don't know if it is helpful but I have a "V. POOR" credit rating, not a CCJ but I have had a number of defaults (stupid 20's) and I've never been turned down on a credit check for renting. On the last house I rented I actually told the landlord andthe agent I was worried about it and they said not to worry and when it came back it was bad but they didn't seem to mind!

I’ve got a house sitting empty that our agents haven’t been able find a tenant for! I’m happy with pets, kids, dss! But seriously, I know it’s really hard. I struggled for years even with a good salary and actually even now my credit rating is abysmal, I’ve just been fortunate more recently. I’d definitely get on Gumtree. It’s where I’m going to advertise. The agents are crap.

I don’t have a guarantor.

Where do people who have been made bankrupt live, I wonder.

You don't have any friends or colleagues you can ask?

I'm that case seeing as you are a high earner, your best bet is to pay the whole year's rent in advance.

There is a way round everything. It might not be easy. But there is always a way.
You need to get your credit sorted ASAP

Nope shed

Are you really surprised? Would you take this risk for a friend? Blimey.

It doesn’t matter if you offer one, two, three months in advance. The agents have a credit check system. If you fail that, no house.

Tilly, you are very black and white here. Have you only just found out about the CCJ? Do you have to move house? Why are you unable to stay where you are?

What are you doing to deal with the CCJ? Where has it come from?

I don’t know. I didn’t have a clue about it but my life is pretty chaotic generally.

I still need to live somewhere, though

Just for information, I know that mortgage companies do not like it if a landlord accepts multiple months rent upfront. This is because they are scared the landlord might spend the money and default on their payments.

I know this doesn't help OP at all and I wish you luck in your search.

Do you live with another adult? when we went for the house we are renting now My partner failed the credit check and I didn't. We gave them job references who then gave them details of our incomes and we had a good reference from our previous landlord so they let us have the house

I think you need to ask the agents what the landlord would accept. Our cleaner failed a credit check and and had no one to guarantee the rent, but the landlord was willing to accept 6 months upfront.

Our tenant is on disability benefits and the agent wanted a guarantor, but as her previous landlord had received the rent on time for six years we took the chance (and it worked well for the first few years, but now she's been moved onto UC the DWP has suddenly stopped paying anything - she's had no money for two months. But that's another story). Point is, get the agent to ask the landlord.

No, it’s just me.

The problem is as I’ve said agencies have their rules and criteria.

They do but they can also be a lot more flexible than you think. You need to negotiate with them.

Where do you live at the moment?

I had this problem many moons ago. I became a single parent, got into debt (although never with rent) but was left with our joint debts after ex left the family home.

The council were useless. I couldn’t imagine my children ending up in a B and B in a different area after suffering a divorce as well. So, I took the drastic step of changing my name by deed poll! There is a whole load of other faff involved going down this route so your old and new names are not linked but in desperate times...

Anyway it worked and I changed my name back years later. Never told friends or family so nobody was any the wiser IRL.