To ask why landlords won't let to students

[DreamsOfDownUnder]

I'm off back in to education at the ripe old age of 26 and looking at moving to a house once my tenancy is up so my little girl will have a garden to play in (in a first floor flat at the moment).. can ask why landlords won't let to students?

Or is just the stereotypical student? I'm single parent of 1 working part time and will continue to do so whilst at college and then university.

@Outoutout £2800 from SF and earnings, not just earnings.

I'd love to buy but 1. I don't have a deposit 2. In my area even if I was 'earning' £40k a year, you would still need a hefty deposit.

@werideatdawn I'm not but people are essentially slating students as tenants, also someone saying 'you will almost certainly leave aftera year or 2'

People not reading updates irritates me.

@Bluthbanana I'm not, I was wandering if it was a blanket ban or would they make exceptions. Or if it is down to mortgages and insurance.

Because students can be dicks as tenants! Your typical 18-21 year old student will probably have parties, be a nuisance, possibly pay rent late and move out after a year or so. That isn't desirable to many landlords.
You don't fit that profile so there's no point worrying about it.

Don't tell them you're a student tell them you're a

@AnchorDownDeepBreath thank you, I was just hoping the landlords who say no students don't put a blanket ban on them - I'd struggle if they did!

@werideatdawn I know I'm not the typical 18-21 year old student. Was just concerned that I would have the 'student' status and I would be turned down.

@Redcrayons might be an idea.

You may be employed but can your income from your employment alone cover your rent?

If not the landlord needs to rely on your Student finance for income. This is not a guaranteed or secure income.
You could drop out of uni. Get kicked out etc and then what would happen?

It's the opposite in my case.

I mostly rent to students, and use the university as letting agent. The students tend to take quite good care, as money is tight and they want their deposit back. And they clear off after the summer term finishes, not wanting to pay August rent so there's no chance I'll be stuck with tenants staying for months unpaid until I eventually manage to evict them.

A young child would make me not want to tent to you, though. I always hope for groups of 19-20-year-old girls.

@Contraceptionismyfriend it can't now, and I get benefits to top it up so it can but I have a guarantor. My benefits will stop once in receipt of student finance as well ad earnings.

@Contraceptionismyfriend I don't plan to drop out of uni, if that does happen I have a guarantor and I will start getting top ups from benefits again until I'm in full time employment.

They worry about damage, noise and ability to pay the rent.

@BadLad I guess each landlord will have their preferences.

Can I ask your issue with renting to people with small children?

My city is full of properties only aimed at students and won't take anyone else. Landlords get to pick who they want to aim their properties at and some mortgages and insurances are specific on to who landlords can let their property.

I started letting where I live now about a decade ago as a student with kids even though it wasn't a student property and it did take more checks, but - much like renting on benefits - often you have to ask because some letting agencies have blanket policies. There are some letting agencies that wanted 6 months rent up front, others just needed further checks and the landlord's specific permission. One has to shop around.

Also, someone saying "students do X" does not mean "you do X" even if you are a student. It's no more different than saying Brits like tea, even though plenty of Brits hate it - it's well known and easily shown that it's true for enough Brits that people have noticed it. Being not typical doesn't make it not true or the negative statements false, and it's not the same as stereotyping which is based on myths often specifically created by those in power to dehumanize people.

@herculepoirot2 that's okay then because none of those will be a problem!

You don't sound like a typical student, especially with such a high income
Why don't you describe yourself as employed & student to prospective landlord

Benefits are even more unreliable. And many mortgage companies don't allow certain benefits.

I don't let to most students, but my easiest to manage lets are to mature and overseas students. They look after the properties brilliantly, are model neighbours, never leave any damage behind - so I actively seek them out. I literally don't have to do anything for them except beginning/end of tenancy services, and any repairs that crop up as a result of wear and tear (which are to be expected, I don't understand landlords who are surprised when things need repairing). So don't assume a "no students" ban in universal, ask about exceptions for mature students.

I'm not but people are essentially slating students as tenants, also someone saying 'you will almost certainly leave aftera year or 2

Nickpan my point is not all students are as noisy, poor, reckless and less likely to stick around.

I want to rent a property for 10 years and I am a family - I do also work, only part time as baby is only 9 months!

You don’t seem to comprehend that landlords who don’t want to rent to students DON'T KNOW YOU personally! Your question was why don’t landlords rent to students. If you want to know whether a landlord will rent to you personally that’s a different question and one that only the landlord in question can answer.

It doesn’t matter what your age/family status/income is etc when they come up with their ‘no pets, no unemployed, no students’ rules.

It’s like someone with a well behaved dog going “wah! why no pets? my dog has never scratched anything or pooped on the sofa”.

It’s about risk, not about you personally. Students GENERALLY represent a higher risk in terms of payment, longevity of contract and how well they look after a place.

You may need to employ some more critical thinking skills if you want to get through your university course!

@herculepoirot2 I don't get housing benefit. Why are benefits so unreliable? I've had the same amount each time for 9 months (since baby arrived).

DreamsOfDownUnder

But you get that they don’t know that?

DreamsOfDownUnder

I am confused. I didn’t say anything about HB.

Under £34k actually

Only if you don't pay income tax. £2800 pm, accounting for CB and 5% pension contributions is equivalent of a salary of £45k.

Isn't student finance guaranteed once you've been awarded it? So probably more secure than someone who relies on employment for all their income and can be sacked or made redundant.

OP, do you have to disclose that you're a student? Can't you just say that you work as whatever your part time job is and your monthly income is £2800. Where that comes from is irrelevant and could come from work, student finance, investments, child maintenance etc.

@RagingWhoreBag No need to be rude with your lovely little comment at the bottom there.

I know statistically students do represent a higher risk. I was trying to get an idea of whether they just stereotype everyone or would look at certain cases individually.