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.

[DreamsOfDownUnder]

@herculepoirot2 sorry, when you said certain benefits I thought you meant HB.

[DreamsOfDownUnder]

@TheBossOfMe that's helpful thank you

[herculepoirot2]

I literally didn’t write the word “benefits” and do not know what you are talking about.

I can think of other reasons LL don’t like renting to students. I reckon house insurance would be more. I reckon fire regulations might be stricter. I think it would be a PITA dealing with guarantors. I think they would have students’ parents calling them up about contracts.

Just a general nuisance.

[Nickpan]

but in general, students are temporary, and messy. If you tell a landlord you're a student, rightly or wrongly the landlord will assume that you are likely to be temporary and messy.

[Nickpan]

they will stereotype everyone, that's how stereotyping works :)

[DreamsOfDownUnder]

@Nickpan total opposite to me

[DreamsOfDownUnder]

@herculepoirot2 ah sorry wrong person re benefits comment!

[mondaysaturday]

I have a friend in a similar situation, single mum, mature student, working part time. Her experience is that yes, they will make an exception.

Just call letting agents and explain. Don't necessarily call up and blurt out "I'm a student" but phrase it as "I'm working in X job, my total monthly income is Y, I have one child, oh and I'm also studying for my degree in Z".

[Nickpan]

you're unlucky, you're obviously not a stereotypical student, but once you say 'student', people will just assume you're a stereotypical student, because most of them are. Do you see what you're up against? I once interviewed a person for a job, they were French, I thought I hope they don't smell!
Guess what....they [redacted]

[Nickpan]

ohhhh, we'll never know!

[leckford]

There was someone talking about this on R4 yesterday, she had given up on letting to students because of rubbish/mess. The ones she experienced could not cook and lived on vodka and takeaways and left all the packaging in the house and garden. She was tired of cleaning up after them.

This is the generation supposed to be taking care of our environment!

[Nickpan]

Also, all landlords will know that not every student is not messy and poor, but why take the risk. Are you able to not mention the studying thing?

[DreamsOfDownUnder]

@Nickpan probably not, it will be main source of income, unless of course I move in before September next year. I'm only at college in September to do an access course so my income won't actually change to SF until the following year.

[Jaxhog]

Because most students are lousy tenants. It may be stereotyping, but the alternative is for a LL to check every potential tenant in detail. Why would they do that if they have other people ready to rent?

I would present yourself as a single mother with a good job, who happens to be stuying as well i.e. not a 'student'.

[BadLad]

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

I just imagine there would be more damage. And it's not like there is a shortage of students who don't have kids to whom I can rent.

[DreamsOfDownUnder]

@BadLad Fair enough, each to their own.

Can't imagine, there would be more damage down to a small child if there well behaved enough! I'm just glad not all landlords won't let to families, that would cause a lot more homeless children!

[Sofasurfingsally]

Equally, the standard of student houses I have seen has been truly abysmal. Mouldy, rickety staircases, filthy paintwork. And they charge plenty.

[DexyMidnight]

Because you'll fail the credit check?

[lhastingsmua]

To be frank at the age of 26 you don’t fit into the standard student group so the typical worries that landlords may have about students won’t apply to you.

However some landlords might still not want to rent to someone that works part time, that has a low income, that has a small child etc. All you can do is ask really.

[herculepoirot2]

Can't imagine, there would be more damage down to a small child if there well behaved enough!

But lots of children aren’t. You don’t seem to be able to see outside the bounds of your own mind.

[Iamthewombat]

Student landlords I’ve met tell me that their tenants often try to withhold their last month’s rent in lieu of the deposit they expect to lose for trashing the house! I know that not everyone behaves like that but I can see why landlords wouldn’t want to risk it. Why not do as other posters suggest and present yourself as a part time working mum instead?

[DreamsOfDownUnder]

@herculepoirot2 true, I understand they are just risk assessing. I just find stereotyping really frustrating.

[DreamsOfDownUnder]

@herculepoirot2 true, I understand they are just risk assessing. I just find stereotyping so frustrating!

[herculepoirot2]

Well, yes, I can see why to you it is frustrating. Can you see why to them it might feel necessary?

[DreamsOfDownUnder]

@lhastingsmua I'm already renting so I'm not too worries about the part time working single mum thing, it was more when I saw 'no students'

I also don't consider £2800 pm a low income.