Aibu to ask them to waive the need for a guarantor

[Tiredunicorn55]

So I have got myself into a bit of a sticky situation.

I have given my house up (due out on the 3rd August) and I’m currently staying with friends to enable me to save up to rent a bigger house as the one I had was far far too small for me and a baby- let alone all the things I need to for the baby.

I have found a house and applied for this and divulged that I am going on maternity leave in November and they have asked for a guarantor.
I’m assuming they have asked for this as I will be on reduced income and/or in receipt of universal credit for a period of time.

My problem is I have NONE to ask. My mum has an IVA and my dad is apply for his second mortgage and doesn’t want to get into golfed with it. Can’t ask my sisters or anyone else really.
Foolishly I didn’t think I would need a guarantor - it’s my first baby and thought it would be a simple straight forward process with the only obstacle being the raising of funds to get myself through the door.

Do I NEED a guarantor? I understand the reasons behind asking for one, of course, but I have an impeccable history of rental payments and household bills. I have got into a bit of difficulty with my council tax once but that was sorted within a month, but would this show on a credit check? Maybe? I don’t own my car so can’t even put that down as collateral.

Really at a loss as to what I can do now, any rental experts out there who can offer any advice? I’m not in a position pay a huge lump of rent upfront as I’ll just be able to get together the deposit and first month rent needed in time.

Any help is appreciated! Thank you

OP I've read the full thread but don't think anyone has asked this yet - you mention that you will be claiming UC and 'top up benefits' in addition to getting statutory maternity pay of £147. Is that definitely the case? I didn't realise you qualified for other benefits (apart from housing) if you are getting mat pay. I don't know all the in's and out's of benefits but maybe someone can confirm?

I definitely found it a shock once I went down to statuatory pay after that first 6 weeks - you need to know exactly what you'll be getting if you want to budget for a new house. Hope it all works out for you.

You aren’t listening to a SINGLE bit of advice. Ask your current landlord to let you stay for god’s sake. This has to be the most frustrating thread I’ve ever read. OP get your shit together. Stay where you are until you can feasibly move - you cannot now.

Wow. Just saw this thread. The level of delusion and naivety is immense, almost awe-inspiring, but I have to say, the situation freaks me the fuck out.

Having been a single mum who was homeless, I can't imagine anyone in their right mind doing this intentionally (because without already having a place to move to is exactly that). Frankly it's nuts.

I do wish you the best of luck OP.
I think people here have been brutal, but tried their best (to no avail it seems). They just know what a shit show this is and will become but you don't seem able to right it. You come off as arrogant, which I suppose is what gets people's backs up. Really best of luck to you and your baby OP.

In the absence of a guarantor I paid a non guarantors deposit which was 2.5 months rent on top of the normal months rent and month rent deposit upfront. It's a high rent area so this was quite a significant amount but it was the only option

Currently on mat leave. I was under the impression £147 a week was all you got.....

Well a lot of people here have got my back up so that’s just how it is. This is the last comment I’m posting on here now because quite frankly it’s boring having to defend myself against you all repeating the same answers to the same questions. Not all of the comments have been shite some have been really good and helpful and I thank those people for them but the ones who have deliberately being nasty and horrible have just been uncalled for.

And you wonder why I have been an ass and not taken you all seriously. Not going to thank someone for treating me like a piece of shit on their shoe 🤷🏼‍♀️ Wether they have given me ‘sound’ advice or not.

This experience has put me off mumsnet I’ll be name changing probably won’t bother posting again but no doubt I’ll see the same usernames cropping up with shitty comments because they’ve had a bad day or just because they get a thrill out of coming on here to be horrible. It’s a good job I am not the sort to take it all to heart because the comments on here could cause some serious damage to someone’s self esteem and not to mention if they suffer with MH problems and you all want to think about that next time you think to comment negatively on their personal life because it’s pretty clear I have had a rough ride up to press.

But whatever have a good Saturday night! 😋😉

Ok, bye then.

@Tiredunicorn55 I hope you have taken some heed of the advice on this thread, and it’s made you reprioritise.

OP, you are a very silly woman. I wish you the best of luck because from your responses you’re going to need it.

Shame.

Op, you’ve had some great advice and some abuse, I think some posters have got understandably frustrated with your attitude. You’ve certainly got a thick skin which is admirable, I would have been in floods of tears.
Good luck with your housing and your pregnancy.

Having read the thread it's exhausting to read.
Some of the comments have been brutal OP, but when people have a lot of experience and multiple people are saying the same sorts of advice, I can see why they feel like they're banging their heads against a brick wall being told that 'it won't come to that... It's just a bump in the road... I dont really know the benefit and housing system but it'll be ok... my baby needs more room'.

I don't doubt you want what is best for your baby, and there's something to be said for long term planning, but not when a short term avoidable crisis is looming over your head.

Like others, I think your best bet is to move non essential baby things to family for storage and get you tenancy back on your existing place.

Good luck to your poor baby, OP. Bye 👋🏼

I have read the whole thread and I don't think anyone has suggested you might get some good advice from Shelter. I think (but please don't get your hopes up, I am not positive) that they may act as a guarantor in certain circumstances, as the local council might - this is advice I got when my brother was made homeless, so there would be no harm in trying.

I think people have been horrible to you on this thread. There is a big difference between being honest and realistic, and just plain rude. In my experience, people just do not know how horrendous the benefit system/ trying to get somewhere to live can be. It never crossed my mind that there would be no support, no help, and not an awful lot of sympathy until it happened to my family. That this can happen in this day and age is shocking.

Anyway, I hope you do quickly pop back, read this and give shelter a try. You don't deserve all this vitriol xxx

I’d stay in the current place for duration of maternity leave and move when back at work.you’d have your baby in your room for the first six months anyway.

@Tiredunicorn55
Here’s a plan
•see if you can stay where you are
•contact council about rental guarantor scheme

I was in a similar position to you, and needed up in a situation where I had to stay with my parents with young DC and rely on benefits (very different reasons for being there though)

I'll warn you that people's kindness and patience often runs out fairly fast when you have a child in their house that wakes through the night. Please don't look at your friend as a longer term solution. Even my own mum found it a struggle having us there.

Finding somewhere to rent while receiving benefits is so so hard. Most landlords outright refuse, others as you have seen ask for guarantors or some might accept large prepayment of rents. Thankfully I was in a position where my dad was able to put the money up for me but I still had to lie in order to actually get it. My small flat is cramped and we are tripping over each other much like you say with your current one but we've had to make do. It was the only one that would accept the large payment in lieu of the guarantor. They wouldn't even accept my dad as a guarantor despite him owning a home outright and having the proceeds of selling another home in his bank account as his generous pension wasn't enough yearly income for them. (Needed to be £38k, they didn't care about capital)

Please rethink your situation. Things don't just 'work out' your friend will get tired of having her space invaded, especially with a baby taking up your time and you might struggle to finish housework tasks, and keeping her awake at night.
B&B accommodation is a reality, you say your family won't allow that to happen but im not sure what you expect them to do if they aren't currently in a position to help.
You need to just manage where you are just now and move once you've gone back to work and can pay for it without relying on benefits. It really does seem like the only sensible option. Babies are small they don't take up much space and you don't need tons of stuff, just somewhere to sleep and a few clothes.

I was just going to add that when we were asked to be guarantor for our DCs when they were at university, it really wasn't just a check of our credit file. I couldn't be guarantor as I wasn't employed full time - I work full time hours but term time only, so was classed as part time. It had to be Dh as he was employed full time (as defined by the checker), earned a certain amount and was a home owner. We also had to give permission for them to confirm employment details with DH's employer.

As an aside, even if your home is small, you really would be better off staying there and looking to rent somewhere bigger once you are back at work. I know it's not easy when you are strapped for space, but it's got to be better than one room in a bedsit? And as others have said, many councils will not consider you for housing if you give up a tenancy rather than wait to be evicted.

Op I have both personal and professional experience of your situation.

From a personal point of view I wouldn't give up your current property no matter how unsuitable it is. Worse case scenario your current landlord issues a s21 notice which will mean you have 2 months notice to vacate. This could mean (depending on your council) you get help from them in the form of council housing or help accessing a private rented property.

I was in a similar situation, though I ended up back at my mums for 2 years. It took 2 years to save a deposit, first months rent and enough for furniture and appliances. And also get employers references with a period of employment that satisfied the letting agent.

With regards to professional advice, I have worked with landlords and lettings agents. They are within their rights to ask for a guarantor. But not all do. You will have better luck with an independent landlord rather than a letting agent, though it may not necessarily be the more desirable property. If you are back at work you won't necessarily need a guarantor.

If you move before the baby is born and then switch to benefits there will be a period of time for the benefits to be processed. This might mean a delay in being able to pay your rent, which will also be paid in arrears. Landlords don't like this and while you may not be in enough arrears for them to evict you while in an agreed tenancy period, they may well give you a s21 which will mean finding somewhere else. Which will be even more difficult if you are on benefits.

Are you somewhere where you can get your name down for a council property a d access housing associations that way? Contact your local shelter definetly. They sometimes have lists of private landlords that will accept tenants on benefits and will know know how your local council housing department works.

Middle-aged woman here who was going to offer some support but I guess my age will render it unwanted.
Hope all gets sorted OP.

So it’s not just a simple check of your credit file, Bananas? Thought not, but passthecherrycoke was most insistent. Wonder why?

That’s only bananas experience so don’t get too excited headintheclouds, you’re getting carried away again.

Oh, knock it off, coke, you seem obsessed with me . Jog on.

I’m a guarantor for someone. I had to be a home owner, be employed with proof of earnings, they contacted my employer etc. My DH wasn’t eligible as he was self employed.

Ha ha as if. Just your constant irritating uninformed posts detailing pretty much every post in active conversations. I can barely read a thread without you sticking your oar in trying to be an arsehole to OP but not quite hitting the mark because you never seem to know what you’re talking about