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

Even with a private landlord, you are not an attractive prospect as a tenant (and I say this as a landlord). Sorry, but I wouldn’t rent to you because you’ve demonstrated that you lack forward planning/budgeting skills (and you can’t provide a guarantor) - this would make me very nervous.
MitziK was right on the money that your best bet would be to appeal to your current landlord and stay put. Yes, we arent the people that would have to live there with it’s ‘problems’ but I think that they will pale in comparison to homelessness, or living in a B&B. Also, you are likely to be offered a tiny one bedroom at best through the council because, you and a newborn don’t actually need that much space. You are very likely to find yourself (best case scenario) in a smaller place than you are currently in - IF you are offered anything as you have (as far as the council will be concerned) made yourself intentionally homeless.

Weird I’ve noticed this thread as I went to view a property today. So marking place.

I have guarantors though, I said that straight away and deposit and they got me to see the property. I’ll be working off mat leave in nov but with uc to top me up.

Guarantors are expected here because it means there’s not the risk of you can’t pay. Someone else will cover it legally. That’s why they want them. I’m single parent too, I doubt I’d be able to privately rent without them. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Is there no one you could ask?

Can the baby's father be the guarantor or pay for a deposit ?
How long are you planning to take for maternity leave ?

OP you're being really dramatic about parking and not being able to close a bedroom door.

B&Bs aren't nice places. Some of them you have to leave all day, only coming back in time for dinner.
Hostels are very much the same.
The council can relocate you anywhere if they haven't the housing stock in your area - Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle. Anywhere there is spare homes, they can move you.

Giving up your cottage (even if it is small) for a life of insecurity when you are due a baby is really irresponsible. You're also making yourself intentionally homeless, the LA probably won't even entertain you until baby is born.
There are plenty of options as PP have pointed out (keeping pram in car for a start.)
Get yourself a single bed, that give you much more room.

You need a guarantor because, from the LLs point of view, you are a risky person to rent a home to. Some mortgages stipulate no benefits, as do some insurance companies. Why should the landlord risk voiding their Ts&Cs because you say so?

The long and short of it is that you're going to need a guarantor. If you cannot get one you're unlikely to get a new property.
You renting one property beforehand makes no difference.

As a landlord, I would just move on to the applicant that was less risk. Unfortunately like the pp I experienced the ‘sting’ of giving the benefit of the doubt. Never again. If they want a guarantor then it’s unlikely that they’ll listen to your story and then say oh well, not to worry. I’m sorry but I would just cross you off the list.

I thought I was making positive movements for my baby to be able to have a nicer house and a garden to play in and for him to have his own bedroom.

A baby needs none of these things, though. That whole paradigm has to go because from the looks of things you cannot afford it and tbh, he won't need them or care or know for years yet. This whole idea that you needed all this stuff (carrycot and Moses basket plus all this bottle making stuff when you're planning to breastfeed) has already got you in a whole load of trouble. UC is not nice. It's best to focus on getting back to work FT asap so you can afford to provide all this garden and own room and such off your own back because UC won't be doing that anymore.

i’ll Be mostly benefit and I know i’ll Need my deposit and guarantor or I won’t be getting a rented property. End of pretty much.

Op have you seen what damage people do to properties? How much landlords end up paying out? And they can’t even then evict them?! No one should rent to someone without a guarantor in my opinion!

Like others have said speak to your current landlord, or speak to family and ask around.

People think of themselves their property and their costs. It isn’t about you and your baby sadly. You could end up in a hostel, or B.B.

I think you have 3 viable options:

1. Most sensible would be go back to your current LL and ask for a new contract then look to move when you're back at work.
2. Save up 6 months rent and offer that in lieu of a guarantor, take a shorter period of maternity leave and just hope they go for it.
3. End up in a B&B or mother and baby hostel (which will be significantly less desirable than your current house no matter how small it is!)

It also begs the question, where's the dad in all this?

You might think I'm being very rude - I'm actually talking from a position of knowledge.

I was fortunate as I was pregnant in the 1990s, when housing was far cheaper and far easier to come by - and being even entirely funded by benefits was seen as a reliable income source for landlords. But by the end of the decade, people I knew were finding that their only option was to accept B&B accommodation 200 miles away from jobs and families, and even then, finding out that they were going to be evicted from the B&Bs after six to nine months - because they had made themselves homeless by giving up perfectly adequate housing, landlords wouldn't rent to them privately and the local authority therefore had no further duty towards them, other than 'here's a list of landlords - ask if they'll take you on'.

At that point, you then also become of interest to Social Services. And not in the 'we'll help you find somewhere' way.

Just ask for your old place to be renewed. If they let you, count yourself very, very lucky, shove the car seat in the car, shove the pram in the car and let your baby grow up in somewhere that is more than adequate for their needs, rather than the alternative you have, albeit unintentionally, made their likely future.

Ok well thanks for all your help. Sufficiently upset about it all and came here asking for advice and thanks to those who gave it with good intentions and thanks to those who just want to make themselves feel superior. Yes bad decision made my me, first time mum, let my baby down already.

A tiny, cramped house is preferable to being homeless.

Go back to your old landlord and ask if they can help.

Or ask the baby's father for help if you can.

But you mentioned piles of baby stuff and a car seat and carry cot.

And where is the father in all this?

I really think you need to follow the good advice you have been given here OP. If you can't provide a guarantor or pay a lump sum up front no one is going to rent to you. Ask your current landlord to renew your contract.However small it is it has to be better than what you could end up in.

And as others have said it sounds as if you have far too much in the way of baby things cluttering your house up.Keep the car seat in the car (why would you not?) You don't need a Moses basket and a carry cot so get rid of one of them.

And why don't you answer the posters who ask where the dad is in all of this? Why isn't he involved in providing a roof over his child's head?

Where is the dad, why can't you answer that?

It's not about being superior OP, it's being realistic.

How old are you? Where are your family? Can't you stay with them while baby is small and you save up?
Where's the father?

Second what @MitziK has said. SS will be sniffing about, that's the last thing you want.

When I had DS I rented a room for the two of us for the first little while. Literally 8x6, me in a single bed, him in a bassinet next to the bed. People are pointing out you don't need a lot of space because you don't, and the best idea in this situation would be to try and get your old tenancy back. I assume they've let it out now though.

It might not be called a carry cot I don’t know what it is called but it goes on the pram so can’t throw it away.

Don't take maternity leave beyond a couple of months and get back to work. Not ideal, but I'd rather that than be homeless.

Op, some people on aibu are very mean.

Practical advice would be to keep your current home, if in any way possible. A home (even a small one) is better than none.

Realistically, I think you need to lower your expectations. I lived in a one bedroom flat with a baby/child for 3 years. It was fine. Babies don't need there own room (in fact SIDS advice is that they share a room for at least 6 months).

Babies don't need much stuff, despite all the marketing.

I would be looking at how to make your current space work (eg smaller bed for you to make room for a Moses basket, wall mounted storage etc) because it sounds like all you have. You are very unlikely to find a landlord what is willing to rent to someone on benefits without a guarantor.

I think people are being a bit harsh in the phrasing they are using here.

OP what options do you actually have. Can you stay with the friend when the baby arrives?

Will you be able to pay childcare and rent out of your wages? You might consider taking a shorter mat leave and going back sooner.

Op people are trying to give you advice, I’m in a similar situation but my dd is 8 months. I’m single and wanting to move out alone and will be on UC too.

Unlike you ( potentially) I’ve watched shows like benefit street or skint, or those horror shows which show just what happens to rented houses by benefit tenants. It’s disgusting what some people do and have done and that’s why people with common sense want guarantors.

For a lot of people this is their retirement fund, they can’t take the risk. I’m sorry you’re in this situation but you have been given sound advice. Put your big girl pants on and take it on board please.

Look for another place and don’t mention the maternity leave

Baby’s dad is not relevant and he’s not one to ask for help.

You can get really compact folding prams, eg the yo-yo baby zen. It could even fit under the sofa.

Is it definitely not an option for your sister to be guarantor?