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

Read the full thread he has more than 1 child. Who is over the age of two.

Yeah my life is currently a mess thanks for pointing out it out captain obvious ha ha

It's very foolish to leave where you are now. You said the LL will let you stay or has another properties, what's wrong with those? No let is long term, anyhow, they all have 2-month get out clauses after the first few months anyway, so all this plotting is for naught. You're only 5 months pregnant and you're already planning for 'years and years'? Sorry but in your situation you simply do not have that luxury.

You need a roof over this child's head that is not a B&B and it sounds like your present lodging is fine for that or if your LL has another property willing to let to you without a guarantor because a lot of LL's require them unless you earn quite a bit, even if not on benefits, and it's their entire right and lying to them won't work, either, as they can turf you out for being in breach of your agreement.

Stop with all the buying. You don't need bottles if you're planning to breastfeed or pumps.

I'd actually look at getting rid of some of that stuff. Start saving as much as possible.

To be fair, Mitzak, your first lost was pretty harsh.

It's the difference between saying "you need to get that checked out, it's a serious condition" and "when you're on your deathbed in excruciating agony, you'll pray to be put out of your misery."

So if your life is a mess, take responsibility and fix it. Ditch the bloke. Get somewhere to live. Focus on your baby and get back to work.

I really don’t give a shit about some people’s opinions on here I don’t know if I’ve made it clear or not. They don’t know just my situation and they don’t know me as a person so I’m not really bothered. I came asking for help and advice on guarantors but it’s spiralled into my personal life, baby’s paternity, the state of my house and my level of stubbornness.

Genuinely am thankful for the nice comments.

I’d hate to think my son was speaking to people in that manner.

Well, it’s pretty simple. Nobody’s going to rent to you without one...

OP if you think people on here are being harsh, then go to your local council and tell them they have four months to find you a more suitable property.

By their rules you are currently 'adequately housed' and depending on where you live, not even eligible to go on the list until your baby is actually born. If you leave your current property, the chances of finding somewhere suitable with no guarantor or six months rent up front are very remote indeed. If you end up having to leave your friend's property with nowhere to go they may not even give you temporary accommodation because you will be deemed to have made yourself intentionally homeless.

I'm also a bit concerned that you think universal credit will pay your rent. Are you aware of Local Housing Allowance? Please look this up for your area. This is the maximum amount that will be used to calculate the rent part of universal credit. In most areas it is very difficult to find rental properties where the rent is lower or equal to the LHA so that will leave you a shortfall before you start.

I take no pleasure in telling you that leaving your property next month would be a huge mistake. If you don't want to listen to what people are telling you on here make an urgent appointment with your local CAB, talk to their housing expert and get them to do a universal credit calculation for you as well. Armed with those facts make an informed decision. You may also be able to get advice from a Housing Officer at your local council. Please, please listen to them and the CAB even if you won't listen to me and other posters.

When your cottage was built families with with quite a few children would have lived in it. So you and on small baby should be able to manage.

I know it's not nice having woodlice. I had that problem when my son was a baby , toddler etc. We both survived!

As for breastfeeding and still needing lots of baby bottles. Trust me you don't need them all. Just one will do at the beginning or even later on.

But the main thing is to stop thinking you have lots of time and everything will be all right in the end. As many people find, the time goes in a flash and you are never ready. That's how people end up making themselves homeless. You need to be doing everything in your power to avoid that. As others have said the ONLY viable option you have in your situation is to do whatever you can to keep the current cottage.

You do not have the luxury to think long term. You have to get that nest ready for 4 months time, and stop thinking about the ideal place for a 4 or 5 year old.

Otherwise you will be jumping from the frying pan into the fire!

I really don’t think there is anything wrong with planning long term. I really don’t at all. And personally that’s what I like to do - i have come to a bump in the road and if I was like some people and retreated back t my starting position then I’ve not gained anything but I have learned some things along the way and the next time I leave the starting line it will be with a bit more wisdom. Hard lesson but a lesson all the same!

I'm so sorry unicorn - I was an accidental LL and my mortgage lender would not allow me a tenant on benefits. When my tenant ended up on HB, I persuaded bank to let me keep her on...they insisted on a guarantor or I would have had to evict. It wasn't personal. You need to find a private LL who owns their property outright - and extra rent to mitigate the risk they're taking on you.

Why is it that people who are lucky enough to be housed in council properties suitable for long term rent are able to NOT plan and be handed this luxury? Surely they will not know until a few weeks before they move in that they are eligible for a 2 bed with a front and rear garden?? Why’s it wrong for me to get off my ass and find my own house to rent and let someone else in need have a council house. Like I said I’ve encounter a bump in the road with the need for a guarantor but don’t see where people are coming from saying I can’t do this.

No, there's nothing wrong with it, but the fact that there's hardly a tenancy going at all that does not have a 2-month get out clause, that's the nature of private letting. Planning long term would be better focused on how you can support your child on your own because it's obvious you cannot rely on the child's father and relying on UC is a bleak prospect indeed, it's not good and very bad if you are private letting. All this gardens and bedrooms of one's own and room for carry cots, baskets and tons of gear is pie in the sky given you don't have a guarantor, can't find a place to rent without one and have given notice on your present abode.

Because you haven’t got a guarantor.

Bump in the road cloudy

How do you see yourself getting past it, realistically? (I hope you do, don’t get me wrong).

I know I will be able To do this and honestly all these negative comments have spurred me on even more so to get this sorted.

im beginning to wonder if you have actually been evicted from 'the cottage'...you have a funny sense of entitlement for some reason

well Whatever I say you’ll just shoot me down and say no it’s not going to work now bla bla bla and all rest of the cranks who have commented negatively will jump on board. Few ideas from here so will see.

No I have ended my tenancy. There’s nothing for me really to be entitled about? Not saying I will be handed a council 2 bed am I? I’m actually saying the opposite and saying I want to find my own place to live BUT have the issue of guarantor which has been covered in great depth

K, then, they say you need a guarantor but I'm sure the LL will waive that , they just don't understand, nowt to do with their insurance or BTL mortgage conditions or past experiences . . .

Families sit on council waiting lists for YEARS. They don’t move into luxury mansions overnight. My cousin had 4 kids in a 2 bedroom flat until the eldest was 12, bidding on house after house after house. Eventually got a 3 bed, 20 miles away from her mum, who is her only support with them. 3 boys still share a room, her DD has a tiny box room to herself. And, she’s one of the lucky ones. This is the reality for so so many families.

Oh I am fully aware. But to be honest with you I haven’t heard/seen many families in my local area who have struggled. Maybe there is a surplus of houses here I’m not too sure? I’m really not familiar with the benefits system or housing process. When I moved to the cottage I was never asked for a guarantor just proof I had an income and provide 3 months bank statements, presumably to check affordability.

This is just another reason why I would prefer to get a private rent because I am in a better position than other families and think that the house I would potentially get or a flat or whatever would be better given to a family who really do need it after waiting on the list for so long

Yes, planning long term is a good thing generally. But not so when you are needing to deal with the here and now.

When you are about to have a much reduced income, a baby arriving in the next few months and needing to rent somewhere but not being able to do without a guarantor, but you can't get one, that is not planning for the future. Instead it appears to be bordering on being unreasonably reckless.

Back to your original question about being a guarantor. As a few people have said, it's such a big deal to sign up to be legally responsible for someone else's unknown debt, which could run into the thousands. I couldn't afford that and so said no and felt guilty for doing so.

You think that you will be able to pay your rent and the guarantor will not lose out. But most people in rent arrears have not got into the situation purposefully. They too will have thought long term and thought they could manage. But life has a habit of giving you horrible surprises such as unexpected bills, redundacy, health issues etc.

What puts you in a better position, when you’re about to become dependent on benefits and you freely admit you don’t understand the benefit system? God almighty! You’re getting hard to take seriously now

So how do you plan to get another private let if you have no guarantor then? The answer to that could actually be quite helpful to a lot of people.