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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Can an 18 year old rent a flat?

111 replies

Freshstarts23 · 12/08/2023 19:25

DD wants to move out, for a variety of reasons I think it’s probably for the best. I know I’m probably being unreasonable but we are where we are.

But is it possible, Will landlords accept her? I’ve no experience of renting. She has a full time job.

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 12/08/2023 23:55

Not all landlords demand a guarantor,

Maybe it depends on your income?

coreas · 12/08/2023 23:57

@KajsaKavat

Not all landlords demand a guarantor, I’ve had two consecutive rentals where they were willing to forego this.

Presumably you are not 18 and have a good income?

Ace56 · 13/08/2023 00:09

Sorry, you’re in London?
What @crystal1983 said. I’m on nearly 40k and can’t afford to rent my own flat in London (zone 4). There is absolutely no way she will be able to afford this and have enough money left over to live decently.

Start looking at house shares!

caringcarer · 13/08/2023 00:11

bellac11 · 12/08/2023 19:37

If shes got any sense she would rent a bed sit/house share room, bills included, not liable for council tax, no need for guarantor, no need for massive deposit and rent up front too far in advance

Then she can start saving up for a flat of her own

This. She needs to learn she needs to start at the bottom and work her way up to a flat.

SuperNewMe · 13/08/2023 01:21

Freshstarts23 · 12/08/2023 19:25

DD wants to move out, for a variety of reasons I think it’s probably for the best. I know I’m probably being unreasonable but we are where we are.

But is it possible, Will landlords accept her? I’ve no experience of renting. She has a full time job.

Yes, they can.
We never had to be guarantors when 18 year old moved in with his GF last year, I'm just assuming that they need to know they're both of steady income and can keep up with payments.

NewName122 · 13/08/2023 01:48

I lived alone then, literally just rented a flat didn't need a guarantor.

fullbloom87 · 13/08/2023 02:00

It's a shame you can't reconcile as she's earning decent money for her age and if she saved as hard as she works for a couple of years she could end up buying her own flat which would be an amazing advantage to her.
Renting is throwing money away.
If she goes into house share who knows what will happen. She might meet some horrible bastard who messes up her life.
I'd be inclined to do everything I could as her mother to put her on the right track.

nokidshere · 13/08/2023 02:18

My student son is moving into his new flat this week, also in London, SE1.

He will have an income of 17k. He is 21. He has 3yrs of paying rent under his belt and cracking references. He will be sharing with 2 other adult working friends.

This was his (our) experience.

For every flat they looked at there were 30+ others looking at it
Most flats were gone the same day.
If they liked one they had to show the landlord what they could offer, commit to a lease of 2yrs and some were 3, and in some cases were encouraged to offer above the asking rent. They were turned down for over 20 they offered on.

They had to pay a holding deposit of half a months rent = 500 each
They had to pay 5 weeks rent in advance = 1150 each
They had to pay 1 month rent deposit = 1000 each

They were required to have a combined income of £95k
They were all required to have guarantors (only DS is a student)

The rent is £1k pm each. The bills - gas, electric, water, council tax, Wi-Fi, are going to be £250pm each.

So that's £2650 to secure the flat. £1250 monthly rent/bills. References, guarantors, millions of paperwork, and 6 months from start to finish.

And that's before any daily living costs like food, transport etc

nokidshere · 13/08/2023 02:28

Sorry, meant to add that they definitely had affordability checks too.

nokidshere · 13/08/2023 02:33

We never had to be guarantors when 18 year old moved in with his GF last year, I'm just assuming that they need to know they're both of steady income and can keep up with payments.

Every landlord both my sons have had in the 5yrs have required affordability checks, minimum income levels and a guarantor. And my oldest is 25! They have lived in the south west, the north west and now London.

I think some people don't realise how much the rental market has changed in recent years. Millions of renters and not enough properties mean the landlords can, and do, make any demands that they want.

RampantIvy · 13/08/2023 07:30

I think some people don't realise how much the rental market has changed in recent years. Millions of renters and not enough properties mean the landlords can, and do, make any demands that they want.

Exactly. It took DD ages to find a flat in Newcastle after she graduated. They would go withing minutes after viewings, and she had loads of cancellations of flat viewings because previous viewers decided to take the flat straight away.

She is on her fourth flat rental since 2020 - two as a student and two after she graduated, and every single landlord has wanted a guarantor and a hefty deposit. For her last two flat rentals she has needed references as well.

I lived alone then, literally just rented a flat didn't need a guarantor.

How long ago was this @NewName122?

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