Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Ridiculous demands to rent a room

16 replies

Idontwannabeastupidgirl1 · 22/12/2023 18:30

I am in full-time employment and have provided a reference, proof of salary etc.
They wanted two different previous landlord references, provided them.
They initially said they didn't need a guarantor but now apparently they do. My father is acting as mine, and he's just been asked for a ridiculous amount of documents that he doesn't have at present.
I've had to tell them we can't provide all the information. They asked for the deposit back when I didn't need a guarantor and said payment needed to be made that day (it's not a scam, I've seen it all in person etc).
Why do I need a guarantor when I'm not a student, I'm a full time employee in my 30s.
All this to rent a bloody room for 6 months.
I earn well over the minimum salary threshold too.
Thinking of pulling out because I need somewhere to move quickly and this is just getting ridiculous, but I'm scared they will keep the full deposit, are they able to do that?

OP posts:
Original poster
Idontwannabeastupidgirl1 · 22/12/2023 18:31

I don't have any adverse credit, CCJs etc. Either so shouldn't require a guarantor..

OP posts:
ChocolateCinderToffee · 22/12/2023 18:32

Goodness. I just asked for an employer’s reference and that was that.

AlizeeEasy · 22/12/2023 18:32

Landlords can be absolutely terrible, any red flags you see before moving in would be enough to get me running in the opposite direction

Original poster
Idontwannabeastupidgirl1 · 22/12/2023 18:33

On one hand they may have had bad tenants previously and it's good to check affordability.. but all this is ridiculous. I'm scared they will withhold the full £300 deposit. However I have not signed anything.

OP posts:
LovedmyRaleighChopper · 22/12/2023 18:35

When my daughter and her bf both with excellent credit ratings and good jobs rented a flat last year they not only required a guarantor but also 6 months rent in advance! Crazy but the demand for those flats was so high people were jumping through hoops to get them. Not sure about your deposit, what were the terms and conditions under which you handed it over?

TheOccupier · 22/12/2023 18:40

Why have you paid a deposit when it's not yet confirmed you can have the room? Get it back and find something else!

OldTinHat · 22/12/2023 18:43

That's ridiculous! Where on earth are you looking? Central London for a penthouse??? Has it got this crazy for renting a room? I'm lost for words.

Kazzyhoward · 22/12/2023 18:45

Given the housing shortage, sadly landlords can impose whatever conditions that they want to as they know if a proposed tenant pulls out there's probably several more who'd want it!

Original poster
Idontwannabeastupidgirl1 · 22/12/2023 18:57

I was told I needed to pay it to secure the room, I was probably stupid but it is a legit agency, I'm going to look over everything now.
It is ridiculous.. I wish it were a penthouse! It's some crappy room in a houseshare.

OP posts:
Original poster
Idontwannabeastupidgirl1 · 22/12/2023 19:05

When I was with my partner we went to view a tiny one bed flat which wasn't even that great.. we were one of many couples at this particular viewing, and we met all the criteria but were told we were 'battling it out' with another couple, and the 'winner' would be whoever was prepared to pay the most rent..

OP posts:
WorriedMum231 · 22/12/2023 19:09

It’s just a holding deposit. Should be refundable.

catsanddogsandrabbits · 22/12/2023 19:12

The vitriol against landlords, the changes in legislation, the increase in tenants who pay one month's rent plus deposit and then wait to be evicted, (I know one who has now been living in the house for 12 months having paid for two), - all of this means landlords dare not take the risk unless they know they have good "insurance". Friend was looking - found somewhere - two years rent up front PLUS a guarantor who was a home owner and earning £65k a year. And there were twenty people queueing to view on Saturday morning.
Central-ish London. £2k a month not even that nice.
Every society needs a good rental market.

Spirallingdownwards · 22/12/2023 19:12

WorriedMum231 · 22/12/2023 19:09

It’s just a holding deposit. Should be refundable.

If they pull out and not the landlord the landlord can keep it or part of it to cover any costs of credit checks and referencing.

WorriedMum231 · 22/12/2023 19:22

Spirallingdownwards · 22/12/2023 19:12

If they pull out and not the landlord the landlord can keep it or part of it to cover any costs of credit checks and referencing.

Show quote history

I’m pretty sure that was made illegal a couple of years ago. My letting agent certainly said it was fully refundable.

edgeware · 22/12/2023 19:34

Is this with one of those software systems? My friend had this, it was ridiculous and she gave up in the end. She asked me to be a guarantor, which I was fine with. Then they wanted my bank statements, which was annoying, but OK, I showed them I have regular salary coming in. Then they wanted my EMPLOYMENT contract and that’s when it stopped being reasonable for me.

Spirallingdownwards · 23/12/2023 08:26

WorriedMum231 · 22/12/2023 19:22

I’m pretty sure that was made illegal a couple of years ago. My letting agent certainly said it was fully refundable.

Show quote history

No it is illegal to retain it if they reject you but if you pull out they can retain it to cover actual costs of credit checks etc

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread