Advice needed please!

[MayKer93]

I’m after some advice please..

So I’ve just signed up to universal credits after 4 years of unemployment whilst bringing up my two children and living with my partner - he helped me monthly with money so I could stay home with the kids. I’ve fully relied on him for the last 4 years and I’ve had little to no income which has resulted in a fair credit rating.

We are now separating and I am moving to a private rent property with my two kids (hopefully if I’m accepted)

My first question is, how likely am I to be accepted by a private landlord??

• unemployed currently (working on this), receiving universal credits, child maintenance = £2,269 a month the property I’m looking to rent is £994 a month, fair credit rating. BUT with the help of parents loaning me money I can offer 6 months rent upfront to secure a property and I have a guarantor. So is it likely they will accept me?

My second question, I will need to pay this borrowed upfront payment of rent back to my parents monthly, now will UC still help pay my rent monthly so I can use this money to pay back? Or because I’ve paid 6 months in full to my landlord then UC will see this as rent being paid and no help needed and start paying after 6’months is up?

Thank you in advance!!

Why are you paying 6 months rent in advance? Don't you receive housing benefits?

Because I am unemployed and low credit rating we thought I’d be more likely to be accepted by a landlord if we offered 6 months upfront. I’ve just this month started receiving universal credits and I will receive help towards rent when I’m in a property. From what we’ve been told by others is that private landlord aren’t keen on having tenants that are in universal credits.

I know they shouldn't but most landlords give UC tenants a swerve. Hows the rental market in your area? Most places (but not all) have fierce competition for places and I know landlords are cherry picking their tenants.

A lot will depend on demand in your local area, and the individual landlord.

The rent is due monthly. Just because you have paid it early does not mean it shouldn’t be included in your Universal Credit calculation. If you had used savings, which might otherwise have affected Universal Credit it might have prompted them to query this, but I can’t see how it’s a problem if borrowed.

I couldn't rent at all even with £100000 in the bank as my income was too low. £35k. I offered a year up front and noone would take it ( letting agents). Eventually I found a private landlord who would accept the money upfront and no guarantor but I'm not gonna lie, it was hard. I was single, divorcée.