Landlord reference from university

[MadameJosephine]

My DS is currently applying to rent private accommodation with 2 of his fellow students. He’s just rang me in a panic because he’s received a form from the agent which asks him to provide a reference from his previous landlord. He’s been in halls of residence so technically doesn’t have a landlord but apparently the university do provide references under these circumstances.

However, what he hadn’t told me is that he foolishly has not paid his last terms rent because he ran out of money and that he has just received a letter to say that this debt has now been passed to a collection agent! He’s rung the agent on my advice and they have come to an agreement on a payment plan however obviously this means he will still owe the university money and will not get a good reference from the university. Do you think if I call them on Monday and offer to pay the rent arrears they will give him a decent reference? He can then pay me back in instalments instead of the credit agent?

Needless to say I’m not very impressed but he’s learned his lesson and needs somewhere to live one way or another so we’ll have to find a way around it

Offer the landlord that he pays a year in advance. I assume you are guarantor.

Be careful about the last year. Has a CCJ already been made? This could have serious consequences as he tries for a graduate job. He should check his credit record and do what he can to improve it.

His credit record is fine, I was also concerned about that but he’s checked it online and spoken to the collection agency and no CCJ will be pursued.

Unfortunately we are not in a position to pay rent for a year in advance. Yes, I will be guarantor for this year but I’ll be making damn sure the rent is paid as soon as his student loan is received.

I would be tempted to write to his landlord, as your sons guarantor, saying much the same as in your op.

Something along the lines of you understand the ll wants a reference from the previous year, that your son has been foolish, that your son will soon be able to provide a receipt for the missing payment and then presumably a reference. (The ll may also be looking for confirmation that they left the property in reasonable order and there were no significant complaints.) You believe your son has learned his lesson and that you as guarantor will be keeping a close eye to ensure all contractual obligations are met.

Your son will obviously hate this, but it might do the trick. The landlord could well find the reasonable involvement of a responsible adult reassuring. At the end of the day all the ll wants is his rent paid and his property kept in good order.

Make sure he pays off the debt before graduation, otherwise he may not be able to get his degree.