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Original poster

BIG WORRY ABOUT BANK REFERENCE AS SINGLE MOTHER ON LOW INCOME

26 replies

missperelman · 27/10/2014 16:49

Hello
I am very keen to move to a new property with my two year old. We were left while I was pregnant so i haven't been able to work very much for two and a half years as I have no childcare, and although i have a bank account that is in the black, i don't have a huge amount of money in it, especially as my Hbenefit has been going to my current landlord for a year now. My potential new landlady (private rental) says she wants to take up a bank reference. I gave her my guarantor's details and she said no, she wants mine. Even though I am lucky enough to have a guarantor, i am now really nervous she will say no to us - this is an ideal property for us where i will feel safe from my child's father and his threatening family. Does anyone have any ideas as to whether my bank check will come back "bad"? I am not in debt but it does't look like i could pay the rent from it. She didn't ask whether I would be getting housing benefit or not but was once a single mother with a young child herself and seemed to be ok with me, either way, when i said i had a guarantor. My bank manager actually just told me that a third party can't even do a check on my account at Santander. So now i am even more confused! Any advice at all would be much appreciated. 1000 thanks in advance. x

OP posts:
DaisyFlowerChain · 27/10/2014 17:10

You need to tell her re the HB, lots of landlords and insurance policies forbid HB tenants. Whilst it may be perfect for you, it won't be for her if there is a fire and her insurance company refuses the claim and she loses her house.

Bearbehind · 27/10/2014 17:26

I don't know what she means by 'bank reference'

An individual can't just credit check somebody else- the only thing I can think it means is she wants to see your bank statements.

She'll want to know you've paid your rent each month previously and have regular income.

As daisy said- you can't avoid telling her about your HB.

Original poster
missperelman · 27/10/2014 17:43

hi there. who told you this hb and insurance thing? as i spoke to a specialist charity/agency and they said that is codswallop. no such thing as a different insurance for hb claimants. it would be illegal under european law.

x

OP posts:
Original poster
missperelman · 27/10/2014 17:44

other forums say there is such a thing as a bank reference. the bank just gives your general bank 'health' but can't give details of incomings and outgoings. god it's all so bloody confusing and anxiety causing!

OP posts:
DaisyFlowerChain · 27/10/2014 17:49

Why ask for advise and them rubbish it? Suggest you use the search option on here for the rest of your questions.

Original poster
missperelman · 27/10/2014 17:51

i am not rubbishing it. i am just sharing what i have discovered. i am sorry you thought i was rubbishing you. i am very worried about my and my child's future and am just trying to get advice.
my goodness!!

OP posts:
DaisyFlowerChain · 27/10/2014 18:05

Plenty of landlords on here that have properties and have clauses in either their mortgage or insurance policy that forbids benefit tenants. It's not discrimination, it's about risk. No different to car insurance companies not quoting for young drivers on sports cars etc.

If the house means so much to you, check the local childcare provision and return to work. Unless very very rural there is likely to be childcare.

Original poster
missperelman · 27/10/2014 18:19

why is a housing benefit claimant more at risk than someone who could be made redundant tomorrow? how do you know my daughter can have childcare at her age? she may have a syndrome or disability that means she cannot or would not cope well if left without me. it is very rural anyway. thank you and goodnight.

OP posts:
Original poster
missperelman · 27/10/2014 18:23

people like you daisy drive people who are feeling extremely vulnerable and depressed after years of threats and no support from the father of my child, to feelings of suicide. i hope you are proud of yourself, and sleep well tonight

OP posts:
mymummademelistentoshitmusic · 27/10/2014 18:29

That's rubbish. There are clauses that apply to mortgages and insurances that stop the owner renting to HV claimants (not necessarily all, but they do).Whoever told you otherwise is clueless.

DaisyFlowerChain · 27/10/2014 18:30

Why because I pointed out you were hiding very important info from your future landlord and if it means that much to you you could change your circumstances? If you just want people to agree with you, MN is not the place.

You don't mention no SN re your child and say their age is 2 so most mums have already returned after maternity a year before that so not too young for childcare.

mymummademelistentoshitmusic · 27/10/2014 18:31

Don't bite, Daisy.

Bearbehind · 27/10/2014 18:32

oP, you've asked for advice but seem to know more than anyone trying to help you.

Many landlords will not/ can not accept HB. You can argue the rights and wrongs of that but you can't force them to rent a property to you.

If you've previously paid your rent/ bills on time and you don't have debts/ payments showing on your bank statement which mean you couldn't afford the rent then, assuming your a lady will accept HB and, with a guarantor you should be fine.

DaisyFlowerChain · 27/10/2014 18:43

Not biting anymore especially after seeing there is another post last week looking for ways to get around telling the landlord re HB. Hope the landlord has their head screwed on and see from the credit and bank reference that the OP has no income and will realise there is HB being claimed.

Original poster
missperelman · 27/10/2014 19:36

Daisy Flower Chain may well want to change her 'name' to something more appropriate, more commensurate with her attitude and outlook

OP posts:
Original poster
missperelman · 27/10/2014 19:40

like, someone who has a little vision, or kindness. daisy flower chain seems to me to suggest those qualities. perhaps you should give them a go instead of opting for the soul-destroying route

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 27/10/2014 19:45

Why not give the Citizen's Advice Bureau a ring and see what they have to say. It does seem a bit cheeky of landlords to want to see bank statements. But on the other hand they do have to ensure a prospective tenant can afford to pay the rent.

Nobody can say whether or not your bank reference if there is such a thing will come back good or bad without knowing how much your income is and how much your rent is. And even then it wouldn't be cut and dried.

Bearbehind · 27/10/2014 19:45

OP- get over yourself.

People are trying to help but you clearly know better anyway so I don't know why you bothered asking.

As for the personal attacks on daisy they are totally unnecessary and hardly going to encourage anyone else to bother with you.

AlpacaYourThings · 27/10/2014 19:48

Daisy, ignore the OP.

Original poster
missperelman · 27/10/2014 19:50

thanks vivienne mary. the voice of reason. god, britain is now a cesspool of people posting horrible things on forums.. make some art!!!! do something!!

OP posts:
Bearbehind · 27/10/2014 19:52

I think you'll find the only person posting horrible things here is you
OP- enjoy your cesspool.

MNHQ
DawnMumsnet · 27/10/2014 20:05

Evening all,

We've had a few reports about this thread tonight so thought we'd stop by.

Things seem to have got off to a bit of a rocky start ... Any chance of a bit of peace and love? Thanks

fluffapuss · 28/10/2014 22:02

Hello

Most landlords ask for a deposit which they keep until you leave. This should be sufficient.
The amount is usually one months rent in advance, but if you cannot afford this suggest half or negotiate with the landlord.
Be careful, the landlord may deduct money when you leave from the property due to breakages or wear & tear !

I have never heard of a bank reference to rent a property.

The landlady has no right to view your bank statements as far as I know, this is private information.

You could ask your current landlord to provide you with a character reference which includes info that you have paid your rent each month, however they may not wish to do this or may charge you for the reference if so no more than £20

Good luck

Bearbehind · 29/10/2014 07:48

The landlady has every right to ask to view your bank statements- she's entering into a financial arrangement with the OP and needs to be sure she'll get paid.

The OP has every right to say no, she can't see her bank statements but then she wouldn't be able to rent the property.

Likewise with the deposit, very few landlords will accept less than 1 month deposit as security for any damage/ losses- yes you can try and negotiate it down but you'll always be on the back foot as they simply don't have to rent the property to you and in many places, finding tenants isn't hard.

The big problem here is the HB and the OP's obvious reluctance not to disclose it which isn't going to work.

evertonmint · 06/11/2014 23:15

I'm a landlord. Letting agent recently forwarded me references for our tenants including a letter from their bank. It just said that the average balance varied from X to Y. As this was comfortably positive I was happy. If it had shown them as heavily overdrawn I might have been more worried about ability to pay.

So a ref from a bank is indeed possible and may influence a landlord's decision as it can highlight a tenant's ability to pay or not.

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