Landlords. Would you take tenant with no credit score but up front rent?

[MaggieW]

We have a prospective tenant. They've lived abroad for 16 years and have rented in UK since their return some time last year. They don't have a credit score in the UK but can pay six month's rent up front. What concerns me is beyond the six months with a lack of a credit score. Any advice please? TIA.

Possibly. Do they or one of them have employment arranged on return to UK? If they have a source of income which they can prove then I'd say yes.

Yes. A credit score means jack shit. Ask for their bank statements instead. Someone can still have a good credit score but be in lots of debt. If their bank statement is healthy then yes.

A good credit score won't prevent them being bad tenants after 6 months either. Get a reference from their current landlord. Make sure you have malicious damage cover on your insurance policy.

Her employment references also.

Also if the don't pay you for whatever reason that doesn't affect their credit rating either so really credit ratings are worthless.

Of course! Someone is paying you six months in advance. You could have someone with a perfect credit history and they'll run off in 2 months.

I've lived overseas for 10 years. Even when I was in the UK I probably didn't have a credit rating as I didn't ever need credit. I have loads of dosh under the mattress.

(I used to rent out my old flat. I never, ever bothered with all that shit. It doesn't prove anything. I was a landlady (finding tenants by putting notices on lamposts) for over 10 years and never had a bad tenant)

There was this poster who regretted it

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/a1684965-Heard-it-all-now-our-tenant-WANTS-a-CCJ

But how would a credit check prevent all of that happening?

Yes, we have. Our tenant is an American policeman and has rented the house jointly with his sister. He had struggled to get somewhere because of the credit score situation, but is a dream tenant.

Yes I would - but I insist on 2 months in advance (so rent due again after 4 months) and a hefty deposit.

WeleaseWodger - what on earth does that have to do with a credit references and sorry, but that tennant had red flags coming out of his ears - the OP acted like a muppet.

when my exDH tried this he was rejected by many agents as apparently it's one of the warning bells for potential cannabis farms

i would defo. my sister has just accepted a tenant with little credit history; she has paid 2 mths deposit and 4 months in advance. my friend relocated to a new area without a job and she just offered to pay the full 6 months rent in advance and this was accepted.

sounds very sensible to me- at least you have the cash in the bank.

Money in the bank is preferable to a piece of paper saying the some one has not in the past run up a bad credit history.

No!!! Have you never seen ??

No wonder it is so hard to private rent in the UK.

Before I bought my current house I rented., I paid a year in advance because I wanted to feel secure. I didn't farm Cannnabis. The Landlord knew he could come round any time and I wasn't trying to keep him away. However I really wanted the house for nearby schools and so told the landlord he'd get a year in advance if he rented to me as opposed to the other prospective tenants.

how come they have no credit score if they have been back a year?

having been in the same situation, if they have been renting they must have been paying bills, buying food and maybe working. They should also have been on the electoral roll.

can you speak to the last landlord? Get references from anyone else?

I'm just puzzled as to how they have had no financial activity in a year.

Thanks for your comments. We have asked to speak to present landlord as the lack of credit score (whether it's worth anything or not) after a year, doesn't seem quite right, as you say specialsubject. I'll also check the electoral roll. Thanks again.

No. It sounds fishy.

And if you must, ask for a guarantor and make it watertight, or get them to take out tenant's insurance.

Maggie - I don't think it's that easy to get a credit score is it if you don't use credit. I haven't had a mortgage for over 10 years and never use the credit part of credit cards. I'm not on the electoral role because I hate the thought of my name being on the internet (I always give a ficticious name when filling out the forms). The only drawback to that is that I can't vote - however there hasn't been anyone worthy of a vote for a long time anyway.

People do tend to get a bit hung up on these kinds of things. You could have someone with a "perfect credit score" and they'll be idiots. It really doesn't prove a lot.

Last time we had to rent in the UK we had to be credit checked by the estate agent. I gave the company who was checking my contact details and they spoke to me! I credit checked myself. It's all a farce.

if you fill in the electoral roll but tick the 'no junk mail' box your name will not be on the internet, nor will it be sold on. Easy.

Using a credit card and paying it off every month will still give you a credit score.

I had a friend who had lived here all her life, but because she didn't have a credit card or loan, and didn't buy anything on credit, had an appalling credit score, and was rejected for a mortgage - because she'd never shown she could pay off debt (but stayed out of it!). Credit scores aren't the whole story. I'd agree with whoever said hefty deposit, and look at the bank statements for £ coming in and no massive OD

special subject - I beg to differ. I have tried that no junk mail tick but my (false name) was still on the internet.

Using a credit card and paying it off every month I don't believe does give you a credit score as that is what I've always done. I don't have a credit score in the UK.

I think you need to NOT pay your credit card off in full each month to get the credit record for it - so you need to use it, pay off all but 1p, not spend on it the following month and then pay of 2p? It seems crazy.

OhNO I'd suggest registering on the electoral role, and selecting the keeping off the extended list, or whatever its called. It should stop most things. Ticking no junk is less reliable, but I have been fanatic about it since we moved and married. We get very little personalised junk mail - most of it now is Dear HouseOwner.

My sister has this problem all the time. Her dh lost his job when the company he worked for folded. He didn't find a job in the first few months (not through lack of trying) they were so worried about not paying their debts they entered an iva so that they could still pay their debts but at a manageable level.

She has rented for 4 years and has never missed or given a late payment but when dh found a new job miles away and they tried to move no one would give them a chance

They too offered to pay 6 months rent up front and could prove 4 years of references for rent payments but no one would rent to them. In the end her dh had to turn down the job as they couldn't get a new house.

They were gutted as theyd only entered the iva in order to uphold all of their financial responsibilities and are now stuck to only looking for work near to their hone rather than nationwide.

Ultimately it's your decision but if they can pay 6 months up front and prove rent has always been paid on time then I'd consider it after all someone with a great credit rating could lose their job after moving into your house and not be able to afford rent.

interested that the electoral roll opt out has failed for some - I have just googled myself and checked on 192.com and am only there for 2002, which is probably the last time I didn't tick the box. I have been on the electoral roll continuously at several addresses since.

also get no junk mail and haven't for ages. I am very strict about ticking opt out boxes.

wonder if there is a complaints route if the opt out is ignored?

Just check the law on upfront payments, the last time I looked it gave tenants a right to sub-let without landlords permission