Minimum age to be a tenant?

[sunshineandhappy]

My daughter and her friend are both aged 19. They are trying to rent a flat to share. The rent is around 25% of their combined income, and they both work. At least 4 estate agents have told them they are too young, and one put the phone down on them. Does anyone know if this is true. I think this is age discrimination, and am ready to ask to speak to the office manager, but had anyone any experience of this?

I rented as a student and was 19 but this was in the late 80s - don't know if things have changed now?

I also rented as a young un. I was actually 17 but working FT and could demonstrate my salary. I did have to have a Guarantor though until I was 18.

16 legally. Maybe the estate agents have different company policies with regards to age. Could a guarantor maybe help? I had my first flat when I was 16.

It isn't too young (and that def isn't for the estate agent to say!) but you may struggle to get a landlord to agree to them - and that is their right, they can choose who they let to as it is their property.

Could you be guarantor? Why is she mentioning her age over the phone anyway?

Can't she just call up to view a property, say both working with combined income of X, none smokers, no pets etc.

I used to be an estate agent and we once let to a 17 year old couple with a young baby. They had parental guarantors, and it was very successful as they were so thrilled to be allowed the chance to have a home.

Again, it was donkeys ago. It doesn't sound right though. You can legally enter into a credit agreement (even a huge one like a mortgage) at 18, so I don't see why a tenancy agreement would be any different.

you can legally enter an agreement at 18, and there are exceptions for tenancies - but it doesn't matter, they are 19.

complain about the rudeness of the agent.

landlords will be nervous of those fresh out of mum's house; it isn't messy bedrooms, it is the worry of shrieking partying, boyfriends moving in, booze sprayed everywhere, rotting food, never using extractor fans, no ventilation, inability to report problems, not knowing how to look after a house.

also as they are not a couple, do they understand what happens if one wants to leave?

this is all the worst case. Your daughter and her friend need to get to see landlords to show they aren't like that. So ask the agents to let them view.

Thanks all. They are being asked their age when they ring, and being told they are too young, without being given the opportunity to state their income, and the fact they have a guarantor. I can't believe how rude the agents are being.

time to get tough, and ask if the landlords have specifically said 'no under-x', or no sharers. Also perhaps a visit to the agents and ask to see the manager.

We only stopped renting a few months ago (in the SE, so possibly different / more competitive?) Every tenancy we signed I seem to remember being asked if we were over 21, (we are), as I think they required a guarantor. We always rented through an agency and never direct with a landlord as we felt it was a bit more secure. TBH though it is competitive where we are and rentals usually go to the first person who viewed it and put the deposit down ASAP, so the letting agents / landlords can afford to be picky with tenants.

When we were at uni, everyone I know rented shared houses from the age of 18/19, but we all used the uni's approved landlords. If you live in / near a uni town or city, it may be worth speaking to a student letting company or looking into a professional house share rather than somewhere that is aimed at a couple / family.

They must sound young on the phone. Perhaps they should email the agents stating their position, without mentioning age and see if they get further.