Self employed and private renting

[Ihatepeelingoranges]

Has anyone here rented privately and self employed? Is it best to rent from the landlord directly or via a estate agent? What if you've only been self-employed for a few months and never lived alone before so cannot provide references from former landlord, living in council property with DHs name on it.

Thanks

Could you offer any rent upfront? Amazing what checks etc aren't required if you have money in the bank.

Me. Only option was six months rent up front. The only check they did then was the county court judgements one. It is expensive though - especially if it includes a deposit and it feel a bit scary when the landlaord has all your money in his account and you don't really know what might happen. So far, so good.

Other option is a guarantor. They aren't easy to find though. (Parents?)

I had a tenant like this. You need to ask what I did - where is the money kept how is it secured. It will be given to the landlord a month at a time.

I'd be a mite wary about paying 6 months upfront, unless it's your only option. A colleague's daughter did it - nice flat, quite modern, apparently efficient letting agent - but then the washing machine packed up and the agent took over 6 weeks to get it fixed. Since she had no leverage, they just couldn't BA.

Leverage? Stopping rent to get things fixed is not how it works.

Get landlord detail and nag them . they may not realise they have a useless agent.