So stressful- how I'm supposed to rent when landlords and agencies don't accept UC tenants?

[lady321]

I'm so stressful, today I contacted 5-6 agencies to ask about renting a two bedroom flat or house and when they hear that I'm getting universal credit they said sorry landlords don't accept these tenants. My husband is working and after my maternity finished we tried to work with my husband both of us, he was doing night shift and i was doing day shifts. We didn't have time to see each other and plus we had our 1.5 years old daughter to look after her. We survived 5-6 months like that and then i became again pregnant so we decided to apply for UC. We are renting one bedroom flat and we are looking for 2 bedroom as we will have baby coming in a few months. I'm desperate as nobody wants to rent us a flat. We offered more months to pay upfront and also we have a guarantor but it wasn't successful. My husband is living in London 8 years and I'm here 5 years and we were all the time working and now we needed to apply to UC temporary as I don't have anyone to help me with the baby. I'm getting almost same like maternity money from UC. How I'm supposed to rent when agencies don't even accept to book you viewing after seeing you getting UC?

Some people will rent to you but the rental market moves so quickly they can be more picky. It's a bit old fashioned to call estate agents and ask what they have, arranging viewings can be better and that way I think they have to show the landlord your application rather than rejecting you before you even get a chance.
That was my experience anyway, we weren't on UC but had just come off of it when we were looking and landlords want you to have been in work for over a year apparently.

can you get a guarantor some agencies/ll might accept you with then

Why do you tell them you get uc? Your rent gets paid to you then you pay it on. Alas they don't need to know

I was thinking they can find out when they make credit checks and references and all these things, they is why i told them.

Hi OP,

Have you tried the www.sharetobuy.com/ website?

It's mostly for the purchasing of shared ownership properties, but a few housing associations advertise rentals on there. I rented a property I found on there for the last four years under the rent4less scheme and it's been much better than renting from a private landlord! Cheaper, more secure, you can paint the walls, and they accepted us even though our income was low at the time.

Good luck, I'm sorry you are going through this

No point not saying as they will do credit check and see bank statements, wage slips etc so they will know and then think you are not trustworthy. Good luck.