Renting for the first time

[Ellewoods20]

I’m currently living in student housing, and will soon be privately renting for the first time. However. I’m clueless about the process and don’t have anyone to ask.
I won’t be starting a job until 2 months after moving in, but will have sufficient savings to cover the rent/bills. Would this be allowed? My bank statements would show that I’ve been paying rent on my student accommodation if that helps.
Is a guarantor needed? What if I don’t have anyone to act as one?

Apologies if the questions seem stupid.
many thanks

Will you be getting a place alone or moving into a flatshare via somewhere like spareroom?

Not stupid! Speak to the letting agent, but you will most likely need a guarantor or to pay several months' rent up front. Have you got proof of a job starting in two months?

Thanks both. Hoping to continue living alone but I have a feeling spare room may be easier. I will have proof of the jobs starting.

Are you in halls now or in private student digs?

Proof of the job was enough for me to secure my first flat, I think I had to give employer details and the landlord followed it up just to check.

Current flat I paid 6 months upfront, no need for a guarantor.

Had previously looked on spareroom for shares instead and the process seemed much easier/cheaper. The rental market is pretty mad atm, in my area anyway, so you may find in the short term you may have to go the spareroom route.

In the same situation we absolutely needed a guarantor as you don’t have any income (we also had proof of jobs starting in the future which was needed for affordability checks). I would get that lined up asap.

I’m in private student accommodation.

That’s really helpful to know. Thank you.

Depending on where you are in the country, you might want to approach a few letting agents ASAP, as in some areas there are long waiting lists to access rental accommodation (I'm in the South West where its absolutely mental).

You'll also want to find out what their requirements are - I'd be worried that many landlords will not be accepting of your position while you wait to take up a job so you'll want to gauge the reaction before it's too late.

Do you have someone who will be prepared to be a guarantor? I had to have one for my first year after graduation, but I'd also been in private student digs for the 2nd and 3rd years so I had already got a working relationship with a letting agent. Do your current agent also let non student digs? Could you stay where you are?