please can you advise me on private rent???

[lostandlonely]

i have a deposit.....

I am a lone parent..

do they do a credit check? someone mentioned this today to me, and i find that a bit wired...

dont really want to give my address here.. want to give my mums, will they want to see bank statement if so that has this address on...????

I work 24 hours and get tax credits, i will need a small ammount of HB, to top up the rent, will they accept that or will they see me as DSS?

thankyou

It is normal practice for a private landlord to do a credit check and other references (eg. employer/personal reference/any previous landlord). They want to reassure themselves that the person they are letting to is reliable and that they will get their rent paid on time.

IME (I have worked in an estate agencies which do lettings) the vast majority of private landlords who are getting any of their rent paid by housing benefit will "regard you as DSS". Sorry but its just the way it is.

However, there are landlords who are happy to rent to people on housing benefit. I'm not an expert on how this works but hopefully someone who can advise will be along shortly ...

can HB pay me the benefit directly so they dont need to know?

Yes HB can pay you directly. In fact I think from April they are going to be paying the tenant directly anway. But be aware that as far as I can tell, HB is paid in arrears, so you would need to factor that into working out your initial moving costs.

Many private landlords do not do credit checks. Where have you been looking at adverts?
Also if you go thru agency, they will definately do credit checks and check everything else.... can cost a small fortune.
check classified ads in local paper and www.gumtree.com for private landlords.
There are lots who do take hb, just need to find them!!
hope that helps and good luck
claire

thanks for that info....

spoke to my brother today... who is happy to lend me enough money if the want more than the normal depoist etc because of my circumstances>> so i dont have to worry about that which is very kind of my brother...

i have only looked at agencys so far but will look in paper etc...

thanks everyone...