How difficult is it to privatley rent a flat/house in the uk with a poor credit rating?

all of the agency's in the area do checks and there really isnt a lot of landlords around that dont use them. I've heard they might ask for 3-6 months rent in advance to protect themselves but I really cant afford this and have been turned down for credit a lot. Help, i need to move in 4-6 weeks!

How difficult is it to privatley rent a flat/house in the uk with a poor credit rating?
Do you have anyone who could be your guarantuer? (someone who will sign and vouch for you that you will pay the rent, if you dont,they will have to pay up)





Your mum or an older friend maybe?





This usually helps.
Reply:Private tenants will just ask for work ref normally (our experience) but they do normally want ATLEAST a months deposit, so either you should start saving, or if you are desperate ( i dont like telling me people do borrow) but you may just have to borrow (yes loans are pretty good, although they ask for a 50 quid fee on top of interest, but its quite low) for the time being, but please only do it if you know you can afford payments etc, as its not good to get into, or if you have a good friend or family member that you know will trust you, and you know you can pay the money back to, maybe ask for some? between a few people (100 quid each or something)
Reply:Hi Gem


You have two alternatives:-





1 get a guarantor, this is somebody who will guarantee the rent payments if you default. They have to be earning and have to sign the contract.


2 rent privately. Landlords who advertise in the paper, often do not bother with credit checks, and will take the word of someone you know.


Just be very careful you do not end up with a rouge landlord.
Reply:Speak to your local housing dept, they quite often will keep a list of private landlords for cases where people need housing quick and haven't got time to wait for a council property to come available.


But....the best people to ask are in the housing benefits department of your local council! If you can speak to someone in there, they know all the landlords, they know who has empty properties, good landlords, bad landlords etc. I suppose it's probably not the done thing to give this info out but if you could get friendly with someone in there......!
Reply:go to the government and tell them you an imagrunt. they will help you. what ever you do dont tell them your british, they wont help you.


landlords ask for rent in advance because of the students. they trash everything. im a maintanance man for an agency and you want to see the mess students leave behind when they go home. a pigsty is cleaner.


keep trying you might get lucky. look in the papers. shop windows etc good luck
Reply:I'm in same boat. Thankfully I live with someone who has good credit but we still have to use Gumtree or local rags cos we cant go through agencies.





When you meet prospective landlords look smart and professional and they'll have no reason to think you can't pay.
Reply:Get a roommate with good credit and share until you can fix your credit.


If you have bad credit, you have too many expenses. Cut your expenses, pay your bills and fix your credit first.


In a year you can go where you want.
Reply:Search on gumtree for a house/flat. Landlords usually advertise on there. Otherwise, rent a room in a house.
Reply:We had the same problem and paid six months up front.