I am 20 months into my IVA

[Mark.bbh]

I am 20 months into my IVA (all payments are up to date) and I am looking to rent a property with my girlfriend.

The letting agent that has x2 properties we like use a company called MARAS to do their credit checks.

I have two questions really.

Shall I contact MARAS anonymously first and tell them of my situation and I want to take on a flat with one of their agents?

Or shall I just go through the references/credit check proceedure with the estate agents and see what comes out?

Thank you for your help in advance.

Mark

[Michael Peoples]

I would speak to the agent and explain up front. Provide a letter from your current landlord as this is much more important than whether or not you are in an IVA. It is a buyer's market and numerous properties are lying vacate so if he insists on running credit checks and you fail, go elsewhere or use a private landlord who would have no access to credit reference agencies.

[Debtwitch]

It's the letting agent or the landlord who will make the decision based on the information from the credit check so I would speak to the letting agent.

As Michael has pointed out, references will help here so a good reference from your current landlord and also support from your IP should work in your favour.