Taken the plunge and contacted letting agents!

[Ruth.mh]

I am been so worried about being finding a place to rent with my boyfriend. I am in an IVA and he isn't. I have posted on here asking a million questions about renting in an IVA but been soooo scared of what letting agents might say. Today, I have taken the first step and emailed some. I know I'll need to ring and go into some to speak face to face but feel proud of my first step.

FINGERS CROSSED I eventually get some good news to report back.

[kallis3]

Fingers crossed here as well Ruth. Hope you can find somewhere.

[Ruth.mh]

Just got an email back from an agent, they said that there are ways around a credit check!!!! paying months upfront or a guarantor. I dont think I have anyone that could be a guarantor but at least they didnt laugh at me and run a mile ... wooo hooo !!!!

[Shining]

All good and you will get there. IVA's are a barrier to some but others do understand. All the best. x

[kallis3]

That sounds positive Ruth!! Let us know how you get on.

[vimto1029]

Hope you find somewhere Ruth, i am in exactly the same boat! Seen a lovely house on rightmove over the weekend so come 9am I will be phoning the agent to see if there is a way round it! x

[kallis3]

Good luck to both of you.

[luluj]

Sounds positive ,.....we rented while in our IVA and so long as we were honest upfront our landlords were fine...we paid six months upfront, others I know pay three months rent at a time ...they save each month the rent and then pay it across.

LEt us know how you get on.

[Shining]

How did you get on Vimto? any progress Ruth? x

[Ruth.mh]

Hi Everyone,

Update on my situation

So far, my boyfriend and I have emailed lots of letting agents and said the following;

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am currently looking to rent a property with my partner. I have been looking at the Rightmove website and have come across several properties of interest listed under your company and I would be very grateful for some advice, before requesting any viewings.
I am an engineer and take home £XXXX and my girlfriend is a primary school teacher taking home £XXXX per month. However, she is currently paying £XXX into an IVA and would fail a credit check at this present time. Given that I have no issues with my credit rating and the amount we earn, would it be possible to rent a property through your company given my girlfriends financial situation?

Thank you for your time,

XXX XXXXXX.

I am really pleased to say that so far the majority of agents have responded! I think this is partly due to the fact that we wrote the email from my boyfriend's point of view who has the 'good' credit rating as opposed to me, who in their eyes is the not so good person.

Most of the agents have been positive with only one flatly saying they would not rent to us because of my IVA. What is interesting is how the different agents would approach our situation:

- months of rent upfront
- guarantor
- yes, would rent to us no problem (no months upfront or guarantor)
- no credit check, look at 6 months of bank statements to check we have the money to pay each month

I am shocked at the differences between them and it has made me feel so more positive.

Will update further as I hear as I think my findings may be helpful to other people on the forum.

Ruth x

[vimto1029]

Seems like you are having better luck than me Ruth! Probably helps with only one of you being in an IVA though. Many of the agents I have rang have said that we could rent with a guarantor or offer 6 months rent upfront. However, when I asked what happens after that initial 6 months they said they would need a further 6 months upfron then!!
On a positive note a couple of agents have said that despite my dad having taken early retirement as long as he can prove his savings and pension that he would pass as a guarantor so I am now constantly on rightmove on the hunt for a house! Time is of the essence as we are potentially completing at the end of April...arrrgghhh!

Hope you find somewhere soon Ruth x

[Shining]

Well Ruth, a very sensible attitude from the legging agents in my opinion.

Hope you get something sorted soon Vimto. x

[Ruth.mh]

Update: Altogether, out of 16 emails I have had only one flatly refuse to rent to myself and partner but they are a small family run business who I suspect are working in a bubble and not in touch with the real world as 12 other agents have all said yes, some with guarantors or months up front but with at least 5 saying this wouldnt be necessary. The other 3 agents haven't responded to my emails.

Now, we are going to concentrate on saving money (tough in an IVA but I shall endeavour to cut back!) and hopefully move out together at the early part of next year.

[kallis3]

That's good news Ruth - hope it all works out for you.

[Shining]

I sincerely hope it works out for you and your post will give others within an IVA and wanting to rent some hope. x