New laws regarding credit checks?

[summer30]

We are lookng to move house to another rented property,

 

never had problems before even though we have credit issues

 

One lettings agency have just turned OH down point blank saying they have taken on this new law that states they do full credit checks and because of 1 CCJ they refuse to let to us, even though we have references and never missed a payment in our lives.

 

I cant find anything online, very worried we might never be able to move?

[Esio Trot]

Most letting agents use a reference provider to do the referencing. It's easier, and means that if they ever put it a dud tenant, any responsibility rests with the company that provided the reference.

 

The biggest is Homelet. They will turn down any application out of hand if there is any ccj, no matter what amount - if the question "have you any" was answered no. They also treat matters differently depending on if there is more than one, how long ago and how much.

 

We got caught out by a tenant who had satisfied a judgement some 3 years ago, so rightly thought she could answer no. Homelet stated that it was a false statement as there was a ccj, albeit satisfied.

 

So, if you use an agent make sure you tick "yes" to ccj's. Alternatively, you may have to stick with the private landlords that do not use an agent (the small ads).

[summer30]

we are with an agency now and had no issues with them, and we havent for years, oh well private it will have to be then

[Esio Trot]

If you have a track history with your current agent, they may be able to get around the credit problem.

 

We have tenants who on the face of it would fail referencing, but with some of our landlords with whom we have a good relationship we can assist with placing them - the landlord knows how we operate and trusts our discretion.

[summer30]

thanks, yes we just got told that if we are upfront they may well get the landlord to accept with references. worst case we will need a gaurantor