Private renting and references

thepharcyde · 4 Aug 2010 at 19:54

I'm soon to be renting after 5 years with a mortgage. I notice a lot of people ask for references, what do you in situations like mine? Never rented private before bar a studio years ago when I was 18!

Chris1983 · 4 Aug 2010 at 19:56

I think they accept references from a place of work. Otherwise it'll be the chicken and egg routine.

thepharcyde · 4 Aug 2010 at 19:57

As part of this I'm relocating back to Dorset i.e. moving jobs too!

Chris1983 · 4 Aug 2010 at 19:59

Can't see why you couldn't use your previous job, if its recent.

thepharcyde · 4 Aug 2010 at 20:00

Okay cool, thank you

semi-pro waster · 4 Aug 2010 at 21:16

You could always explain your situation and see if they'd accept a personal reference - usual sort of terms e.g. have known you for 2+ years and will vouch that you're not a complete idiot when it comes to how you live sort of thing.

Scam · 4 Aug 2010 at 21:29

I've just done this and didn't have any previous landlords to use as a reference. They wanted two, so I gave my current employer and a mate (that I've known since school). You'll be fine.

wez130 · 5 Aug 2010 at 07:27

I'm in the same boat as you, we've just secured a rental house and i've never lived in rented accomodation before, they will have to accept a character reference. It's a bit of a faff on though this renting lark, we viewed the house on Sat and i placed a £150 deposit down there and then to secure it. then i took a load of paperwork into the agents on Tuesday, then i had to go back yesterday as my partners employment reference didn't state her position was permanent so she had to get it again, then i had to get my employer to email the agent to prove i worked there, now all the paper work is sorted out though and we've just got to wait for the credit checks to come back and that's all before we decide a move in date, i just want to get in now!!

rodo · 5 Aug 2010 at 08:10

My experiences of renting forms isn't great. Last time I moved it took about three weeks from beginning to end after placing deposit. If the agent's incompetency in forgetting a form didn't stop us then it was a delayed check or another reference needed due to "landlord concerns".

Ironic Namesake · 5 Aug 2010 at 08:28

I came here with no references in this country so unfortunately I couldn't even use an employer as a reference.

So basically I'm paying 3 months rental in advance (+utility deposits etc.) - on 3 month rolling over contract , not ideal but at least I guess I'll have a reference when I decide to leave this place and move to somewhere else.

BENJAMIN HERBLE · 5 Aug 2010 at 09:25

your mortgage company, of course.