Bad credit rating can i rent

Have you found that your credit history is preventing you from renting a property? Or, are you worried that it could? Some landlords and letting agents will see it as a huge stumbling block, while some will not.

Not every landlord will look into your financial background. This is more likely to be the case when renting privately. So, contrary to what some may believe, it is possible to rent with a bad credit rating. To give you an idea of where you stand, run a credit score check. These may or may not include a credit check. So, if you do get turned down for a rental property, it might not be the only reason. However, some landlords may not see it this way.

For some landlords, a poor credit history can sound alarm bells. Knowing your credit rating will help you organise your finances and take control. In most cases, missed or late payments will not show on your public credit score. There is an exception, however. If the landlord or letting agent will be able to see your credit score during the tenant check — be upfront. If you have an active CCJ, this may be one of the few instances where a history of bad credit can hinder your application.

Unlike arrears and missed payments, Court Records including CCJs and insolvencies will appear on your public information, so you could be turned down for your application by having this on your Credit Report. Some will be OK with you having court information recorded against you, or may ask for a bigger deposit whilst others may want nothing to do with it. You may find that private landlords might be more willing to listen to your case than a letting agency as well.

The presence of CCJs or a bankruptcy on your Credit Report will almost certainly reduce the pool of landlords willing to take you on as a tenant, but there are still a number of landlords that will happily oblige provided you can do one or more of the following:.

If for whatever reason you do not pass the credit check, you may be given the option to use a guarantor to vouch for you, and if it comes to it, make any rent payments on your behalf if you come up short. Some applications may also ask what percentage of the deposit you got back from your previous letting — this gives them an indication of whether extensive cleaning or repair work was required following you moving out.

Most importantly, before you apply to rent anywhere, you should check your Credit Report. If you have a County Court Judgment CCJ in your name, it can have a serious impact on your Credit Score and ability to borrow for the entire time it is active, as well as potentially affect the outcome of the checks carried out by prospective employers, landlords and insurers. There are several different reasons you might need to print or share a copy of your Credit Report, such as assisting a mortgage advisor during an application, showing a specific entry to a lender, or even just to keep a physical copy for your personal records.

You may not get help to pay rent through benefits if you rent a home owned by a family member. Your council may be able to help you find somewhere to live if you're at risk of homelessness. You might find it difficult to get a private rented home if you have:. Deal with debts as soon as you can. Speak to a specialist debt adviser if you're struggling with debt or credit issues.

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Our website needs these to run. You can only turn them off using your browser settings. We use marketing cookies to help us improve the relevancy of advertising campaigns you receive. These also send information to linked Social Media channels. Skip to main content England Scotland. Housing advice Housing advice. Shelter England Housing advice Private renting How to rent with a poor credit history.

How to rent with a poor credit history. Credit checks Landlords and agents must ask your permission if they want to carry out a credit check. It could take time to improve your credit rating. If you need to talk to someone, we'll do our best to help Get help.

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