Unexpected downside to full timing

nowhereman

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After closing down our workshop/ studio, and giving notice on our rented cottage we set off full timing. Now after a year on the road mostly in the uk and a spell on the continent it was decided that it was time to settle again and get our son back into a school.
This is when the unforseen downside comes into it. Nearly all landlords these days seem to advertise via an estate agent. So we checked up on the internet, and drove around various rural areas looking for a cottage to rent preferably with other children near by. Searching around Northumberland and Cumbria we started applying for suitable places via estate agents.
Now apparently because we have been out of the system for a year, even though we have still kept our business ticking over on the road, it seems that we do not meet the requirements of the checks that the estate agents put upon potential tennants. Although we are both professionals with excellent references and are able to pay the deposit and bond up front, this no longer means anything. We are looked on with suspicion now because we have not lived the standardised existence over the last year that is required.
This was first brought to our attention after putting in an offer to rent a cottage on a country estate near Alston. After phoning the agents a week or so later asking what the responce to our offer was, they told us that even though they had left messages on the answerphone of the estate they had not heard anything back. This went on for a further week and a half until we were actually passing the office of the country estate and decided to call in personally to see if they had recieved the offer and had a reply for us.
No offer had been recieved, they didnt know that we had even viewed the property.
A week later we recieved a reply from the estate saying that they now had the offer but we have been declined. This scenareo was not expected by us and apart from anger it makes us wonder if because we have done our own thing for a year and have not had a house, are we looked upon as some type of dodgy scum?:mad:
Now the search goes on for a private landlord (outwith an estate agents), that is more interested in rent up front good references and a bit of common sence instead of why we have not been 'normal' for the last year.
 
Hi Nowhereman, may I suggest you try the local free papers they're usually a good source of private ads.
Good luck with your search.
 
Hi nowhereman, sorry to hear of your story, Its because youve not been on the electoral role. The trouble I had opening a simple bank account was nobodys business cos I had not been on for 3 years. Have looked into this further since my problem, and what is happening is this, credit report agencys and big business, ie banks mobile phone co,s are working behind the accepted scenes to standardise everybodys credit rating. If you dont conform to their ideals your out. Doesnt matter if youve always been straight before, they want to be able to find you immediately so they dont lose money, and recovery companys can take you to the cleaners. Things will get worse.
 
Really sorry to hear about your difficulties - that sucks. The strategy we found most successful in looking for a place to rent (it's worked 3 times over the years) is to put a card in shops and on noticeboards local to where you want to be, describing yourselves (keen on gardening and DIY seems to go down well!) and offering references. I think a lot of people are cautious about advertising their cottages as they don't know who they're going to get but will respond to a card if it sounds right for them.

I wish you good luck in your search...I'm sure you'll find the right place before too long.
 
bodgerndog said:
Really sorry to hear about your difficulties - that sucks. The strategy we found most successful in looking for a place to rent (it's worked 3 times over the years) is to put a card in shops and on noticeboards local to where you want to be, describing yourselves (keen on gardening and DIY seems to go down well!) and offering references. I think a lot of people are cautious about advertising their cottages as they don't know who they're going to get but will respond to a card if it sounds right for them.

I wish you good luck in your search...I'm sure you'll find the right place before too long.
Click to expand...

Have been thinking about putting cards about but had doubts about getting any replies. The fact that it has worked for you 3 times tells me it is worth a go.:) Also we are trying local papers, seems to be hard to find rural lets these days. Even the farm cottages are all advertised via estate agents.
We are quite happy to never get back into the system again but at this moment it is more beneficial for our son to get him back into school and to get more contact and friendships with kids his own age. Kid comes first, will keep at it:)
 
Sorry to read of your plight Ian but agree with all the advice since your first post;).

Estate Agents (SPIT), :mad:, bypass them and go straight to the landlords.

I will keep my eyes open from now on whilst scouring the countryside at weekends.

Good luck and keep your chin up;):cool:
 
You might not want to come north of the border but I've noticed that rentals are definitely cheaper in Borders region and Dumfries & Galloway than in Cumbria. Less fierce competition too. Quite a lot advertised in local papers each week - Thursday or Friday seems to be best days for property.
 
Permanent Address

Hi Nowhereman,

It seems to me that if you exclude properties that are advertised through agents then you are limiting your choice of properties, you might just miss the 'perfect' house. I was just wondering if it is possible for you to use the address of a relation or friend as your 'permanent' address for the purpose of satisfying agents requirement of a fixed address?.

I wish you luck.

Len
 
I came back from travelling Spain/France/Portugal for 18 months & didn't really find a problem in ayrshire.

Most landlords really just want to see the colour of your money & although they ideally want all the references from previous landlords, I just told them that I'd never been in rented property before & had just sold up my house & planned to rent to see out the credit slump.

Mostly true by the way, I also offered double deposit - but this was more of a confidence enhancer for them & I didn't need to actually employ it.

Maybe it's more of an issue in England then up here.

Why not get a friend to write you a reference saying he was your landlord?
 
not difficult

Hi we fulltimed for several years and also lived overseas. We were not on the electoral roll in uk for over 10 years so we had no history in uk but had always kept a uk bank account. When we wanted to rent we offered six months rent upfront and copies of our bank statements. As most uk tenancies are 6 month shorthold initially we found no problem and had our tenancy through an agent in less than a week.

Cash works!!
 
forget the estate agents .they do all the veting and pick and choose who moves in to the property not the property owner .use a private landlord direct through a private ad ,it may also be cheaper .we had 18 months fulltiming and when it came to renting property again went private and we got the first flat we looked at we liked. you have your references money up front and if they ask give your addres you used while full timing the place we have is on a 12 months contract and the same each year after that private landlords that advertise privatly are usualy the ones that want good long term tennants we have rented privately for many years and have had no probs at all
 
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