UK Landlord Forum / Life

Studio flat,previous rent 475.Agents said could remarket at 500.Despite several viewings and positive feedback,now void nearly 4 weeks.I have lowered the rent back to previous sum.Few more viewings,and application from the following;
Male,31.Employed,salary meets requirements.Separated,with child who will visit for access.Volunteered that he has a bad credit record due to being left with all the debts after split.Says he still owes £300 being paid off monthly.If doubts,says he can supply suitable guarantor.

I am tempted,but have only ever accepted one person with a past CCJ/guarantor.I think the latter not worth the paper written on if it comes to trying to enforce.On the other hand,he has apparently been upfront about his situation.Should I ask for more information,such as how long he has been in current job,and how far back do the CCJ's go? I am not desperate for the income,no mortgage.

Any comments very much appreciated.   

I have taken on Tenants with CCJs before. Twice.

I've not had overly bad experiences. What you need to do is weigh up the circumstances and your impression of the prospective Tenants. It can't be a blanket "no" for anyone with a CCJ. I've also turned down someone with a plethora of CCJs (they claimed they were unaware of) before - but that approach was justified as they had already lied to me (in my opinion) and my Spidey-sense was tingling.

As many have said... it's bricks and mortar that's the focus of the deal, but the business is a people business.

When I say it can't be a blanket "no" for anyone with a CCJ, I mean for me. Of course it can, for anyone else. My view is that it's the world that's caused a lot of young people to have CCJs. The credit society. The want-it-now approach. Young people get sucked into all this because we give them no financial training while in education. Some people don't know what a credit agreement entails, some get a credit card and just think of it as "free money" - it's all ludicrous when you're an old sage (like me) but they're a generation that's never had to struggle for things, really. This guy you refer to seems to have fallen into a different trap - the trap of a woman. I've not had that - but I have had people who've done silly things when they were young and are now trying to recover - I give them credit for that.

Thanks Hippogriff.I do have some sympathy for people in his situation.Back in the mists of time, I had to lie and cover up about having a young son and a dog in order to rent a place.I paid the rent on time,and kept the place immaculate.I also was left with big debts that I had no part in,and did 3 jobs to pay them off.My credit rating is squeaky clean,but there is always that "There but for the grace of God......"
I have always said no before to CCJs'.But life is often messy.If someone is trying to rebuild things ... (cue violins)
It turns out this young man has worked at the local golf/country club for ten years.The debts were the utilities.He has got landlord references (not that I place much faith in them) He has lived with family for a few months to save the fees and deposit,and wants this flat with its' own private garden overlooking a nature reserve for when his 6 year-old visits.I must be going soft in my dotage,but I am inclined to give him the benefit of the(considerable!) doubt.He will probably turn out to be on the run from police,using the flat as a drop address.I speak from experience.

Totally agree about the toxic effects of "free credit" on young people.I am astounded by the amounts of cash  several parents I know have forked out over the years,to keep their adult kids out of court.Tens of thousands, even remortgaging their own homes to do it.When they go,their offspring will be unprepared for life without a safety net.     

Well,I agreed to take him on,but already getting twitchy.The flat is small,with basic Ikea furniture and all kitchen appliances.It seems that as soon as I agreed the tenancy,he went out and bought another sofa and coffee table.Two days before he's due to move in,he has asked me to take the sofa and table provided away.I said no,the flat is as seen.I have nowhere to store stuff.Straight back with request to remove my items to his parent's house.The previous tenant asked to do this with another new sofa,apparently stored in a leaky shed,came back ruined.
I have told the agent to hold fire on the signing,I am hearing warning bells.He is still clearing a debt of £300 by monthly payments,why would you go out and splash out on new furnishings rather than get in the clear? Does this suggest a rather casual attitude to money owed? Am I getting paranoid?

Update: The agents assured me he had been tentative and apologetic in asking to move furniture.The email I first received made him sound demanding.He moved in last week-fingers crossed!

New place, new start... if the monthly payment is manageable and set in stone, then there may be no £ advantage to paying it off quicker, so getting a nice new sofa is not a crazy idea.

I don't relish the idea of resting my weary body on a sofa that other people (strangers) have done whatever on... certainly eaten and farted, but likely to be much, much more worrying stuff. I don't let property furnished now, by choice. Life is simpler. I still have an apartment that must be furnished to work (but that's not by my choice).

My other two properties are unfurnished,with just basic kitchen stuff.The three studios are different in that the typical tenant usually has little in the way of furniture.Some are just arrived from overseas,on contracts.Some have their own home elsewhere in the U.K.and use the flats as an alternative to B&B for weekdays working locally.When voids were more common,the local authority charged me furnished accomodation council tax ,even before I started providing furniture.The heavy fold-down beds in the living room were classed as portable! 
Do you find staying in hotels difficult,imagining the goings-on of previous guests?