Taxi Driver Online

alright chaps,

Sorry - this isnt strictly taxi related so hope you don't mind:

I am just in the process of trying to move house, landlord wants to sell. Problem is no landlord (or should i say letting agent) will touch me now. i haven't been self employed long and so i dont have 1000 years of accounts to show them to prove my income, i dont even have an accountant as i do it myself. My credit record is good (had no problem borrowing 13k for a new taxi) that isnt good enough tho.

...Most of these letting agents round my way now use companies to do background checks, you pay £80-£150 for the privilege of having your life scrutinised. Fair do i suppose, i can see why landlords want to do it. But if you dont come up smelling of roses then its a case of "computer says no". These checking companies want to speak with your accountant (which i dont have), and from my research i beleive most of them wont touch self employed with less than 6 years accounts.

Some landlords will take you on with 6 months rent up front. no chance! i dont have that sort of money and what if the landlord goes bankrupt? you can kiss your £3000 goodbye. Some will take you on with a guarantor but sadly i am not 16 anymore so mummy and daddy are long retired, and most of mt friends are struggling to look after their own familys without having to worry about being the fall guy for my rent - if i am injured and cant work then they are gonna have to pay my rent.

The letting agents, honest caring and sharing people that they are dont tell you you are going to fail for being self employed and having little in the way of accounts until you hand over the NON-refundable fee. wouldnt expect anything less from them tho...

Anyone here had problems renting a place because of being self employed? Im getting pretty desperate now, been looking for places for weeks. I am starting to eye up a few cosy looking park benches.

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http://www.becomeataxidriver.org.uk

Personally I've not had a problem being self employed. Can't you get a reference from your landlord to state that you have been a good tennant? Alternatively look in the Echo to find landlords that deal with tennants direct rather than through agencies. I had a place up myself for rent 6 months ago but you'd have had to cross the river

There are lots housing associations in Liverpool have you tried them? Anyway good luck with your search

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

i have been trying to find landlords directly on gumtree but there aint been a whole lot in my price range in the areas i am looking at.
Didnt think of housing associations, i always thought they where only for people on benefits, i will look into that now.

cheers toots, much appreciated

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http://www.becomeataxidriver.org.uk

If your landlord is asking you to move out he has to give you notice. This must be in writing. Take this along to your council housing department and tell them that you are being made homeless. They may be able to put you in touch with a housing association.

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Grandad,

Suggest you put a question up here, if the question isn't already there somewhere.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/for ... .html?f=16

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IDFIMH

When I was managing lettings, I required either a Guarantor or 6 months money upfront. It's not the agents, it's the insurance companies who call the tune on the landlord's legal expenses insurance.

You should have had a s21 notice from your landlord advising you that 'he intends to apply to the court for an order for possession'. This notice must be 2 months and be served on an anniversary of the tenancy, ie, if the tenancy started on 5th of the month, the notice must be served on 5th of A month. It is NOT a notice to quit, no such thing exists in residential landlord and tenant law these days.

An application to the court typically took about 2 months to get to court and secured an order for possession in 28 days, ie about 5/6 months from the service of the original notice. You are not obliged, in law, to move until you breach that court order.

I mention this because a local authority will almost certainly say you are not homeless until you get a court order - Come back then!!

Now, the problem with pushing it that far is that in the future, no private landlord will touch you with a bargepole thereafter. I left the business before housing associations became large players in the market.

If the alternatives suggested by others don't help, my only other suggestion would be a bank loan for 6 months rent. But that is an expensive option.

Sorry I can't offer anything more positive but I hope I've outlined your legal position with some clarity. Please let us know how you get on.

Toots any vacancy's where you live??? for him