Renting an apartment means that you are relieved of some responsibilities, such as taking care of serious repairs, there is also less concern about repossession, since it is your landlord who pays the mortgage. In most cases, your liability for interior damage is limited to the amount of the deposit, but that is the reason why both private landlords and rental agencies ensure that all candidates have their financial background verified and seem trustworthy enough to become tenants.
Expensive deposit. While the UK is not as expensive as, for example, Japan when it comes to renting properties, it is important to remember that the initial deposit for the property will amount to between one and two months of rent.
No references from previous owners. Private landlords are more likely to view your application favorably after meeting you in person, but rental agencies always have a set of standardized policies to ensure that all applicants are at the lowest risk possible. If you don’t have a way to get references from previous owners, it may be a good idea to search for private listings first.
Your credit score is not good enough. Credit checks are most often done for two reasons: first, to prevent identity fraud, and second, to determine whether applicants exhibit sufficient financial trustworthiness to entrust them with often-expensive properties. It makes sense to check your credit score before applying, as all the failed checks reduce your chances with other agencies.
The landlord does not believe that you have sufficient financial reliability. This is a real nightmare for students and other full-time education applicants. You may be a hardworking student with several part-time jobs, but unless you can convince the owner that you can be trusted, look for other properties.
The owner doesn’t like your lifestyle. At some point, there is nothing you can do about it: certain owners will be prejudiced against people with tattoos, piercings or will simply judge that their attractiveness or behavior indicates a wild lifestyle. When dressing for an interview, remember that most landlords would like their tenants to be calm, hardworking partners, allergic to parties, alcohol, and cigarettes.
It’s your money, so choose wisely. Keep in mind that at the end of the day it’s still your decision which property to choose and it’s the hard-earned money that will pay off someone’s mortgage. The rental market is already saturated with great properties, so if a landlord isn’t happy with you, just go ahead and look for something else.
