Board logo

Renting and a reference
Ninehigh - 12/2/13 at 10:26 PM

Not myself, but a friend is trying to rent a house. The housing people want a reference from her current landlord and he's purposely giving a bad one. Any ideas how to get around this?

Personally I'd be happy to lie my pretty little face off but she's in New Zealand so it'd look a bit suspicious having a landlord on the other side of the world!

morcus - 12/2/13 at 10:40 PM

She could ask if they'd take an employers' reference, or maybe a previous land lord if there is one.

Barkalarr - 12/2/13 at 11:02 PM

Rather than a reference why not have a parent or friend be her guarantor ?
Failing that, can they pay 6 months up front?

After all, the landlord is only using the reference to add comfort that they won't be left out of pocket.
Chances are they'll credit check her too, just to get a 3rd party view on the financial situation.

If she was one of my tennants, I'd be way more happy with a guarantor than anything else (if money up front wasn't an option)

There's a free credit check I've seen on the money saving expert website where you sign up and cancel it before 30 days are up.

blakep82 - 12/2/13 at 11:19 PM

She could say the previous landlord made some inappropriate passes at her, hance the move, and hes refusing to give a reference...
The talk of sexual harassment with have the new ones avoid talking about it I reckon

If youre prepared to lie, its worth a shot!

Dangle_kt - 12/2/13 at 11:23 PM

quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
She could say the previous landlord made some inappropriate passes at her, hance the move, and hes refusing to give a reference...
The talk of sexual harassment with have the new ones avoid talking about it I reckon

If youre prepared to lie, its worth a shot!


Remind me never to annoy you.

blakep82 - 12/2/13 at 11:35 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Dangle_kt
quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
She could say the previous landlord made some inappropriate passes at her, hance the move, and hes refusing to give a reference...
The talk of sexual harassment with have the new ones avoid talking about it I reckon

If youre prepared to lie, its worth a shot!


Remind me never to annoy you.


i'll tell them where you touched me! ha ha

presumably they don't have to know who the actual landlord was, and i'm assuming they don't, just a made up person, in a made up house, in a made up town!

TimC - 13/2/13 at 07:50 AM

Does she not have any friends in NZ who can lie?

I once helped a mate who was in the same situation - through no fault of his own - had the new landlady's numbers so when they flashed up on my phone I answered "Hello, this is David." Classic.

cliftyhanger - 13/2/13 at 08:00 AM

Why are they giving a bad reference? that is really odd behaviour. Maybe she should tell the existing landlord she will stay and be a PITA if he doesn't change his mind on the matter. Over here if a tenant isn't great you give them a decent ref to help get them out.....sad but true.

Not sure how the rules work over there though.