Referencing quandary!

My husband and I are currently staying with his parents on a temporary basis in Devon until we can relocate to Oxford, but we are finding the whole referencing process for renting to be very difficult! Complete catch-22 that nobody can seem to alleviate.

Here are the factors that are making it so impossible:

1. Husband can only get temporary/contract work right now because he's starting a postgraduate course at Oxford Brookes in September. However, in order for his income to be considered as a viable contribution towards our rent, he needs to be in permanent employment. He's in a contract position in Exeter at the moment, which we're told won't fly.

2. I am waiting to hear back from a job that will pay 17,200 PA, but not sure if I'm going to get it. I should know by tomorrow if I'm getting either that or a job that pays 15,500 PA. The latter job is almost 100% for certain mine if I want it. If we're being assessed solely on the basis of my income, I would need to earn enough so that my 40% of my monthly income can pay for the flat or house. I won't apply for any properties until I've gotten a job offer.

3. One estate agent (though others have differed) said that I am required to have a UK bank account if I want to succeed in my application. Is it not enough that my husband has a UK account?

4. In order for me to get said bank account, I need proof of address in this country. That's the whole problem, I need the address! I haven't had anything sent to me at this address, but I suppose that can be arranged, despite the extra time it will require.

Those are the main issues. Can anyone help? Sorry for such a lengthy post! Thank you!

Maybe your inlaws would be prepared to act as guarantor? Would that be acceptable to the estate agent you are dealing with?

As for the bank account, can your husband get you added onto his?

what a total pain.

inlaws as guarantor might be a good way to good, but here are a couple of thoughts otherwise.

- citibank although not my favorite bank in the world, does deal with lots of americans so if you can make an appointment to meet a branch representative they might be able to help you get an account. however if the only thing preventing you from getting an account is lack of address than use your inlaws; you can always go back and change the address.

- i am self-employed and know that there is a huge prejudice against people who aren't in normal, salaried positions. with that, estate agents will not exclude people who do contact work if they can show that they are earning. i think your husband should try and get a letter from his contract employer, on letterhead, stating when he will start, how much he will earn and any positive indication stating that 'he will be working with us for some time'....

good luck.

Maybe your inlaws would be prepared to act as guarantor? Would that be acceptable to the estate agent you are dealing with?

I was going to suggest the same thing. My cousin and her bf moved to Oxford last year -- he was starting a PhD program and she was going to look for work once they moved. They were in more or less the same boat you and your husband were in. They were able to have their parents act as guarantor and didn't have a problem finding a flat. But, you're right -- there's no way they could have done it before he started at Oxford and before she got a job.

can you get added to one of your in-laws acounts, for just a month.  you coudl then bring that into your partner's bank and get added to his account.  their gas, electric, or water bill?

Also, most estate agents accept the (highly unpopular) option of six months rent in advance as guarantee.

I know, I know, who's got that???

Thank you all! The in-laws would act as our guarantors if they could, but unfortunately, they're pensioners on a fixed income and cannot afford to do so. They suggested the six months up front route, which would be great, but you're right, we can't quite afford it! If it weren't for the dilapidations fee (equivalent of one and a half month's rent), I think we could make it, but the agents aren't willing to waive that fee. I may try Citibank. Only time will tell! Thanks again!

I hear you and have also experienced the banking-address quandry. We've been married for 3 years, and when we tried to get me added onto my husband's account, we were told that it could not happen unless we had a utility bill showing that we lived in the UK. Why does that matter? Our address as far as the bank is concerned is in Seattle, and I had brought a utility bill and our current lease with all the addresses matching.
Since I've been in this country for the past few days, I have almost never felt so frustrated. It seems like there are roadblocks on everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It seems like there are roadblocks on everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i love living here, but your point about roadblocks is *spot on* - have said that many many times myself. when you think about how easy it is to open a bank account [or whatever] in the states and then the hoops you have to jump through to get an account over here it just seems insane. i suppose it's these roadblocks that subtly maintain the class system and also make large projects like bath spa and wembly run smoothly on time

It's probably more to do with stricter rules on opening bank accounts in order to clamp down on money laundering....


Victoria