Possible to get a rental if you can prove income/salary? (I have no credit hist)

Hi All!
We're headed for Manchester in 2 months and I am trying to get a handle on the rental situation.  We plan to find something once we're there (too stressful trying to chose a home without knowing the area).  I've been in the US for 15 yrs, and so am concerned that with no credit in the UK it'll be tough to get a place.  (I *really* don't want to pay 6 months up front).

I am going to a job with a decent salary, and have proof of that. One letting agency I spoke to seemed to think that would be sufficient to get us a lease.  Has anyone got any experience with this?

Thanks!

I just showed proof of a job and paid the usual deposit.  It was fine.

no credit history here- no bank account at the time either (uk)-

put 6 weeks deposit.  so it was 14 weeks- first months rent, last month's rent, deposit.

you'll be fine.

I'm with the others, you'll be fine! You may need a letter from your employer showing that you have a job and how much it pays, but that's it. You also need a hefty amount of cash upfront, but not six month's rent (maybe people have to pay that if they come here without employment already?). We had to pay first month's rent, 6 weeks deposit, and something like a few hundred pounds to the letting agency as some sort of fee.

I don't know about renting, because we never had to, but there is an abundance of new build flats and rentals in Manchester, in lots of different neighbourhoods, including the town centre. You should be spoiled for choice with renting in Manc. If you want some info on neighbourhoods, let me know. I am in Chorlton, which is a great place, but there are some other fantastic suburbs in South Manchester.

I think we may have secured a house today, just up the street from my parents and the kids primary school. Found it online yesterday, sent my brother to the estate agents today, and paid a 'holding' deposit this afternoon. They didn't need to see proof of my employment, either in the US or my new job with the same company in the UK. The fact that I'm paying for a months rent before we can even occupy it seemed to help, but that was worth it to me to get a house in this location, and at this price (630 GBP for 3bd/1.5ba).

You'll be just fine, I think. Now, god forbid you need a mobile phone or a car loan. 

I'm dreading that one.

Like others have said, as long you have a letter from your employer stating your salary you should be fine.  We did have to pay a double deposit because we didn't have a UK bank reference.  However, they gave half that deposit back once we had been here (banking) for three months.

thanks so much all! (this site is a real godsend )
I do have a letter already as part of the Huz's VISA app, so I should be good.  Racheee, South Manchester is definitely beckoning;-) 

You'll be just fine, I think. Now, god forbid you need a mobile phone or a car loan. 

I'm dreading that one.

On the mobile front, my husband was able to get a contract with Orange a few weeks after we moved here -- he just needed a bank debit card from the UK and proof of UK residence (our lease). Orange has a deal where it's 15 pounds a month for something like 300 (or was it 500?) minutes a month. But because he had no credit history here, they only let him get ONE phone, and wouldn't let him get one for me. Which turned out  to be fine, because I bought a cheap pay-as-you-go from Tesco (it was free when I purchased 30 pounds of top-up minutes). We've been here 5 months, and I've only used a couple of pounds worth of airtime, so I'm glad I'm not stuck with a monthly bill!

So you should have no problem getting a cell phone of some sort. To get the contract phone, however, my hubby had to go into a store. Trying to do it online, they wouldn't let me sign up! If all else fails, you can get a pay as you go, no problem.

On the mobile front, my husband was able to get a contract with Orange a few weeks after we moved here -- he just needed a bank debit card from the UK and proof of UK residence (our lease). Orange has a deal where it's 15 pounds a month for something like 300 (or was it 500?) minutes a month. But because he had no credit history here, they only let him get ONE phone, and wouldn't let him get one for me. Which turned out  to be fine, because I bought a cheap pay-as-you-go from Tesco (it was free when I purchased 30 pounds of top-up minutes). We've been here 5 months, and I've only used a couple of pounds worth of airtime, so I'm glad I'm not stuck with a monthly bill!

So you should have no problem getting a cell phone of some sort. To get the contract phone, however, my hubby had to go into a store. Trying to do it online, they wouldn't let me sign up! If all else fails, you can get a pay as you go, no problem.

I'll definitely be using this info myself, so thanks! (I am not much of a phone talker, so the Tesco deal also sounds good for a second phone.

Yeah, I'll have a company CrackBerry for my sins, and given my beloved's penchant for 'misplacing' her phone, a cheapie from Tesco sounds like the way to go. 

I'll definitely be using this info myself, so thanks! (I am not much of a phone talker, so the Tesco deal also sounds good for a second phone.

You might shop around; the Tesco one is perfect for me because I use it rarely and don't talk long. But the reception is just so/so. Maybe that's Tesco, I don't know. A friend has the exact same phone and has no problems, but I'm not sure who her service provider is.

I do pay as go w/ O2 and usually top up 20 quid every few months.  I don't use the phone much and I didn't have a credit history when I first got here.  I'm very pleased w/ the service, I've never had issues w/ reception and I've used it here in the US 

For me it was a bit different, but I live way out in the country. It was easier to open our bank account and get a mobile phone (My DH's family lives here so it made that part easier). We finally found a rental that we put down the first six months, but we do not have jobs yet like you do. I think the rental thing will be very easy for you.