Housing references & renting privately

A few quick questions-

1) When landlords/letting agencies in the UK ask for references, what exactly do they mean? Do they want references from previous landlords, employers, or what?  What exactly does a reference contain- I'm assuming it would take the form of a letter, but what exactly would be in it (ie is it a character reference, financial reference, or something else?)

2) Can the references for renting property be US-based?

3) I've heard that there are usually less formalities when renting privately...do private landlords usually ask for references/credit checks/evidence of income (or barring that, a cosigner)?  If not, how do they decide whether you have enough money to cover the rent?  Do they just take your word for it?

My dream situation would be to find someone privately who I could rent from, pay a deposit and possibly provide a couple of references, and then move in....I'd be moving at a time where I'd be jobhunting/temporarily unemployed (with some savings), so providing evidence of a stable income would be problematic (I wouldn't have a co-signer...and I don't have any UK credit.)   Is this even possible?

(I'd also be moving in with my British boyfriend, who would be a postgraduate student...I left that part out for the sake of simplicity, but if anyone has any insights into that part of things, feel free.  And we'd be looking at getting a 1-bedroom place by ourselves, not a flat/house share.)

1) When landlords/letting agencies in the UK ask for references, what exactly do they mean? Do they want references from previous landlords, employers, or what?  What exactly does a reference contain- I'm assuming it would take the form of a letter, but what exactly would be in it (ie is it a character reference, financial reference, or something else?)

I can only give you my experience but we asked our letting agent about this and she said that our neighbours were fine to use as character referees and our current estate agent would be perfect to use as another referee.

2) Can the references for renting property be US-based?

Not sure about this.

3) I've heard that there are usually less formalities when renting privately...do private landlords usually ask for references/credit checks/evidence of income (or barring that, a cosigner)?  If not, how do they decide whether you have enough money to cover the rent?  Do they just take your word for it?

The landlord we ended up with is private - no agents at all - I guess it helps that most of my family work for him! He asked us for no references or any deposit. Neither of us are employed, (we are lucky enough to be able to live off of our savings) so it's not like we can prove that we have any money coming in.

My dream situation would be to find someone privately who I could rent from, pay a deposit and possibly provide a couple of references, and then move in....I'd be moving at a time where I'd be jobhunting/temporarily unemployed (with some savings), so providing evidence of a stable income would be problematic (I wouldn't have a co-signer...and I don't have any UK credit.)   Is this even possible?

Sure, it is possible but, is it common? Probably not. I don't want to get you down, just show that these things do happen, sometimes when you least expect it, (we were just lucky in our timing as the previous tenants were moving out a couple of weeks before we moved in).

Best of luck with finding somewhere to live.

When my DH was looking for a flat, I mailed him a reference letter signed by our US landlord.  Our private landlord wanted at least one reference, but was perfectly happy with that letter.

Good luck.

My (private) landlady was aware that I had just arrived and was happy with a letter from my boss saying that I worked for my company as well as a copy of my work permit (which clearly states my salary).

Best of luck!

My landlady contacted our previous landlord in the US and also DH's employer here in the UK.  That was enough for her. 

Hiya,

I'm one of those 'good' landlords! my last four years of renting my apartment, I've not even asked for a reference! I just have been lucky in getting fantastic tennants and had usually a month or 2 worth of rent in advance as a deposit.

I have been taking a gamble by doing this, and one tennant after 9 months of no trouble turned out to be wanted by the flying squad/special branch no less! but I had my rental money so was ok!

the only 'reference' I had was my first tennant who was a middle aged guy who came here from Poland on a Business Visa - I got his solicitors to get me a copy of his documents to prove he was here legally. He rented from me for 2 years and never missed a payment! and I now occasionally use his building company to get work done -

Private landlords like me do exist, but finding us is usually through word of mouth or, if you are in the right place at the right time as our properties rent for relatively long periods at a time and hardly ever become available.

I suggest you keep scouring the private ads in local papers, scour gumtree.com and loot.com etc, ask estate agents if they know any private landlords (bit unlikely - but you never know!) and see how you go. Flipside, if my flat became available and I was approached by a private person wanting to rent and they showed me emplyers letters and other ID etc I'd be happy to rent to them via a strong contract.

Of course I know it doesn't apply to UKY people becuase they're all good - but if the tennant turned out to be a non payer or trouble maker - then although I've never had it happen to me, various 'methods' would be used to remove the person and make sure they wouldnt return. Tennants have more rights than landlords in this country which is absurd, so I've heard of some landlords resorting to more 'effective' means to rid the problem !  please ensure you and anyone you know are good tennants!!!

Cheers! DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Thanks for the detailed reply, Dennis (and thanks to everyone else for their input!)  This is more of a hypothetical than anything else for me...I'd *love* if we could swing renting our own flat, but it's not looking too terribly likely to happen.  Doesn't hurt to be prepared, though!