I live full time in The Bahamas and I recently received a position as a professor at a RG university. The pay is great and I am able to maintain my independent consulting practice digitally as well (at reduced hours), which will also continue to pay me.
I am wondering what I can do to make myself more attractive to landlords? I have not begun the process yet in looking for someplace to rent but I am getting so scared that not having a credit score or even a guarantor will impede my ability to find housing. Is there anything I can include that will make LL feel assured that I won’t be a horrible tenant?
For context my husband and I own our land in the Bahamas that was passed down to us so we never had to rent (we have our deeds in hand), so I am not sure of other ways to convey that we will not be flakey.
Are you able to pay your rent upfront for the duration of your AST?
Ask the university accommodation office to put out a request to landlords they have on their books . They are used to dealing with international students and professionals and are more likely to take the risk .
Be prepared to pay 6 months or 12 months rent upfront .
Do you know anyone who could act as your guarantor in this country?
I find it hard to believe that a top university won’t help sort you out here, they have a lot of heft in their local housing markets because they provide a huge amount of the business to lettings agencies. If a university says to an agent “find me a place for this professor coming from overseas” then the agent will do it as the university relationship will be a gold mine for them. A landlord like me (maybe not everyone has my attitude, to be fair) will always take someone like you in preference to local UK residents as you have a fixed job with a top tier employer, I would not even ask for a guarantor.