Im looking to rent a 2 bed property for myself and my 6 year old daughter. My relationship with her father ended last year in June as he refused to go and find a job after his work (self employed floorlayer) stopped a couple of months prior. Due to his refusal, i asked him to leave. My previous landlord was not happy with me continuing on in the property with my daughter and asked us to leave as well by the end Sep. Throughout this turmoil i incurred a ccj for a parking fine i didn’t know i had. I had my in-laws as gaurantors. However, devastingly my father in law was diagnosed with cancer in oct 24. So they were unable to be my gaurantors. He unfortunately passed away march 2025. I finally left the property in jan of this year and currently sofa surfing between my family me and my daughter had nowhere to go. Now im left with paying off the debt from our previous house, which i am paying back. But this has taken a bad bad knock on my credit. I just want a change to prove myself and have a home for us. Can any help? Xz
Hi @Fay2,
We offer some guidance on renting with poor credit history here.
Some similar questions have been asked in the community before, you may find these useful.
Best of luck in your search.
Fay, it you’re a single mother with a child, aren’t you considered a priority for local City Council in regards of finding you an accommodation?
Unfortunately im not seen as priority. I was refused by rochford council because they took the work criteria from their application. And southend council were not interested because at the time i owed more than 8 weeks rent on my previous property (debt my ex left me to deal with) ive now paid most of it back and ill be debt free by September. I have also reapplied to southend but ive already been told i will only go into the bidding band for property which could take up to 2 years to be housed. Im not seen as priority unfortunately. Thanks for your msg.
It’s good that you confirmed that unpaid rent can hinder you from getting a new accommodation from CC. Hopefully, some tenants here will take notice.
Best of luck in your search and hope you’ll find what you’re looking for.
I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but private landlords due to government interference are now not taking ANY risks on new tenants.
In the old days you would have probably got a house by selling yourself as a decent person on viewing.
Nowadays I don’t take risks as the supply of tenants with good credit ratings is growing as more landlords are leaving the market, enabling us to be more fussy.
The government has scored a huge own goal with their attitude and people like you are the real victims, I know this is peeing in the wind but I would contact your MP and explain your predicament, as they have caused it.
Sadly there is little chance of social housing.
I wish you luck sincerely and my heart goes out to you, but it is a business and conditions are forcing us landlords out of the game and there are no visible replacements.
Good luck 