There is an affordability criteria that any Landlord should evaluate , if they do not the judge might say " how did you expect the tenant to pay the rent" you didnt advise your income, so 99% of Landlords would drop you like a stone.
1 Like
Yes, by all means evaluate.
The point is , I was not given a chance to offer proof of affordability. They just ASSUMED that all retired people are unacceptable !!
no, the point is, LLs don’t have to explain why they won’t accept an application. They are free to assume whatever they want in regard to retired people. If they don’t accept retired people then no amount of affordability is going to change their mind.
1 Like
Well from your own description the agent wasn’t sure what was acceptable or not. Your reaction
(If you actually said “Are you kidding me ?!!”)
may have reduced your chances - people dont want to be criticised and assumed at fault based on no evidence at all just assumptions on your part, and agents are no different. It’s not a good start to an interview is it?
LL might for example have indicated a preference for couples who were both employed, and then for singles who were employed with a guarantor. Right or wrong it’s generally harder for the self employed and the retired to pass the automated referencing checks which use employer info to verify income. Without these LLs cant get RGi. Some LLs will take a view that even if they miss out on some great tenants, if they find someone else employed who is less hassle to recruit/reference, they dont mind. Others will have the confidence and be willing to work through a self employed persons 3 years of accounts to figure if they are a good bet. Some people will prefer office workers over musicians. Some prefer tenants without pets. None of which will seem fair to either musicians or those with pets (and def not to musicians who have pets!). Maybe the LL has simply had bad experiences with retired tenants in the past.
If the agent had already organized viewings for 10 couples etc all with good affordabilty, they maybe didnt want to waste your time or theirs. Even if agent knew LL wouldnt accept retired people, any chance you had of persuading them otherwise may have disappeared with your reaction.
When asked your salary, next time why not just say ‘I earn £x a month’ ? (You probably did earn it over many years) or ‘I get £x a month’.? And dont assume what a LL views are based on an agent saying they dont know. .
Good luck
1 Like
I’ve always been curious to know, what your occupation was, If I’m not prying.
Good luck with your sales. I wish it was that easy for me to get out of this business.
..Or pets who are musicians…!
2 Likes
It may not even be related to affordability. They may not want the extra wear and tear that someone who’s home all day may cause to the property.
Landlords prerogative on who they choose. Each has learnt what type of tenant works best for them.
Tell us, if you were a landlord how would you choose the right tenant so that you make sure you protect your hard earned investment ?? The last property I advertised I had 23 enquiries within 2 weeks. If any ended up homeless would it be my fault??
2 Likes
If the potential Landlord has either published their minimum required income figure, or used the industry usual standard calculation over annual rent, then it appears they’re entitled to dismiss anyone unable to meet the minimum income - on perceived affordability grounds.
That said; I know plenty of Landlords who take no notice of industry standards or any other criteria - instead, they meet the prospective Tenant at a viewing and discuss rent/affordability on an individual basis.
Being retired is, in many ways, far safer rent for a Landlord - in as much as the reliability factor, usually guaranteed income (State + other Pensions etc), conduct and care for a property and many other attributes of age.
On the negative side, Age Discrimination is absolutely rife in this country across just about every trade and industry you can think of where a person applies for some form of involvement. Try getting a job when retired ! Even when you’re absolutely suitable, with huge experience, great references etc … 99% of your applications will get the familiar ’ … moved on in our application process’ load of old tripe. It translates: You’re too old - IN OUR OPINION .
Age Discrimination is a silent breach of law and the silent enemy to those of mature age. It is a nightmare to try to prove before a court or tribunal and it really is very easily disguised.
If you’ve informed the prospective Landlord/Agent of your income and it fits the criteria from the Landlord, you should get a viewing invite. If it fits but you get declined - just walk away. The Landlord wouldn’t be worth doing business with. Walk away and get a nicer place and a nicer Landlord.
1 Like
I live in Spain where retired people are considered the safest and most reliable tenants as they should be everywhere. Some landlords even specify ‘retired tenants only’.
Most retired people who rent have a secure income and capital, live quietly without any wild parties and are of a generation who takes pride in their home. They will probably have owned their own property at least once in their lifetime.
I would suggest that the agent was just a kid, wet behind the ears, totally inexperienced and not very bright. I am a landlord in two countries, of retirement age and I rejoice when a prospective tenant is a retired person. I know my property will be looked after and the rent will be paid. Not many old age squatters around!
3 Likes
Lorna you said "Landlord refused… " Then you said the agent said "I will ASK the landlord… " So did the agent ask the landlord? It was not the landlord who refused in the first instance, it was the agent?
2 Likes
This is the whole point. Agent said ,halfway through the vetting process over the phone if i was employed
I said " no, im retired " silence followed and she said. " im going to have to contact the Landlord to ask if you can view, im not sure he accepts Retired applicants.
Fast forward two phone calls from me… I then get a text saying property is now let. I smell a rat
i believe i was lied to because the agents did not want be be accused of discrimination. Unfortunately , i discovered that it is now legal for a landlord to refuse viewings to.retired tenants
i feel this is discrimination …but its now legal !
Lorna
1 Like
I tried
I had all the paperwork ready. I even offererd to courior the info to their office..not interested
1 Like
Retired at age 53 after 29 year career with British Aiways as cabin crew.
What exactly is the basis for your belief you were lied to or discriminated against? Did agent at any point imply you’d be getting a viewing and then indicate it didn’t happen because you were retired?
The fact you get a txt informing you the property has been let simply means exactly that - that someone else had viewed before you and made an offer acceptable to the LL. Are you saying.the LL.should have waited and offered anybody else interested a viewing who was part way through their vetting process just in case they also offered and risked losing the first offer? Why would they have to do that? (Easy to check if there actually was an offer accepted if it was an openrent ad as the listing would have been taken down.)
Or are you upset because agent told you (and no doubt everyone else who d been interested) by txt?
The fact you offered to courier round the info on income levels means you did get the chance to share what your income was, in fact.
It’s just as likely that the agent and LL was perfectly ready to do a viewing with you but as an acceptable offer came in in the meantime, so then there was no point. (Or maybe the agent / LL decided not to offer a viewing to a potential tenant assuming discrimination and complaining before they’d even had a viewing)
And yes the agent probably avoided a difficult conversation by sending a txt but they will have told everyone not getting a viewing in exactly the same way. The.fact you are retired or part way through the vetting process doesnt entitle you to any special treatment or mean they are going to waste their time calling to let you down more gently. You still wouldn’t have believed them anyway so what would have been the point?
Good luck
There’s your answer, you didn’t give enough champagne to the landlord on your flight… 
1 Like
Actually after further thought, you may be being discriminated against on the basis of being on benefits if you are in receipt of state pension. This is now illegal under the Renters Rights Act. From what youve said it may be difficult to prove in this case, but its worth bearing in mind if you get that reaction again from a landlord or agent.
1 Like
and now that you’ve retired so early, you’ll have plenty of time to take that one to the council
not what I’m doing with my retirement but hey ho…
1 Like
Not necessary. The local authority has the responsibility to enforce this section of The RRA. If a landlord or agent ever says they dont accept retirees, (not that I would expect that to happen very much), a prospective tenant just has to report it to the Council and they will have a duty to investigate. If there is some evidence that its true, on the balance of probabilities, (crucially not beyond reasonable doubt), they can issue a civil penalty of up to £7,000 and tell the landlord/agent to appeal if they want to refute it.
1 Like
post edited accordingly David
1 Like