Need to rent apt in Dublin 15

Jelly-Bean · 10-08-2014 9:15am #1

Story is that me and husband separating, Im moving out and need to move out soon but I can not find anywhere to live. I'm ready to go straight away and have been to view a few places that I would have taken instantly but they were then offered to couples. Are landlord reluctant to rent to singles?? I'm very new to this as I have been a home owner for 7 years so its very daunting.

who_ru · 10-08-2014 3:13pm

Jelly-Bean wrote: »

Story is that me and husband separating, Im moving out and need to move out soon but I can not find anywhere to live. I'm ready to go straight away and have been to view a few places that I would have taken instantly but they were then offered to couples. Are landlord reluctant to rent to singles?? I'm very new to this as I have been a home owner for 7 years so its very daunting.

I would have thought that if you produce work references showing ability to pay then it shouldn't matter if you are single or a couple.

handlemaster · 10-08-2014 3:54pm

With couples I would think theres more stability.

No Pants · 10-08-2014 4:48pm

Less wear and tear from a single person, but more risk of damage and them moving on.

amdublin · 10-08-2014 6:15pm

Rent allowance or covering full rent yourself?

Chattastrophe! · 10-08-2014 6:18pm

handlemaster wrote: »

With couples I would think theres more stability.

Funnily enough I'd have thought the opposite - what if the couple breaks up? Two people equals twice the wear and tear, and if they have kids, it'll more than double it again!

If I were a landlord, renting to a single person with good references seems like the ideal situation.

Chattastrophe! · 10-08-2014 6:21pm

By the way, how much are you telling the prospective landlords about your situation? If I were you, I'd tell them feck all - it's none of their business. If you're telling them you're only in the process of separating, they might be cautious in case you change your mind about the separation.

Grandpa Hassan · 10-08-2014 6:48pm

Chattastrophe! wrote: »

By the way, how much are you telling the prospective landlords about your situation? If I were you, I'd tell them feck all - it's none of their business. If you're telling them you're only in the process of separating, they might be cautious in case you change your mind about the separation.

I agree with this and would add that any sign of desperation would be a big turn off for a landlord as well. It suggests that there is a story....something going on in the background. And complicated stories mean that a tenancy might be shortlived.

So make sure that you are being cool

handlemaster · 10-08-2014 7:05pm

Chattastrophe! wrote: »

Funnily enough I'd have thought the opposite - what if the couple breaks up? Two people equals twice the wear and tear, and if they have kids, it'll more than double it again!

If I were a landlord, renting to a single person with good references seems like the ideal situation.

The wear and tear isnt the issue. Its The person moving on quickly. It really dépends on thé people. Someone suggested lying to the landlord. Honesty will get you further.

Chattastrophe! · 10-08-2014 7:06pm

handlemaster wrote: »

The wear and tear isnt the issue. Its The person moving on quickly. It really dépends on thé people. Someone suggested lying to the landlord. Honesty will get you further.

Who suggested lying to the landlord?

handlemaster · 10-08-2014 7:12pm

Chattastrophe! wrote: »

Who suggested lying to the landlord?

You did. What ever way you want to twist it not giving the correct reason is lying. The landlord will always ask.

amdublin · 10-08-2014 7:19pm

handlemaster wrote: »

You did. What ever way you want to twist it not giving the correct reason is lying. The landlord will always ask.

Eh I would hardly think not giving your landlord your whole personal history is "lying"

handlemaster · 10-08-2014 7:25pm

amdublin wrote: »

Eh I would hardly think not giving your landlord your whole personal history is "lying"

Tenant needs to say why they want to rent. No reference been given. Anything not sounding right its next in line.

Eldarion · 11-08-2014 9:09am

handlemaster wrote: »

Tenant needs to say why they want to rent.

Haha what? I'd probably laugh at a Landlord who asked me why I wanted to rent a residential property. "...to live there?"

Having no reference will be a different story and will more than likely will cause the LL to come to an incorrect conclusion that maybe a previous tenancy didn't end well etc.

Mrs OBumble · 11-08-2014 11:52am

I've met LLs who would rather rent to couple, because they see a couple as more able to afford the rent. (It's bollox - I had more free cash when I was single. But some don't see it that way.)

OP, you need to come up with a sanitised story to tell them about why you're looking to rent. Don't lie as such, but don't tell the full truth either. What exactly will work depends on what your full story is, and what you have the neck to say, eg ne option is to let them think that your husband has died and you cannot face living in the house any more - I couldn't pull this off, but some women can and do.

Basically nothing that sets off red-flags about you only being there short term, or that you might have relationships troubles.

Oh- and make sure you have references from work and from personal contacts that you can present as a credible alternative to a LL reference.

Jelly-Bean · 11-08-2014 12:41pm

Thank you for your replies!! So far Ive been honest with the landlords/estate agents but I think I need to start holding back on what I say. Ya see when it comes to needing landlord references I dont have any cause I have been a home owner. What do you think if I say I have been moved out the past year and living with my parents?

I have a 4 year old who will be with me about 3 days a week but Im thinking of not saying anything about her?

Its all very stressful!

zef · 11-08-2014 2:06pm

Hi op, I'm sure it is very stressful. What kind of place are you looking for and what rent?
As for not saying anything about your little girl being there, surely this would add more stress to your life than being upfront with the landlord? I rented a bungalow in Huntstown when 5 months pregnant and could hide it. The neighbour , who was friendly with him rang landlord in London who decided within a week that his mother needed the house, and we were given 4 weeks notice. Some people don't like children in their properties, unsure if its an insurance thing or a fear they will wreck the house.

Michael D Not Higgins · 11-08-2014 2:24pm

zef wrote: »

Hi op, I'm sure it is very stressful. What kind of place are you looking for and what rent?
As for not saying anything about your little girl being there, surely this would add more stress to your life than being upfront with the landlord? I rented a bungalow in Huntstown when 5 months pregnant and could hide it. The neighbour , who was friendly with him rang landlord in London who decided within a week that his mother needed the house, and we were given 4 weeks notice. Some people don't like children in their properties, unsure if its an insurance thing or a fear they will wreck the house.

Did you sign a lease? They can only break a part 4 tenancy for a family member needing the house, not a fixed term tenancy (although in the end you knew he wanted you gone so in the end it was probably for the best for your own sanity).

Mrs OBumble · 11-08-2014 3:32pm

Jelly-Bean wrote: »

I have a 4 year old who will be with me about 3 days a week but Im thinking of not saying anything about her?

Nope. If she's staying regularly, you need to tell.

What will worry the LL is if it's a recent breakup, so the line about staying with your parents is a good one.

Grandpa Hassan · 11-08-2014 3:37pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Nope. If she's staying regularly, you need to tell.

What will worry the LL is if it's a recent breakup, so the line about staying with your parents is a good one.

3 days a week? I don't think that counts as living in the property. My GF stays over on average 3 nights a week, and I don't see that as notifiable to the LL.

Michael D Not Higgins · 11-08-2014 3:47pm

Grandpa Hassan wrote: »

3 days a week? I don't think that counts as living in the property. My GF stays over on average 3 nights a week, and I don't see that as notifiable to the LL.

This is a good point. When does someone who regularly stays over become someone who lives there and under what circumstances? Like, what if you had a friend who spent 3 nights a week in the spare room while they were in the city for work and the rest of the time at home? When does that guest become a roommate?

Edit: assuming they don't contribute to rent as they'd be a subletter/licencee

Jelly-Bean · 11-08-2014 8:34pm

Well I had another view this evening and I took advice from here and said that I was living with family. He did ask if I was still a home owner but I said that it was all signed over to my husband and I reffered to him as my ex husband!

About my little one, I felt guilty as a mother not mentioning her so I said that I had a daughter who is permenantly with her father but she would visit me and stay with me 1 or 2 nights a week. He asked if space would be an issue and I said no cause she wouldnt be living with me.

Fingers crossed cause I need to find a place really really soon!

Mrs OBumble · 11-08-2014 9:30pm

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

This is a good point. When does someone who regularly stays over become someone who lives there and under what circumstances? Like, what if you had a friend who spent 3 nights a week in the spare room while they were in the city for work and the rest of the time at home? When does that guest become a roommate?

Well in my world it's when the arrangement lasts for more than a fortnight at most, or perhaps a week. No matter how many nights a week.

Michael D Not Higgins · 11-08-2014 9:36pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Well in my world it's when the arrangement lasts for more than a fortnight at most, or perhaps a week. No matter how many nights a week.

So is Grandpa Hassan's gf living in his place?

Mrs OBumble · 11-08-2014 11:29pm

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

So is Grandpa Hassan's gf living in his place?

Yes.

Or at least that's how I would see it if I was his landlord or his housemates.

Grandpa Hassan · 12-08-2014 4:08am

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Yes.

Or at least that's how I would see it if I was his landlord or his housemates.

I disagree with you. This is me speaking as a LL as well as a tenant. 3 nights a week not paying guest is not 'living' there

I'd never dream of asking a tenant to tell me if his GF stays over weekends

handlemaster · 12-08-2014 6:08am

Personally as a landlord someone staying over wouldnt concern. Number one is The tenant paying rent agreed and on time. Second most important revert to one.

Michael D Not Higgins · 12-08-2014 6:57am

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Yes.

Or at least that's how I would see it if I was his landlord or his housemates.

What if it's two nights, or one night? What's the threshold?

Mrs OBumble · 12-08-2014 8:05am

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

What if it's two nights, or one night? What's the threshold?

The threshold is every week. As a Ll, one or two nights a week would be something I'd agree to, providing there is enough space, but I'd want to know. And I expect my insurance company would want to know too

Grandpa Hassan · 12-08-2014 8:15am

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

The threshold is every week. As a Ll, one or two nights a week would be something I'd agree to, providing there is enough space, but I'd want to know. And I expect my insurance company would want to know too

You'd expect a tenant to tell you that their girlfriend / boyfriend was staying over a couple of nights a week? What if they broke up and changed their partner? You'd expect them to update you on their love life? I'd never ask this as a
LL

Michael D Not Higgins · 12-08-2014 8:25am

Grandpa Hassan wrote: »

You'd expect a tenant to tell you that their girlfriend / boyfriend was staying over a couple of nights a week? What if they broke up and changed their partner? You'd expect them to update you on their love life? I'd never ask this as a
LL

I think it is (or at least should be) taken as a matter of course that a gf or bf will be staying over quite regularly. As such, there should be no need to inform the landlord of this.

But it's where do you cross the line. From my example of the friend staying 3 nights a week, that's probably something your landlord should know about, but what if you have a friend you regularly go out with in Dublin on a Saturday night and they end up kipping on your couch because it's easier than paying €50 for a taxi somewhere?

Jelly-Bean · 13-08-2014 9:08am

Well I didn't get the apartment and the reason was because I mentioned my daughter and the landlord didn't want a child there.

Chattastrophe! · 13-08-2014 9:20am

Well if I were in your position, I wouldn't feel the need to mention your daughter at the next viewing - after all, she's not going to be living there full-time.

I'd be of the opinion that you disclose only the necessary information. I.e. that you will be the only person living there full-time, and that you (I assume) have a permanent job. Emphasis no pets, no smoking (if both are true for you.) No point in giving them unnecessary information that might turn them off.

A child can only have one primary residence, and in this case it seems it's with her father. In my opinion, once you're the only person living there full-time, it's not really the landlord's business who you have staying over and how often.

I mean, for all the landlord knows, a prospective tenant might be pregnant - I assume there's no obligation to inform them of this, but what are they going to do, kick them out when the baby arrives?

Jelly-Bean · 13-08-2014 9:30am

Oh I have totally learned my lesson by now. I guess Im just such an honest person and I felt like telling the whole story is the best thing to do. I'm so new to all this, haven't rented in 10 yrs!

Jelly-Bean · 13-08-2014 2:15pm

OK i’ve decided to change my tactics! Im not going to mention about my daughter. As bad as I feel I’ve realised that there is no point now.

My problem is that if Im looking at a 2 bed apt then Im going to find it hard to get it on my own (even though i can afford it). I was thinking of saying that my partner lives in England but will be moving over and I am trying to secure a place first before he moves.

Any advice?

Need to rent apt in Dublin 15

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