How to deal with bad rental history on your credit if it wasn't your fault?

Question

So, I'm one of the unlucky ones with the perfect credit and good payment history who moved in with someone not as responsible and now I'm going to be stuck with a possible eviction under my name and a string of unpaid rent when it wasnt my fault. But life isnt that fair because I signed a lease with this person and I'm just as responsible for making sure the full rent is paid regardless blah blah....

Now that I'm feeling the burn and being rejected by people already, it breaks my heart I have to deal with this but it is what it is. I just want to know how and if it's possible that I can explain to future landlords my situation and that I swear I'm gonna be the best tenant they ever did see even though it doesn't look like that on paper. What are some key words, phrases, sob stories that I could present that could give me a chance in landing a good place in the future?

Thanks

Answer 1

Honesty is the best policy, but the key issue is when its offered. You need to give the sob story to the landlord before you fill out an application. When you do its important you don't lay all the blame on others, but own up to your responsibility even though you think you are innocent. When you lay it all on others it comes off sounding immature and if anything you want to portray yourself as responsible and as of now less naive. Then be understanding to the landlord that they might see you represent more risk and how you would like to prove yourself by offering twice the security deposit.

Answer 2

This is your fault as, in your statement you knew the individual was not financial responsible. Yet you decided to sign a lease with this person any way.



You would need to write a letter as to what happened and indicate things you have taken to rectify the situation, to prevent it from happening again. Make sure this letter is the truth as you visualize it.



You would need to inform any potential landlord upfront of this past problem, so you would know if they would consider approving your application for a rental or not. This would not waste your time nor the time of your potential landlord.



I hope this has been of some benefit to you, good luck.



"FIGHT ON"

Answer 3

Just tell the truth.

Answer 4

Your poor judgement is no one elses fault but yours....... and your display of lack of responsibility shows you have not learnt anything from this at all........ landlords will see through your sob story/excuses for exactly what they are, which is not taking responsibility when you as an adult signed a contract and breached it, landlords don't care who blames who, you as you know were/are equally liable...and still are, so pay your debts then get a certificate of satisfaction, the CCJ will still remain on your record but it will show as satisfied......... then sue your past joint tenant so they get the CCJ on their record until satisfied..... show that paperwork to any landlord and they can see you took responsibility

Answer 5

Actually it IS your fault for having the poor judgment to rent with someone who is unreliable. If you have a roommate who can't or won't pay their share of the rent then you are responsible. So you either have to get a place you can afford on your own or do a better job in choosing your roommates.



Forget the sob story - you don't have one. You also don't have a good excuse. Instead apply for an apartment where the rent isn't more than one-third of your income. Simply say that you erred in judgment when you got an apartment with an unreliable roommate.

Answer 6

It is your fault since you are jointly and severally liable for the rent, as is your former roommate.



Landlords don't care about why you think it isn't your fault and they aren't going to listen to your sob story. There are no acceptable excuses as far as a landlord is concerned.

Answer 7

First of all, quit shifting the blame on someone else. You are a grown-up, you signed the lease. Grown-ups take responsibility for their actions.

Pay what you owe, and sue your former room mate for what he owes you.

One way to show landlords that you are no risk is to pay a couple of months of rent in advance.



Good luck

Answer 8

You don't. No such key words or sob stories exist. Any experienced landlord will not listen to any explanation. You cannot talk your way around this.



Renting is a business plain & simple. The landlord is not your friend. They do not have to care or even listen to your backstory. You cannot guilt or talk a landlord into giving you a 2nd chance. Convincing them you are a good person means nothing. This is not a popularity contest, It really does not matter of they like you as a person or not.

Answer 9

The landlord will not care about your "story". They've heard them all before and could care less.



What you can do is pay what you owe to the former landlord. It's better to have a paid eviction on your credit rather than an unpaid eviction.

Answer 10

"...when it wasn't my fault..."



Stop right there. You signed a lease. You are 100% responsible for 100% of the amount. If you don't want to be evicted then pay the dang rent. Problem solved.





"What are some key words, phrases, sob stories that I could present that could give me a chance in landing a good place in the future? "



There are none. The fact remains that you signed a legally binding contract and failed to pay as agreed.



If you had done what you were legally obligated to do you wouldn't be in this predicament.



I'm sorry your roommate turned out to be a turkey, but as you now know, that doesn't void the contract that YOU signed.

Answer 11

first, don't play the victim here. You say it's not your fault. WRONG. You picked your own roommate. You should have done some more research.