Despite the recession being officially a thing of the past, banks and other lenders are still reluctant to lend money to anyone other than well-established borrowers with immaculate credit records.
This means that many people who either have suffered the odd financial indiscretion here and there or simply have not had a chance to build up a good credit score are finding it increasingly difficult to get a mortgage, unless they have a large chunk of cash to offer as a deposit.
This is leading to an explosion in the number of people renting property rather than buying—good news for landlords—but this means that the type of credit open to them is vastly reduced than if they were homeowners.
However, this does not mean that obtaining a loan is out of the question – there are a number of providers who specialise in offering loans specifically to tenants.
Anyone renting a property will be unable to obtain a loan secured on their home – and this means that the interest rate is likely to be slightly higher. Secured loans usually mean a lower interest rate as the lender has something of value he can repossess should the money not be paid back.
Tenant loans will always therefore be unsecured and many lenders tend to limit the amount they will provide. A typical maximum amount in the market tends to be around £15,000.
The industry recognises that some tenants will have been unable to access a mortgage due to credit problems and there are providers who are willing to consider applications from those with a bad credit history.
As well as a standard unsecured loan, there are other options for tenants with bad credit scores which can help them access the finance required. Guarantor loans are more or less defunct in the high street now but it is still possible to find providers on the internet.
One of the benefits of a guarantor loan is that there is often no credit check on you—although the guarantor will be subject to an assessment.
There are also other options open to tenants needing a loan, including those with credit problems, which include payday loans as well as doorstep lenders. Whilst both of these providers can cover short-term needs, the interest rates charged are usually very high and are best avoided for any lengthy credit requirements.
Depending on the purpose of the loan, the other option is securing finance on the purchase. For example, if the money is needed to buy a new sofa or a new car, many firms selling the goods will be able to arrange a finance package, which will not take account of whether you have your own home.
However, before proceeding with a loan of any kind, it is important to ensure that you can afford the repayments. Simply checking the interest rates, whilst a good indicator of how much extra you will have to pay, doesn’t provide an idea of the monthly repayment rate. It is therefore always a good idea to use a loans calculator to budget for any finance applications before proceeding.