documentation for rentals

Pay stubs and credit report. Those are the biggies that landlords want to see.

So I can bring a UK credit report? That should be fairly easy, I would think...

hc_UK, i deal with landlords daily. your offer letter with your stated salary/compensation package is the most important document. get it from hr before you get here. you can't get an apartment where the month rent x 40 is higher than your annual salary-no matter if you have a "uk tenancy agreement". don't bother printing a uk credit report-they won't care. and be prepared to pay a lot of extra security because you are not from this country-and to have a fairly small sample to pick from for the same reason. good luck

I don't know about UK credit reports. But you should bring bank statements. Try to get the official looking ones rather than the ones you print online.

Thanks for the comments, that seems crazy to me... Because of letting my (mortgage-free) flat here I am almost getting my double my income, yet will have to rent somewhere smaller. I suppose I could look at is as a good opportunity to save, but would rather live somewhere nice having been so careful with my money in the UK to be in this position!

I think without a US credit report, you're going to need a guarantor for most landlords, unfortunately.

Does your employer have a relocation specialist? Part of the moving expenses should be for a broker to find you an apartment. Your company will have to guarantee you, since you have no credit score. Some ll won't even consider guarantors, others don't mind. A good broker will know where to find a good fit.

Thanks everyone - my company say they are happy to guarantee me. So I'm getting them to add it on to my letter of employment.

Are they going to pay for a broker's fee as well? As a newcomer to the city, with the restrictive circumstances of having no credit score, US tax records or pay stubs, it would serve you well to have some help.
Beyond the letter of employment, you should open a checking and a saving account in the US, and have bank statements showing funds. In your situation, it could open doors to be able to show you have 6 or 12 months worth of rent money in a savings account.

Probably as Jim says, the HR letter is most important. Then I'd dress well, and use a charming British accent so they think everything is real.

"Foreign nationals" can be tough renters. You should run and bring a U.K. credit report, but be aware that they're not nearly as thorough as U.S. credit reports so the landlord might not count it for much. If you have no involvement in the U.S. financial system -- i.e., no local bank -- your employer will have to function as a guarantor and even then you still might have trouble. Give yourself a couple of weeks to find something, and realize that you may have better luck with some of the smaller less institutional landlords.

ali r.
DG Neary Realty

or, try looking for a long-term sublet if you really have no joy.

All very useful - one well-dressed, well-spoken, over-documented Brit heading your way with fingers crossed!

Thanks again

A great broker to call in your situation would be Landmark Real Estate. Speak to Neely or look her up on Craigslist. They focus in Greenwich and West Village and deal with private, more flexible landlords.