I am renting privately,

from the landlord not through an agency. landlord lives opposite me, nice enough fella, but when it comes to money evil *******.

My short term let comes to an end August 2008. I want to leave before, hoping for spring, i can except that he can keep my 600 pound deposit, for minor repairs and the fact i am braking the lease.

However, any new letting agency will require a reference from him, i always paid 15 days early, i gave him 6 months in advance, but i am worried he may give me a bad reference because i am leaving early, i feel like i am being held hostage, i wouldnt mind but i have young kids.

any advise?

If he can ****** you over he probably will.

That's life

Depends on your next property.

I went from private LL to Letting Agent - and my LL - who had put the property up for sale whilst I was in it, didn't respond to requests for references.

In the end - I had to provide 6 months of my bank statements to prove that I had paid - I blanked out (back and front) DDR and account details.

But I got the property without the reference from the LL - who did sell at a massive amount of profit!! And took months to return my deposit giving me several bounced checks.

The Letting Agent I went with - had very severe checks - but they waivered it in favour of the bank statements. And mine did not reflect loads of credit - so I was worried - I break even most months but not always - but I still got through the checks.

Hope that's reasurring to you.

Don't admit to having rented previously - when asked, say you were living with your parents (or other family). Under those circumstances, most agents will ask you for a work reference and a bank reference (a very specific document that any bank will provide for a small fee) and leave it at that although some will also run a credit check on you. So long as your finances are all in order, you're unlikely to have any problems.