Referencing Agents

follyfoot

With respect to tenant referencing agencies are some more thorough than others, or do they all basically ask the same questions? I was recently told I should also get a CRB report done on my prospective tenants - do any landlords currently do this? Do tenants normally expect to pay for such referencing checks? Also are there any disadvantages to rent guarantees?

theartfullodger

There are some that think a CRB check on agents involved in the property game would be a good idea, but I'm sure that can't be right...

Cheers!

Lodger

naijapower

In my opinion, a CRB check is too too extra. What if the tenant request to do series of checks on landlord. Surely some landlords are ex-convicts and debtors. I am aware of cases where houses have been repossessed cos landlord diverted rent he collected from tenants. Perhpas tenants should also check ability and honesty of landlords to repay mortgage before signing up

follyfoot

I dont doubt!

m_13

I have no idea why you would need to have CRB checks done on your tenants. If you have lodgers and have children or vulnerable adults in your home then perhaps yes but not for tenants who live in a self-contained property!

I think most tenant referencing agencies are similar in their approaches. There are some posts on www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums about them which you may find useful. Likewise rent guarantees. Most will only accept A rated tenants for the guarantee, and A rated tenants are the least likely to default! The guarantee also doesn't pay straight away so you may still have no cash coming in for a while.

Tenants would normally pay for referencing checks as part of their application process. In my area the typical charge for referencing is £60ish for one person and £80ish for a couple. It's more for a couple who lived separately before as two different previous addresses have to be referenced. The remainder of the application charge - typically around £50 -pays for the preparation of the AST and the inventory.

Why not ring letting agents near you and ask what they charge?

follyfoot

naijapower wrote: »

In my opinion, a CRB check is too too extra. What if the tenant request to do series of checks on landlord. Surely some landlords are ex-convicts and debtors. I am aware of cases where houses have been repossessed cos landlord diverted rent he collected from tenants. Perhpas tenants should also check ability and honesty of landlords to repay mortgage before signing up

yes this has been mentioned many times over and maybe it will happen

follyfoot

m_13 wrote: »

I have no idea why you would need to have CRB checks done on your tenants. If you have lodgers and have children or vulnerable adults in your home then perhaps yes but not for tenants who live in a self-contained property!

I think most tenant referencing agencies are similar in their approaches. There are some posts on www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums about them which you may find useful. Likewise rent guarantees. Most will only accept A rated tenants for the guarantee, and A rated tenants are the least likely to default! The guarantee also doesn't pay straight away so you may still have no cash coming in for a while.

Tenants would normally pay for referencing checks as part of their application process. In my area the typical charge for referencing is £60ish for one person and £80ish for a couple. It's more for a couple who lived separately before as two different previous addresses have to be referenced. The remainder of the application charge - typically around £50 -pays for the preparation of the AST and the inventory.

Why not ring letting agents near you and ask what they charge?

letting agents charge a tenant about £80 for the check. However, I am a member of a landlord forum and with discount the charge would be about £20.

Gingernutmeg

A CRB check done by a landlord would, in my opinion, be far too intrusive (and don't quote me, but I don't think that any member of the general public can just get one done on anyone else, I *think* that they can only be carried out by certain organisations for very specific reasons - like working with children and vulnerable adults, or working with secure documents). I've had them done for work and voluntary work so it's not as if I've got something to fear, but seriously, you're renting me a house, not your kids ... If you're so worried about the prospective tenants that you don't think a thorough credit check is enough, then why rent to them?

Also, there's something just a wee bit offensive in renters being considered criminal ... I'd definitely walk away from any LL who wanted to CRB check me on top of everything else.

follyfoot

Gingernutmeg wrote: »

A CRB check done by a landlord would, in my opinion, be far too intrusive (and don't quote me, but I don't think that any member of the general public can just get one done on anyone else, I *think* that they can only be carried out by certain organisations for very specific reasons - like working with children and vulnerable adults, or working with secure documents). I've had them done for work and voluntary work so it's not as if I've got something to fear, but seriously, you're renting me a house, not your kids ... If you're so worried about the prospective tenants that you don't think a thorough credit check is enough, then why rent to them?

Also, there's something just a wee bit offensive in renters being considered criminal ... I'd definitely walk away from any LL who wanted to CRB check me on top of everything else.

i can see where you are coming from but because i am going it alone, i asked for advice from a landlord association and this is what they recommended. They also said to get previous landlord reference not just current since a current landlord might just want rid of the tenant

tbs624

The point about going to a prior LL, not just the current one, is a valid one but CRB checks on potential Ts? No.

The UK has gone data compilation barmy - soon we'll have Tesco & Sainsburys wanting CRBs before they'll let us pay with a credit card or cash in our nectar or clubcard points..........

All you need to know is that your T is going to pay the rent and to look after your property.

Whichever LL association suggested that one to you should be named and shamed, or was it just one LL member who is perhaps getting a bit above himself ?

caljoemor

I agree that a CRB is a going too far.

A good reference agency will run address checks, employment checks, credit checks and collect references. Most agencies will also check any guarantor provided if this is needed.

I'm not sure about this but I think you can order reference checks direct with referencing agencies for between £15 and £25 without using an agent and it would save you and your tenant money.