Landlord Advice

Dharri5

Hi All,

I am looking for some advice with a potential issue I am currently going through with our landlord.

Firstly, some background information - we have rented our current property for over a year, have a reasonably good relationship with our landlord, and he has solved any problems we have had.

His mortgage letters have always come to our property which he collects once every 3 months or so.

Recently he asked me if he could have copies of some recent utility bills and our council tax form, instantly I was suspicious of this so pushed back and asked for the reason, anyway to cut a long story short its something to do with the difference in rates from a buy to let mortgage and a normal mortgage so he needs to prove he lives in the property. I know this is wrong and I know this is potentially defrauding the mortgage lender but this is not my primary concern.

My concern is that the girlfriend and I are looking to purchase our first property early next year, we have already been to the banks and had preliminary offers for 10% deposit mortgages etc, we both have excellent credit ratings. My question is will whatever the landlord is doing affect our credit rating in any way? As far as I understand Credit ratings are based on agreements between a company and an individual not based on addresses. Should we give him the documents or refuse? It is a difficult situation to be in as I do not want to sour our good relationship with our landlord but at the same time do not want to be opening ourselves up for trouble down the line.

Any advice appreciated!

DVardysShadow

I would not do it. The bills will be in the wrong name for him to prove anything to his lender, unless he tells them some !!!! and bull story. And I doubt the lender will be asking him for this proof unless they have their own reasons to doubt - which means bills in the wrong name are not going to help.

About the only thing he could do is take the accounts into his own name to help with the declared problem, which could cause all sorts of problems.

poppysarah

He's screwing his mortgage company. Has he the right insurance? Has he a gas cert etc?

I wouldn't support someone being a dodgy geezer - what's he going to do with the council tax form?
If he doesn't pay the mortgage you'd get kicked out with no rights. Someone on my local freecycle group is begging for bits as all her stuff is locked up in her dodgy landlord's repo'd house.

Dharri5

Thanks both,

Just to clarify, I dont think he wants to use our names anywhere, my belief is he wants the bills to put his name on (attempting to show he lives here) and therefore get a cheaper mortgage deal i.e Not a buy to let one! It just all feels a bit dodgy and makes me feel uneasy, we are likely to be moving out early 2010 anyway but its the affect on the credit history that is concerning me the most!

I am guessing the landlord has the right insurance as we let the property initially though a reputable letting agent, in terms of Gas Certs, its not needed as the property is G2 Listed and doesnt have a Gas Supply.

Fire_Fox

If the letting agent were that reputable, they'd have asked to see consent to let from the lender! I wouldn't therefore assume your landlord has bothered to inform the insurers of your presence, and if he gets repossessed chances are the lender will not recognise your tenancy agreement. Don't allow your names to be removed from anything, to maintain your excellent credit rating you want to demonstrate stability, should be registered to vote, have all the necessary bills and bank statements in your names and address.