Is landlord asking for too much info?

loops87

Hello!

I'm new on here. Hopefully someone might be able to help...

My partner and I are looking for a new flat and have found one through a private landlord. We haven't signed or paid anything yet but he's said he'll take the flat off the market. He has just sent us a form asking for the following information, to do reference checks:

-employer information / copies of salary details etc
-info about previous landlords
-passport numbers+photocopies of passports
-national insurance numbers + photocopies of payslips
-bank details (bank account number, address, etc).

The guy seems pretty genuine. We looked round 2 of his flats and we wanted the other one first, but he said it wasn't available, so we nearly didn't even bother with him, and I am sure if he was a scammer he would scam us at the first opportunity...? Also we know his name and address, mobile number and where he works (or at least we think we do.)

However, I am not sure why he needs all this information to do his references. The employer and landlord stuff is understandable of course, but do I need to give him my bank account and passport numbers at this stage? What could he do with this information? Is there anything that I should say I don't want to give him at this stage? I guess I could just ask him what he needs it all for but he seems like such a nice guy I don't want to go accusing him!

Thanks, sorry for long post!

FATBALLZ

In my opinion this is excessive however due to lack of any regulation of private landlords or letting agencies this sort of thing appears to be becoming the norm. I remember my first private (non-student) letting just involved giving a name of somebody (eg a friend) for a reference, no admin fees, credit checks or anything else. That was only 5 years ago, but now your experience is very common, along with several hundred pounds of admin fees for the honour of applying for a tenancy and to be credit checked and your entire life scrutinised.

Still, be grateful you're applying now because in another 5 years anal probing of all potential tenants, their families, work colleagues, former teachers and other associates will probably be the norm.

seraphina

No way would I hand over NI numbers, passport info to a landlord! Hasn't he heard of identity fraud? At most I would provide employers' reference and a previous landlords' reference to say we're good tenants. He can maybe ask you to supply a credit check or something but not sure how it works as a private individual. Also ask for details of previous tenants to see how he behaves as a landlord...

Also, ask him if he's aware of his obligations under the Data Protection Act??

BitterAndTwisted

Payslips generally quote an employee's NI number. I'd be happy to show my passport to a prospective landlord to prove my identity but not happy to allow them to photocopy it. If in doubt you could obscure the second line of the bar-code and passport number when making the photocopy

OP you could start to make your own enquiries about the LL. Pop the address of the property into the Land Registry website, pay four pounds and check the LL is who he says he is.

roses

Sounds like the same information I had to fill out when I applied to rent a place through an agency. I would consider it normal.

Wee_Willy_Harris

Perhaps tenants should ask more questions of their prospective LL. Mortgage details, a statement from the lender stating no arrears, confermation of permission to let, copy of gas safety cert, refs from prev tenants, last years business accounts, etc etc etc. I'd bet that would be popular.

[Deleted User]

I would never give my passport or national Insurance info to a landlord.

I'd only be willing to give: previous landlords, employer, and bank reference (to show affordability). If they wish to see my passport for identification purposes, fine, but I'd not be leaving my passport number or photocopy with them, and there's no need for them to have my NI number either - they'll not be employing me.

I'd refuse and give them a wide berth.

bristol_pilot

I rent privately and have not been asked for ANY of this information. It could just be the LL being a bit OTT, but asking for an NI number (which a LL has no legitimate use for) makes me think it might just be for identity theft purposes. Certainly, that list would give a criminal everything they need (and more) to get credit in your name (for example). I'd give that LL a miss and rent elsewhere.

martindow

seraphina wrote: »

Also, ask him if he's aware of his obligations under the Data Protection Act??

I imagine all landlords should be registered as they are 'processing personal data'.

http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/data_protection_guide/data_protection_basics.aspx

The definition is very wide.

princeofpounds

Photo ID is quite normal, though it can be a driving license as easily as a passport. There is relatively little you can do with a copy of a passport in terms of identity fraud I would imagine, as you can't use it to prove anything to any official services.

NI number is not normal. This is probably much riskier as it's possible to make various welfare claims and so on with one of these, often in situations where personal ID is not very well checked.

clutton_2

As a professional private landlord of 11 years, i see these questions as the norm now.... tenancy application forms published by national landlords association, by letsure, by landlordzone etc etc all ask for the information in OP first post...

sadly this is a sign of the times, and it is because this information is used when trying to track down tenants who leave properties owing huge arrears and repairs damage costs....

it is also a means by which a LL can judge if a tenant may be suitable or not... the marijuana-farmers rarely want to fill in forms like this....

You would be surprised how often i have found prospective tenants have lied to me once i start checking out the information.. sadly the few bad tenants have made it more difficult for the vast majority of good tenants..


as long as there is a Data Protection Disclaimer statement at the end of the application form, and the whole form is signed by the tenant.. this is a perfectly legal request

if OP does not wish to furnish these details they can go to a different landlord....

From the landlords perspective we are allowing the use of an asset often worth hundreds of thousands of pounds to a complete stranger.. and we need some protection....

NI number is needed as a tracing device for an attachment of earnings if i subsequently need to take a tenant to court for rent arrears and they refuse to pay....