Has anyone dealt with MARAS before?

PinkPrincess

I've just been to view a property and have been sent the application form from letting agent to fill out and the company who is doing the credit check is MARAS. I've never actually heard of them so I'm just wondering if anyone else has dealt with them as the form is rather extensive!

I'm a little concerned as I'm not on the electoral roll where I currently live (never got round to updating it as only been at current address since Feb) so I'm worried that it's going to have a negative impact on my application and I don't have anyone who could be a guarantor.

Thanks in advance for any help and advice

N79

I can confirm that they are a bona fide referencing and rent insurance company, albeit rather strict on their referencing criteria (if MARAS Ok a T then they will insure against the T failing to pay the rent).

I have no idea how your electoral role issue will impact their advice / decision however.

Jenniefour

Yes, they are a company often used to do credit checks for rentals. I can't imagine that not putting yourself on the electoral role for such a short time would be relevant - just let the letting agent know.

PinkPrincess

It states on the application to be completey honest about any adverse information on my credit file and to include it on a seperate sheet with the application so I think that's what I'm going to have to do. Also, I never had any credit rating before as everything was always in my partners name but I started my credit history from February this year and have now got 10 accounts with all payments made on time for the past 7 months. I've checked my credit file on both Experian and Equifax and on Equifax I'm in the 'Fair' category with a credit rating of 360 and on Experian I'm in the 'Poor' category with a credit rating of 674. Does this mean I will fail the credit check?

PinkPrincess

Anyone..........???

docmaggiemay

I have had recent dealings with MARAS who my very rubbish letting agent used to do the referencing for my tenant who has now vanished off the face of the earth owing me rent.

Having got nowhere with the agents, I contacted MARAS directly and asked them - they are a bona fide company and were helpful to me, sending me copies of the reports that the agents had and wouldn't give me. They seemed quite professional to me.

If it's any use, the tenant was self employed and was not on the electoral register, without proof of income. They recommended acceptabce only with a guarantor. The agents did not inform me of this but that's a whole other issue!

DVardysShadow

docmaggiemay wrote: »

If it's any use, the tenant was self employed and was not on the electoral register, without proof of income. They recommended acceptabce only with a guarantor. The agents did not inform me of this but that's a whole other issue!

Nice one. Grounds to sue the agent?

G_M

PinkPrincess wrote: »

It states on the application to be completey honest about any adverse information on my credit file and to include it on a seperate sheet with the application so I think that's what I'm going to have to do.

Not being on the electoral role does not constitute "adverse information on my credit file ".

Adverse information would be unpaid debts, county court judgements etc.

PinkPrincess

G_M wrote: »

Not being on the electoral role does not constitute "adverse information on my credit file ".

Adverse information would be unpaid debts, county court judgements etc.

Thank you for clearing that up for me, I never knew that

I can prove my employment but I need to know if they will phone, send a letter or fax my employer? The reason being is that's he's foreign so talking on the phone will be slightly difficult for him to understand and I don't want him to mess my application up!

G_M

PinkPrincess wrote: »

Thank you for clearing that up for me, I never knew that

I can prove my employment but I need to know if they will phone, send a letter or fax my employer? The reason being is that's he's foreign so talking on the phone will be slightly difficult for him to understand and I don't want him to mess my application up!

They might do any of those when taking up employer's references. Just explain the situation to them honestly so that if they do phone they are prepared.

satchmeister

N79 wrote: »

I can confirm that they are a bona fide referencing and rent insurance company, albeit rather strict on their referencing criteria (if MARAS Ok a T then they will insure against the T failing to pay the rent).

I have no idea how your electoral role issue will impact their advice / decision however.

In my experience MARAS will always recommend that the LL has a guarantor, so you may need pay 6 mth in advance.