Quick Qu, How do i obtain copy of old tenancy agreement?

sweet_escape

As title says I need to get a copy of my previous tenancy agreement, thought i had kept it but must of been lost and i have a debt collector chasing me for a bill from old address and need to prove to them i wasnt living there at that exact period. My old estate agents and i have some history so just asking for a copy wont be enough, is there any kind of template or formal wording i can use that will force them to provide me with a copy? thankyou.

Yorkie1

You could try a Data Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act, I think. They may charge up to £10 for complying I believe

http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_the_public/personal_information.aspx

That assumes they have retained the documentation. Under the DPA, data controllers should get rid of personal information as long as it is no longer needed under the data protection principles and the data reasons for which the data was originally held (sorry, lots of data in that sentence!).

securityman

How about a council tax bill or some other bill/invoice from the date you need.

sweet_escape

I was wondering if a different bill would work but seeing as they think i owe money i doubt anything but a tenancy agreement would work... really didnt want to have to contact my old estate agents i had to flee due to domestic violence and the estate agents are friends with my ex who did it so was hoping to never speak to them again! grrrrr!

theartfullodger

Agents are (sadly..) often (but not always - there are some good ones..) incompetent and unable to handle basic admin, so particularly with one you may have "history" with you'll get nowhere (or they may claim they destroyed the old records..) - if so could you try producing (if you have them) the tenancy BEFORE the one in question and the one AFTER it, as well as bank statements showing rent paid in different amounts??

e.g.
Rent monthly Jan2009-July2010, BEFORE tenancy £475/month
Rent monthly Aug2010-Feb2011, THAT tenancy £498/month
Rent monthly Mar2011-current , AFTER tenancy £550/month
- or letters confirming from letting agents and/or landlord

(NB You could always ask the landlord rather than the agent to confirm dates..)

Cheers!

GDB2222

The previous tenancy agreement is not proof, as people often stay for longer than the period shown in teh tenancy agreement. Your current tenancy agreement would show when you moved in, though.

jjlandlord

sweet_escape wrote: »

I was wondering if a different bill would work but seeing as they think i owe money i doubt anything but a tenancy agreement would work...

It's for the debt collector to prove you owe money, not for you to prove that you do not.
If you want to help show them the bills you might have. If they insist tell them to take a walk or you'll call the police.