Income check on prospective tenants

Better_Days

The other thing that has occurred to me is that if you do feel that these tenants are going to be unsuitable then it is only fair to say so to LA asap before the prospective tenants are charged too much by LA for credit checks etc. Hopefully they wont be charged too much if all has been done is to write to woman's employer.

Kynthia

I find it incredibly offensive that people assume a women might not return to work after her maternity leave when she has financial commitments as essential as rent. Most women are going to make a decision like that taking into account how much their partner earns and what their outgoings are.

PIppa

That is a very valid point. I don't want the prospective tenants to be charged unnecessarily. Thank you for that.

I don't know if the agents' incompetence is clouding my judgement or whether I should stick with my instinct. I will ring the agents tomorrow and tell them I want income checks done on the man and sight of both tenants' income checks and bank statements etc. If it seems to be a problem I will withdraw the house from the rental market.

Also, for information, they marketed it (I obviously looked on the internet) this time round at a lower rental, said a let was already agreed (there wasn't even a prospective tenant at that point) and the description bore no resemblance to my house. It stated fitted wardrobes when there aren't any, decked garden when there is no decking etc. A total shambles! Ideally new agents would be my choice but living abroad........... I think a visit back is required - at least I can stock up on goodies at the same time. Every cloud has a silver lining!:)

Thrugelmir

Kynthia wrote: »

I find it incredibly offensive that people assume a women might not return to work after her maternity leave when she has financial commitments as essential as rent.

When running a business you have to think objectively and assess the risk. There's nothing personal in the decision.

BitterAndTwisted

Two people on the tenancy agreement equals two lots of references, two lots of credit-checks and two lots of bank statements and all the rest.

I'd hate to be the landlord who agrees a joint-tenancy and then finds the only one with a regular salary has bailed and all you've got left is the one with insufficient income that wasn't credit-checked either. Sod that

Better_Days

OP can you afford a void period (suitably insured) until you can get back and sort out a better LA?

One final thing that occurred to me last night after I switched my lappy off - has the LA met both of the prospective tenants? Not wishing to sound OTT, but if the LA hasn't met him, he wasn't present for the viewing and the LA don't carry out any checks on him, what evidence is there that he actually exists? Do LA's carry out identity checks?

I am wondering that if the description of your property bears no relation to reality, can the same be applied to the prospective tenants?

tbs624

You need confirmation of incoime, a third party check for CCJs etc and confirmation that the potential T has met obligations under a previous tenancy/or mortgage. You can ask for the self employed one to get his accountant to confirm his status and income. Asking for a Ts bank statements is unecessarily intrusive and tells you very little.

As a LL would you be prepared to share your bank statements with the T so that they can try to ascertain whether you are likely to be able to cover (a) your mortgage payments in full and (b) meet your legal repairing costs in full?

tbs624

OP - have you checked out what you need to do with regards to HMRC, given that you are currently living abroad? This LA, in whom you seem to have little faith, may be (edit typo: responsible for deducting tax from the rental income on your behalf.

Remember that *anyone* can set up in business as an LA - no formal regulation, no training, qualifications or experience necessary to do so, despite them handling thousands of ££s worth of other people's money and property.

Jaffabiccie

I have actually registered only as this thread shocked me so much.

If this women who is pregnant was a single tenet would you all assume that because she is pregnant she has suddenly lost the ability to earn a living? A lot of people seem to be assuming that she is planning on taking extended leave from work ( beyond what may be generous benefits from her employer) no where did the op state this women was taking any maternity leave.

I am the main breadwinner, I have one child, and took 6 months maternity leave .. Then returned to work full time .. I suffered no reduction in my income , being on full pay for the entire time i was off. I also recieved a significant return to work bonus.

Why not ask re her future income before you make a decision, and if you are happy with it and can complete normal checks to your satisfaction then base your decision on that not her pregnancy or otherwise. Perhaps offering a tenancy to her alone.. So she is solely responsible for the rent.

As to her partner surely as with any tenancy if you want them both to be liable then check both incomes,

If I was renting to a couple and one was unemployed I would ensure only the employed one was the tenant and liable, thus if you don't have the males income details then why would you allow him on the tenancy even if his partner had a a million pounds in the bank.

If the millionaire left then the person with no income couldn't pay anyway.

But penalizing and pre judging someone because they are female and pregnant is from the dark ages.

Kynthia

Thrugelmir wrote: »

When running a business you have to think objectively and assess the risk. There's nothing personal in the decision.

A lot of business felt like you which is why we have an Equalities Act to protect women from this discrimination.