Homelet referencing - unable to verify bank details provided - what does that mean?

sandsni

If a prospective tenant provides bank details that Homelet are unable to verify, should a prospective landlord be worried :eek:? They have offered a guarantor but I would like to know under what circumstances someone would provide details that cannot be verified (before I jump to any conclusions).

G_M

1) they do not have the bank account they claim to have, or had it but closed it

2) they gave you (or you transposed) the wrong sort code/ac nbr (1 wrong digit means the computer won't recognise it!

3) conceivably (but unlikely) it is a bank the system can't identify (maybe a brand new bank eg Metro?)

sandsni

Thanks GM. The guarantor has passed the credit check. Should I still be concerned? We've been bitten in the past with tenants "passing" the Homelet checks and then realising that neither Homelet nor the LA had been very thorough with their follow-up (gaping holes in the story I was told by the tenants AFTER they had the keys and moved in). So I'm trying to be a bit wiser without being a total cynic . I'll check with the LA on Monday to see if it was a transcription error or if there's some other explanation for it. Do you have any experience of something like this having a perfectly reasonable explanation?

G_M

You need to understand what is meant by Homelet 'passing' the tenants.

You need to see the report. Look at what has been checked, with what results, and what has not.

Ultimately, YOU are the landlord, it is YOUR tenancy, and property, and YOU need to make the final decision. You can't do that without all the information.

Personally, if I found out an applicant's bank account could not be found/verified, I'd phone the applicant and ask them why!!!

sandsni

Thanks again GM. I did find it extremely strange but I wondered if I was just being paranoid. I'll definitely be doing a bit more digging before I let my parents sign up to anything!

brightonman123

ask to see latest bank statements?