Should LA re-reference tenants?

Mozzanov

minkymankymoo wrote: »

I mean the credit reference checks.

That could be off-putting for any tenant if the LA charges a fee in the hundreds (mine charges £300 per tenant). Keeping in mind, the checks done aren't very detailed (from what I've found, they are just publicly available information rather than defaults, how much debt they have, etc, but I could be wrong), so you still risk being in a similar situation again (a tenant with £20k debt, just doesn't have CCJs or similar).

Just because the LA hasn't mentioned they charge the tenant, doesn't mean they don't. If you knew they did then you might be wondering, "Why do I pay £xxx and the tenant £xxx for something that costs no more than £xx." Or maybe I am just very cynical.

well, maybe it's worth finding out what checks the LA does, what each of you are charged, etc, and then decide on a "plan of action" and negotiate something sensible with him that meets your needs and doesn't bleed dry the prospective tenant?

minkymankymoo

Ok, so I just popped into the LA's on the subtext that I wanted to have as many facts about the prospective tenants as possible before I meet with them tonight. They went through the Homelet reference they did 12 months ago which came back with the tenant's previous job (not his current one) where he was earning £19k. His partner at the time was earning £14k. Now they have moved into this area and she has had a child and is not now working.

The LA said they have not yet done new checks on the tenant as it costs the tenant money (she didn't say how much) so they will get the go ahead from myself before doing this. Fair enough.

The LA said their referencing consist of checking that the tenants have a bank account and it is in credit, that they don't have any CCJs or bankruptcy against them, that they are in employment and what they are earning. When I asked if they have a name/contact details for their current landlord they said they don't give that out, which I thought odd, am I just supposed to trust the LA to pass on an accurate reference? As they have been the managing agent for the current property the tenants are in, they tell me they have always paid rent on time and that the place is immaculate, which right now of course, I have no reason to doubt, but then, they would say that, wouldn't they? Or am I just being overly cynical?!

In the past I have just gone along with what various LA's have told me regarding previous tenants/referencing on different properties I have let out. With this new property, and it being next door to my own home, I am particularly wanting to get it right, first time. I have joined the RLA just now although I seem to be having problems accessing their website, maybe just because my membership is so new. I guess I have some serious reading to do.

Does anyone have any advice on questions I should be asking the prospective tenant when I meet them tonight? I don't want it to be a totally awkward or rude first meeting, but I do want to ask questions such as do you smoke, have loud parties every weekend and does your cat have a tenancy to p!!! inside?!