Letting agents asking how much we earn

moromir

[QUOTE=Naf
]Credit check doesn't give any information about income.
Give a false name to view under if you think they'll connect the income you give for viewing with your actual application.
What I'm saying is tell them what they want to hear for purposes of getting to view places; not lie on the background check/financial assessment application.[/QUOTE]

Unless you've got a face swap to go with that, on what planet do you think the letting agent isn't going to recognise her from the viewing when shes goes to the office to sign the paperwork?

Of for that matter, wonder why they have an application from someone who doesn't appear to have viewed the property?

Naf

moromir wrote: »

Unless you've got a face swap to go with that, on what planet do you think the letting agent isn't going to recognise her from the viewing when shes goes to the office to sign the paperwork?

Of for that matter, wonder why they have an application from someone who doesn't appear to have viewed the property?

If you don't have the income to apply; they'll not hear from you again anyway. If you do, then there won't be a problem when it comes to applying. All you need to know beforehand is their income multiplier

Gordon_Hose

Currently going through the letting process, the LA asked what both our salaries were on the phone before we'd even met her!

I didn't have an issue telling her, I assumed she was weeding out the people who have delusions of grandeur so she doesn't waste her time on people who simply can't afford to rent the property.

dancingfairy

I can understand that a lot of people don'tlike discussing their salary with complete strangers (and it's not even on an application form which the OP doesn't appear to have a problem with).
Trouble is, this seems to be the norm so I'm not surehow you get around it. You coudl fudge the issue and say you are confident in yourability to pay the rent but will only supply full details when you put in an offer but you run the risk of putting the agents backs up and not getting to see properties or you only go with agents who don't ask up front or you go private.
It's difficult, but for now I think you'll probably have to roll with it.
df

pinteresque

Well it is clearly a priority for the LAs because it's the first thing they ask. it's not a cursory ask, either - in my recent experience it has been an agressive one. This may just be me but I wouldn't phone up and ask about a flat I can't afford, so the question is moot anyway.

I suppose the thing I am worried about is this salary-ratio thing. Never come across this since I started renting, and my rent is and has always been 70-80% of my income. It's the same with almost everyone else I know who rents.

[Deleted User]

pinteresque wrote: »

I suppose the thing I am worried about is this salary-ratio thing. Never come across this since I started renting, and my rent is and has always been 70-80% of my income. It's the same with almost everyone else I know who rents.

whoa, really? That sounds exceptionally high! Surely council tax, gas, electricity, water and food come to more than 20% of your rent? Even if you're paying something like £2000 a month that only leaves £500 for everything else!

Edwardia

When we rented first house we were each asked to supply references from employers and bank plus personal references, bank statements, payslips, go through a credit check each, pay deposit plus one month rent in advance plus cost of tenancy agreement plus deposit for phone line.. and you're upset by being asked how much you earn by EA ?

:eek: