Landlord/tenant credit checks

Midwife

Having to apply to rent once again as landlord has decided to sell up and no matter what we do we just aren't in the best position to be looking for mortgages etc. I'm aware we need to submit to a credit check and have indeed given permission for this to be carried out by a third party. I have access to check my file and they give several scores (I know I know they don't mean much) one being for lenders and another being for landlords. I have an old default on my credit report (by old I mean due to drop off next month it's that ancient) and a missed payment on an electricity account that is settled (and occurred over a year ago). Can the letting agent or the third party. - Let Alliance see this and will it go against us?

Also husband had an IVA 8 years ago, all settled and dealt with and not viewable on his credit report anymore, is there any way of them being made aware of this information?

We had to get a guarantor for this property but we're hoping to do it on our own this time as the plan is to get a mortgage in the next 18 months if we can.

Tixy

A check for rental purposes won't show up a default from a consumer credit account.

They only see the public information (CCJs, IVAs, Bankruptcy, Electoral roll info etc). The IVA from 8years ago won't be visible by a credit check or by a search of the insolvency register.

Only wayI can think they just might be aware of this information is if its the same letting agent as you used last time and they happen to have retained that info or if you tell them.

Midwife

It's a different letting agency to last time so no worries on that score, was just worried they might see the old default but there is no way I can wait the extra time needed to let it drop off and disappear into the ether and really really don't want to lose this property.

harrys_dad

Have you been given notice? What sort of tenancy agreement do you have? You do not necessarily have to move.

Mozzanov

Midwife wrote: »

It's a different letting agency to last time so no worries on that score, was just worried they might see the old default but there is no way I can wait the extra time needed to let it drop off and disappear into the ether and really really don't want to lose this property.

Don't worry, then, as Tixy mentioned they can't see a default. Take a look at this sample from Experian for the kind of thing a LA/LL will see on a tenant credit check:
http://www.experian.co.uk/assets/background-checking/sample-reports/tenant-verifier-comprehensive-report.pdf