Tenancy Agreement

GingerBob_3

Just helping someone fill out a tenancy agreement. They ask for NI number - why?

Also, they give themselves enormous latitude in what they can do with your personal data - "you agree to us passing on your data to third parties as necessary". That's a bit vague, isn't it?

G_M

Is this a tenancy agreement or tenancy application?

The former does not require it.

The latter probobly use both for ID checks and credit and other referencing which will be done by 3rd parties.

GingerBob_3

G_M wrote: »

Is this a tenancy agreement or tenancy application?

The former does not require it.

The latter probobly use both for ID checks and credit and other referencing which will be done by 3rd parties.

Sorry yes, the application. I wondered because CRAs don't (yet) hold NI numbers. Who does, that a check would be carried out with?

theartfullodger

Asking for such information (&, say, copies of passport, driving licence, pay-slips..) have in my experience absolutely nothing to do with the tenancy... It is so should the tenant disappear inexplicably neglecting to leave a forwarding address & forgetfully still owing funds, such info may be passed on to tracing companies who, dunno how but I suspect..., can then find out where the person went, where he lives, whom he works for etc etc & thus facilitate the extraction of the debt through court & later enforcement action.

The prospective tenant does not have to supply such info.. The Landlord may then chose not to offer the tenancy to said individual...

Is it right, is it fair, is it moral??

antrobus

Immigration Act 2014?

I know it contains a requirement for landlords to check that their tenants have the right to live in the UK. I don't think that has been implemented yet, but it will be soon.

jjlandlord

A valid NI number (one would need to check) does not prove anything re. Immigration status.

This is most likely for referencing purposes and to help track down the person in case she leaves with debts.

GingerBob_3

jjlandlord wrote: »

A valid NI number (one would need to check) does not prove anything re. Immigration status.

This is most likely for referencing purposes and to help tracking down the person in case she leaves with debts.

It's a he in this case. I always find the universal 'he' is better style, but that's just me.

jjlandlord

GingerBob wrote: »

It's a he in this case. I always find the universal 'he' is better style, but that's just me.

I try to be gender-neutral these days, and pick at random, to be modern and not to look misogynistic.
When it comes down to debts I tend to use 'she', though.

antrobus

jjlandlord wrote: »

A valid NI number (one would need to check) does not prove anything re. Immigration status....

Well I know that. I just wondered whether there might be some amateur landlords out there who thought that it did.

jjlandlord wrote: »

...This is most likely for referencing purposes and to help track down the person in case she leaves with debts.

How does possession of someone's NINO help you track them down? I know that in the good old days you could blag that kind of thing out of the relevant government department, but that's a criminal offence these days.:)

GingerBob_3

jjlandlord wrote: »

I try to be gender-neutral these days, and pick at random, to be modern and not to look misogynistic.
When it comes down to debts I tend to use 'she', though.

Good idea.

On the point of the NI number though, I can't see what need they have of it. Supplying too much personal information is asking for it to fall into the wrong hands, as per the "...passing data to third parties as necessary". This gives them unlimited leeway to essentially do what they want with it.

tripled

I wondered that too and decided it wasn't the agent's business and didn't fill it in on my application. It didn't make any difference in my case but I suppose it depends on the letting agent/landlord. It would be nice to know though, maybe I should have asked them!