Checks done by Private Landlords

Calon_Lan

I've been renting now for years through an Estate Agent and the time has come for me to move on.

I've been viewing properties for the last few weeks and I've found a property owned by a private landlady. Having dealt with an agent in the past only I'm not sure what's involved. She has given me a form to complete which seems very basic but there's nothing for me to sign. With this in mind, I'm guessing she hasn't been given the permission required to carry out any credit checks/CRB disclosures etc?

When I signed up with the agent back in 2010 I had to fill in all sorts and sign and agree to sell my soul (kind of) in some bits, as well as pay an extortionate deposit with admin fees.

I'm not worried if she does see my credit report or if she does a Police check, I'm just wondering if it is legal for her to do them without asking me first?

Thanks

RAS

No-one can do a DBS (CRB) check on a potential tenant; and no-one can do a DBS check without consent.

Credit for tenancies; most are actually just checks of the Insolvency Register and for CCJs. All of which are public records.

benjus

Many private landlords are members of a landlords' association (which is a sign that they take their responsibilities seriously) which generally offer some sort of tenant referencing service. IME if they are using one of these services they will send you an email with a link to a website where you can provide all the details and which will request permission to perform a basic credit check.

In your case it doesn't sound like she intends to use any of these services.

Gonzo1987

My LL didn't do any checks prior to me moving in (silly of them I know) so they had no idea if i was employed, any previous references etc etc. They have been fairly lucky I'd say, with rent always being paid on time.

Calon_Lan

I'm actually hoping she does do some form of checks - it makes me feel that she knows what she's doing. I guess being with an Agent for all this time, I'm just so used to everything having to be signed and checked on a regular basis.

She called my employer this afternoon so I know she's checked that I'm in employment as well as taken info on my salary etc which is fine as she needs to know I can afford to rent the place.

I mentioned the CRB check as I work with vulnerable people and children, so I'm used to always having to have this done!

I also sent her a statement over showing 4 years of rent payments to show I pay my rent on time so I've offered information she hasn't even asked for.

Thanks for your replies, it'll be interesting what she comes back with as she doesn't really have a lot to go on for now!

Guest101

Calon_Lan wrote: »

I'm actually hoping she does do some form of checks - it makes me feel that she knows what she's doing. I guess being with an Agent for all this time, I'm just so used to everything having to be signed and checked on a regular basis.

She called my employer this afternoon so I know she's checked that I'm in employment as well as taken info on my salary etc which is fine as she needs to know I can afford to rent the place.

I mentioned the CRB check as I work with vulnerable people and children, so I'm used to always having to have this done!

I also sent her a statement over showing 4 years of rent payments to show I pay my rent on time so I've offered information she hasn't even asked for.

Thanks for your replies, it'll be interesting what she comes back with as she doesn't really have a lot to go on for now!

Just for clarity of everyone else DBS documents always get sent to the person they are about. Not the requester.

In case people get alarmed that they may have signed something.

Old_Git

Calon_Lan wrote: »

I'm actually hoping she does do some form of checks - it makes me feel that she knows what she's doing. I guess being with an Agent for all this time, I'm just so used to everything having to be signed and checked on a regular basis.

She called my employer this afternoon so I know she's checked that I'm in employment as well as taken info on my salary etc which is fine as she needs to know I can afford to rent the place.

I mentioned the CRB check as I work with vulnerable people and children, so I'm used to always having to have this done!

I also sent her a statement over showing 4 years of rent payments to show I pay my rent on time so I've offered information she hasn't even asked for.

Thanks for your replies, it'll be interesting what she comes back with as she doesn't really have a lot to go on for now!

I would think she has a lot to go on .
She has seen proof you pay your rent on time .
she has checked with your employer to see if you could afford the rent .(did you give your employer permission to disclose information )

Calon_Lan

Hi,

Yes I did, I gave my boss permission to discuss my employment status and salary, I don't have a lot to hide so I'm quite happy doing that. I emailed my boss when I gave my details over for checking to ensure he was prepared for the call. He doesn't usually take calls which are not important to him so luckily the landlady caught him at the office!

whalster

Be grateful you aren't being ripped of with agent fees any longer.
The mist searched for word within the rental sector is find private landlord. We as private landlords check out more than you may think , if she is anything like me she will have googled you checked court reports and looked at your social media as indeed most employers now do .
Half of us landlords never use an agent as we don't like being ripped off either

Calon_Lan

@Whalster - I was hoping the landlady would take the time and effort to do checks as I mentioned before, it gives me more confidence in her as a landlady. As much as she wants a reputable, reliable tenant I would like a reliable and reputable landlady. I wish there were checks we could do as tenants to give us assurance that the £700+ a month we are paying is to someone who in turn has a good history of looking after their properties and will deal with any situations which may arise. With an Estate Agent, I have that security and it may incur extra fees but I know that I'm covered whatever happens.

I worked out that I have paid my Landlord £33,600 in the space of 48 months. When I leave in 3 weeks time, I leave with the £862 deposit I placed back in 2010. So as much faith as they want in me, I want to make sure that the person whose mortgage I am paying or lifestyle I am funding is willing to look after me a bit, too! By that, I don't mean anything unreasonable, just that they ensure the property is maintained at a good standard for the price I am paying.

I'm quite lucky as I have had a good tenancy and I'm nervous about the private landlord thing...naturally. I've had friends who have had landlords cause them all kinds of problems such as refusing to fix the heating as it's 3 days before Christmas and they can't afford it. To me that isn't acceptable and with an agent, this never happens (or has never happened to me anyway).

My potential new landlady is welcome to Google me and do whatever checks she sees fit as long as she has the necessary permission. My career choice means I am often judged and checked as explained before so it isn't new to me, I am happy with it. I just wish all tenants had a fair deal and not treated as they are, it's been an eye opener for me looking for a new place. We're not all criminals and live like pigs!

I would welcome a Landlord/Landlady checking system any day to make it all more even, definitely.

Pixie5740

The issues you've all mentioned can happen when yourebt through a letting agency too. Ultimately repairs are the responsibility of the landlord regardless of whether or not they use a letting agency. If the boiler breaks down and the landlord can't pay/won't pay for it to be repaired or replaced it makes no difference whether there's an agency involved.

Add to that the fact that any clown can set up as a letting agent since it requires no qualifications or particular experience and you can wind up with another layer of incompetence in the renting process.

Both landlords and tenants alike can be stung by agents for "tenant checks" and the standard of these checks can vary wildly no matter how many bits of paper the tenant is asked to fill in.