Vetting and Fees question

Trickyann

In the past I have always used a letting agent to find and vet a tenant and do inventory and check in, but done everything from then on myself. I have been approached by a potential tenant of a new property that I will be letting out in November 2015. I know I can do the credit check via RLA (which I have recently joined) but what other details should I be checking other than those I have thought of below and would I pass on the cost of checks to the tenant, or share the cost as neither of us will have to pay fees to the letting agent. My thoughts for details to check are - recent bank statements, pay slips, reference letter from employer stating salary, time in employment and contract hours, temp or permanent. Benefit awards (if any) CSA (if any) and current landlord reference. Any help much appreciated.

princeofpounds

I'd charge the tenant the credit check, but at cost.

Previous landlord reference.

Google their name!

Doubt you need payslips AND bank statement AND employer reference.

Certainly the first and last are effectively overlaps anyway.

fairy_lights

I would just ask for payslips and maybe a quick phone call to their employer just to check they are who they say they are, along with a previous landlord reference.
If you get too intrusive in your checks you could end up scaring tenants away.

Trickyann

I appreciate your thoughts. I assume tenants will be used to some of these requests if they have previously rented, especially via an agency. It is a balance I guess between being intrusive but ensuring you do not leave yourself open to problems later by not doing the homework at the start. I would be using forms from a landlords association so hopefully it would appear professional rather than me being nosy. What are your thoughts on fees for any checks (I would only charge the actual cost to me)

pyueck

Trickyann wrote: »

I appreciate your thoughts. I assume tenants will be used to some of these requests if they have previously rented, especially via an agency. It is a balance I guess between being intrusive but ensuring you do not leave yourself open to problems later by not doing the homework at the start. I would be using forms from a landlords association so hopefully it would appear professional rather than me being nosy. What are your thoughts on fees for any checks (I would only charge the actual cost to me)

I would definitely do credit checks.

RAS

Do check whether the new laws affect you http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Info-for-universities-colleges--schools/Info--guidance/Immigration/Immigration-Act/

I would want to see some photo ID - passport or driving licence and something with their NINO regardless.

T'is actually quite easy to forge most other stuff (and the above are not beyond forgery).

In another context I am dealing with people who have supplied untrue references for each other (or themselves) and collaborated in supporting false job histories. Some of the LinkedIn profiles are pure fiction.

So ask for the name and address of the referee and employer. Ring the main switchboard and ask for the job title of the referee so you can send a letter. And if you have any concerns ask to speak to the manager and verify things with them if possible.

I had two bright sparks who were both claiming to be each others' manager and another who tried to get me to take a reference from a friend. She claimed to have worked there for 2 years and had been on the books 2 weeks.

I managed to get the correct information without dropping any of them into the mire at work but rejected them all myself.

pyueck

RAS wrote: »

Do check whether the new laws affect you http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Info-for-universities-colleges--schools/Info--guidance/Immigration/Immigration-Act/

I would want to see some photo ID - passport or driving licence and something with their NINO regardless.

T'is actually quite easy to forge most other stuff (and the above are not beyond forgery).

In another context I am dealing with people who have supplied untrue references for each other (or themselves) and collaborated in supporting false job histories. Some of the LinkedIn profiles are pure fiction.

So ask for the name and address of the referee and employer. Ring the main switchboard and ask for the job title of the referee so you can send a letter. And if you have any concerns ask to speak to the manager and verify things with them if possible.

I had two bright sparks who were both claiming to be each others' manager and another who tried to get me to take a reference from a friend. She claimed to have worked there for 2 years and had been on the books 2 weeks.

I managed to get the correct information without dropping any of them into the mire at work but rejected them all myself.

I would agree with this, definately on the immigration rules. I think a credit check is a must, try and get an original bank statement and utility bill from the previous address. If possible try to get their deposit letter from the previous place which will show when the tenancy started. Absolutely get a passport, no passport, non starter. For employment try to get a payslip and agree it through to the bank statement, if they work from a large company ask them to send an email from their work email address.

G_M

Yes if applicant helpfully gives you the phone number for their boss, take it with a pinch of salt.

Look up the company's number and ring that and ask for Human Resources or the 'Operations Manager' or whatever.

Similar if given previous landlord's number.....

jamie11

Also today there is the question of checking the potential tenant has a right to live in the UK, it's not being racist to ask if your applicant has the required visa for the period he will be renting from you.

This applies mostly to non EU countries.

RAS

And if given an e-mail address other than one that is plainly corporate and plainly in the name of the referee, go to the company and get the correct e-mail address.

People can and have set up fake personas that they can use to support their actions elsewhere; contracted out staff will nick letter-headed paper. It never ceases to amaze me how much effort people will make to subvert a process rather than get up and sort their lives out.

Trickyann

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments, I will certainly do a credit check and take on board getting documents the are harder to forge and use my own searches for email and phone numbers to communicate with current landlord and employer. I am not in the West Mids so don't come in the trial area for right to be in the country. My only query again is the fees, is it normal to pass on the cost of the credit check for example to a tenant? As I previously stated have only ever paid an EE a fixed fee for finding a tenant but I believe they also charge tenant for finding them a place.
Thanks