Letting agent wants my NI number

usefulmale

I think this is a little too much. My NI number is to administer tax and benefits and is only needed by my employer and DWP / HMRC. The gov.uk website does say not to give your NI number to anyone not needing it.

Would everyone else be happy to give your NI number to a letting agency?

G_M

Helps with ID verification.

Plus the 'is this person allowed to live/work in the UK' checks.

usefulmale

G_M wrote: »

Helps with ID verification.

Plus the 'is this person allowed to live/work in the UK' checks.

They have already taken a copy of my passport. What additional use can an NI number be?

anear

Never heard that letting agency requires NI number, but no harm to provide it if it is a proper letter agency.

PasturesNew

I think a lot of them just make it all up - then they find something somebody else has made up and is asking for and they start asking for it too. Same with fees...

usefulmale

anear wrote: »

Never heard that letting agency requires NI number, but no harm to provide it if it is a proper letter agency.

The gov.uk website does say not to give your NI number to anyone that doesn't need it. That would suggest that harm is indeed possible. Why give out sensitive personal information without good reason?

buglawton

Print out that advice and show it to the agent.

With someone's NI number and some simple other details it's possible to register someone's postal vote, for example.

kingoranks

Tell him to use his lol

sandsni

I wouldn't be happy giving my NI number to a LA, especially given that LA's don't have to have any kind of official registration themselves. Maybe they have a nice little sideline in identity theft. I would have thought a passport should be sufficient proof of ID.


Unless you really want the place, I'd tell him you'll give her/him your NI number when s/he gives you hers/his! IMHO YOU have as much right to know THEY are legit and have the right to live/work in the UK as THEY have to know YOUR NI number.

theartfullodger

I normally only rent to tenants after getting copies of at least driving-licence-or-passport & payslip-or-NI card. If prospective tenant declines to provide I thank them kindly for their interest & bid them good-day.

Why?? To help track them down should they inexplicably depart without paying all rent/damages owed. No I have no idea how these tracing agents find people either...

You do not have to provide NI number: Agent (or landlord) does not have to rent to you: Your choice...

Ask agent for proof he has been criminal records checked (he won't have been..) & proof landlord has permission from mortgage company to let, has landlord insurance & declares his rent to HMRC.

Now, the devious would simply make up an NI - having checked it is valid...
http://www.hexcentral.com/articles/validate_ni.htm

I have also had tenants attempt identity theft of my ID (they know my name, address, bank details, probably birthday etc etc etc...): Don't know about the successful attempts: (Tenants have transferred deeds through land registry into their names then sold the property...)
http://metro.co.uk/2010/07/29/tenant-posed-as-owner-to-sell-house-for-1-4m-463740/
&
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-21964552

Cheers!

BigAunty

Does an NI number make it easier for a landlord to track down a tenant in rent arrears via a tenant tracing service or not?