Credit Checks

anon_private

I have never borrowed money.

I will be renting flat shortly. If the owner runs a credit check am I likely to be disadvantaged because I will have no record?

National_Debtline

Hi there,


A lack of credit history can sometimes be negative as there is no way to gauge if you are good with your finances. Remember that things such as mobile phones and overdrafts can be recorded on your file - are you sure it would be completely blank?


All estate agents work differently so you would need to speak to them if the rent offer is revoked. You may be able to get a guarantor or pay some rent upfront to help secure the flat. Good luck,


Laura
@natdebtline

rtho782

No, you won't Lanlords and Letting agents can't run credit checks as they are not providing credit, they only see matters of public record - CCJs and bankruptcys.

You'll be fine. Whatever you do, do not mention a word of your fear about the issue, as they will take that to mean you have bad credit and turn you down.

anon_private

Thank you

Best wishes

Ps. Out of interest, how do they check the record?

rtho782

They use services provided by CRAs (experian, equifax, etc) but they do not see your credit file, score, anything like that.

Or they do it themselves, with the registry trust and the london gazette.

http://www.trustonline.org.uk/search-others
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/insolvency

Anthorn

Oh the perils of posting a reply about something you know nothing about.

Before you even view the property you should get a statement which includes details of the credit check. Likely they will use a tenant screening service which can be directly with a CRA or more likely uses an in-house service which uses the CRA service and which just allows the agent to charge you and the landlord more money for their service. Important to note that not only do they get your current credit report but that they get on-going credit reports.

Here's a link to the Experian Tenant Screening Service:
http://www.experian.co.uk/background-checking/tenant-screening.html