Private Tenant needing some urgent advice!!

mintzee

Hi All

I'm a private tenant and my landlord called today to say he was shopping around for Landlords Building Insurance. He is looking at a quote but the insurance provider want more information. One of the questions is "Is it a DSS tenant and how much help in rent does the tenant receive i.e Local Housing Allowance?"

My question is - is this normal practice? I pay my rent by standing order every month without fail and have done so for around 6 years. My landlord has hinted he wants to increase the rent to cover increasing insurance costs etc and previously asked me how much help I receive for rent. I was very vague when I answered him because I feel this is private and confidential.

Now that he has approached me again asking the same question because the insurance provider requires it. Is this normal procedure and should I be obliged to provide this information?

Any advice would be appreciated, thank you!!

paddyandstumpy

When you're referencing for renting you have to disclose your wage - which is just as personal.

If you've got nothing to hide why try and hide it?

Mr.Generous

As a landlord I get asked if tenants are working or on benefits - nothing else. I suspect he is fishing, if you get £550 per month and rent is £500 guess what is going up next month?

mintzee

I have nothing to hide, I feel it's private and confidential. As long as I pay the rent on time which I have done for the past 6 years, why does he care how much help I get with rent?

Is he fishing or do insurance providers genuinely ask information about tenants and how much they can afford? They are asking for an actual/approx. figure or a percentage

DCFC79

mintzee wrote: »

I have nothing to hide, I feel it's private and confidential. As long as I pay the rent on time which I have done for the past 6 years, why does he care how much help I get with rent?

Is he fishing or do insurance providers genuinely ask information about tenants and how much they can afford? They are asking for an actual/approx. figure or a percentage

Make a few phone calls in the morning pretending to be a landlord.