CIFAs and Renting

Joana321

Hello there
I have a question maybe someone will know,
Do only lenders see a CIFAs flag or does a landlord will also see it when he does his checks for renting?

Thank you

Arleen

Even most basic credit check will include CIFAS report, so if that is part of tenant vetting it will be visible to the landlord.

Comms69

Arleen wrote: »

Even most basic credit check will include CIFAS report, so if that is part of tenant vetting it will be visible to the landlord.

LLs only check public information, they have no right of access to what is commonly called a credit check.

System

Comms69 wrote: »

LLs only check public information, they have no right of access to what is commonly called a credit check.

That is incorrect. There are many companies who offer a credit check service for landlords and it costs as little as £10. Everything available to any lender on your credit file would be available to a landlord doing a credit check.

Arleen

Comms69 wrote: »

LLs only check public information, they have no right of access to what is commonly called a credit check.

Correct, technically it's called tenant check/whatever but many people, including agencies, call it credit check. You can see what it has on this example http://www.experian.co.uk/assets/background-checking/sample-reports/tenant-verifier-instant-report.pdf which is slightly more than the obvious public records like CCJs.

[Deleted User]

Tarambor wrote: »

That is incorrect. There are many companies who offer a credit check service for landlords and it costs as little as £10. Everything available to any lender on your credit file would be available to a landlord doing a credit check.

I'm sorry but that is plain wrong. Reference companies have no access to someones credit report - they can only check public records. If you look at that Experian report, the language used is very vague. The sales pitch might imply a full credit report but that is just that - imply rather than fact.

They can and do verify identity and public data using CRA data but that is completely different.

tenchy

camelot1971 wrote: »

I'm sorry but that is plain wrong. Reference companies have no access to someones credit report - they can only check public records. If you look at that Experian report, the language used is very vague. The sales pitch might imply a full credit report but that is just that - imply rather than fact.

They can and do verify identity and public data using CRA data but that is completely different.

Correct. If you look into the detail, this is precisely what happens.

123warrior123

Are you sure it doesn't show up.

Pretty sure I have read any financial crime will come up during these checks. I'm pretty sure any case of fraud will be shown up and you will be rejected.

The landlord or agent will find this out one way or the other

123warrior123

This site even says they do it under credit check header

Website is SHELTER

Credit Checks

"Most landlords run a credit check to see if you've had problems paying bills in the past.

The landlord will need your written permission to do this.

Be honest about a bad credit rating before you pay any fees. If you fail a credit check you risk losing any fees you may have paid.

If you have a poor credit history you could be asked to provide a larger deposit, pay more rent in advance or find a guarantor. "



Basically if you dont give them permission you are rejected. If you do they see the CIFA flag or Fraud conviction and you are again rejected.

CIFA will show on a credit report as will fraud conviction. They need your permission but if you give it they will see exactly what you would see.

tenchy

123warrior123 wrote: »

This site even says they do it under credit check header

Website is SHELTER

Credit Checks

"Most landlords run a credit check to see if you've had problems paying bills in the past.

The landlord will need your written permission to do this.

Be honest about a bad credit rating before you pay any fees. If you fail a credit check you risk losing any fees you may have paid.

If you have a poor credit history you could be asked to provide a larger deposit, pay more rent in advance or find a guarantor. "



Basically if you dont give them permission you are rejected. If you do they see the CIFA flag or Fraud conviction and you are again rejected.

CIFA will show on a credit report as will fraud conviction. They need your permission but if you give it they will see exactly what you would see.

But - credit files are only available to the closed group of data contributors, with a large number of exceptions, of which I don't think landlord organisations and service providers are one. I think the Experian rep will clarify all of this. :rotfl:

JuicyJesus

Under the principles of reciprocity viewers of data can only see on a credit check what data they also put in. As such a credit search undertaken by a lettings agency will only see public information such as CCJs and bankruptcy, and not CIFAS (which is also not strictly relevant to a tenancy agreement anyway).