Credit searches for letting agents

Huskymumma

When a letting agent does a credit search, how much can they see?

We are about to apply for a house but husband and I have some defaults within the last year from when he was left without a job,

I was just going to print off our noddle reports and hand them over, sp we don't have to pay a credit search fee, but husband says thats giving them too much information about our circumstances.

We've never missed a rent payment.

Are there any letting agents on here who can tell me how much information is seen when a search is done?

ThePants999

They can only see your public record - CCJs, IVAs, bankruptcy. Don't hand over your credit file :-)

Huskymumma

Do you know if they can see defaults?

ThePants999

They can't, no.

Annie35

https://www.openrent.co.uk/tenant-referencing scroll down half way & there's a link to an example search.

1 thing they DO see is your score (which everyone on mse will tell you they don't see & it doesn't mean anything anyway, they DO see & it DOES mean something)

Oh they'Ll want to do it themselves incase you fake it.

Hope that's helpful for you

Pixie5740

Annie35 wrote: »

https://www.openrent.co.uk/tenant-referencing scroll down half way & there's a link to an example search.

1 thing they DO see is your score (which everyone on mse will tell you they don't see & it doesn't mean anything anyway, they DO see & it DOES mean something)

Oh they'Ll want to do it themselves incase you fake it.

Hope that's helpful for you

That's because they can't see it. If you look at the sample report on Open Reach the only credit information shown is CCJ, insolvency and if you're on the electoral register.

Annie35

Pixie5740 wrote: »

That's because they can't see it. If you look at the sample report on Open Reach the only credit information shown is CCJ, insolvency and if you're on the electoral register.

Top of page 2 risk score 300 - medium risk

Pixie5740

Annie35 wrote: »

Top of page 2 risk score 300 - medium risk

That's the score Open Rent generate for the applicant not the score generate by a credit reference agency. Even the credit reference agencies admit no one but you can see the score they give you.

Furthermore, the score bandings aren't even the same on the Open Rent report as the ones used by the CRA.

PersianCatLady

Huskymumma wrote: »

When a letting agent does a credit search, how much can they see?

We are about to apply for a house but husband and I have some defaults within the last year from when he was left without a job,

I was just going to print off our noddle reports and hand them over, sp we don't have to pay a credit search fee, but husband says thats giving them too much information about our circumstances.

We've never missed a rent payment.

Are there any letting agents on here who can tell me how much information is seen when a search is done?

The letting agent won't miss out on the chance to charge you an extortionate fee for a credit check that costs a few pounds.

Annie35

Pixie5740 wrote: »

That's the score Open Rent generate for the applicant not the score generate by a credit reference agency. Even the credit reference agencies admit no one but you can see the score they give you.

Furthermore, the score bandings aren't even the same on the Open Rent report as the ones used by the CRA.

Hmm, not convinced myself but never mind. Funny story I have 1 credit score in married name new house & a vastly different credit score maiden name original house, neither have me down as an alias or linked address so not an infallible service anyway :eek::rotfl::cool:

Pixie5740

Annie35 wrote: »

Hmm, not convinced myself but never mind. Funny story I have 1 credit score in married name new house & a vastly different credit score maiden name original house, neither have me down as an alias or linked address so not an infallible service anyway :eek::rotfl::cool:

Which part are you unconvinced about? That Open Rent can't access a credit score made up by a CRA, or that no one but you can view the score made up for you by a CRA?

You should have separate credit files for your maiden name and married name. You should have one Experian report, one Equifax report, and one Call Credit report.