Renting - credit check of new tenant

deepam

Hi,

My tenant is moving out and I have found a new tenant privately. I do not have an estate agent. Could I please have some advice

1. How can I credit check the new potential tenant?
2. Do all adults need a credit check or just the person responsible for paying the rent?

Thanks
Deepam

anselld

It is not just a question of credit, potential tenants should be fully referenced, eg https://www.rentguardtenantref.co.uk/
All adult parties to the agreement should be referenced.
You also need to do the mandatory right-to-rent checks ... https://www.gov.uk/check-tenant-right-to-rent-documents

deepam

Thanks for the links.
Any website you can suggest for credit check?

RAS

Start by checking the Insolvency Register. Not that entrance to. There means someone is unsuitable to be a tenant. Even bankrupts need a roof over their head. And you know they can't take out any more credit.

deepam

I want to get full credit check and referencing done. Any website/ company you can recommend that would do that?

theartfullodger

Who's doing the paperwork?? It's V easy to fail to get all things in place - see e.g.
https://england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/possession_and_eviction/notices_in_possession_proceedings/what_makes_a_section_21_notice_invalid
&
https://nearlylegal.co.uk/section-21-flowchart/

subjecttocontract

It's not advisable to let property without either rent guarantee insurance or a home owning guarantor in place. If you decide to take rent guarantee insurance the insurers will do the checks to make sure the applicants meet the insurance criteria.

anselld

deepam said:

I want to get full credit check and referencing done. Any website/ company you can recommend that would do that?

The rentguard link I posted earlier, the full referencing includes credit check.

deepam

Thanks for the advice. 

I have been renting my flat for last 20 years. For last 5 years I have managed it myself. I had always used Connells as fully managed agents before that.
Once it happened that my tenant stopped paying rent and tenant's guarantor who was a home owner parted himself with the tenant as though they dint know each other even though all parties had signed proper legal contracts. Connells ignored me as they lost their monthly income from me. I approached a lawyer and had section 21 against the tenant. This was few years ago.
I learnt it hard way that none of these signed agreements/ guarantor etc are useful when you go to court. At that point most important thing on your mind is to get the tenant out and get your property back.

pjs493

Many agents will do all of what you require for an admin fee.

chrisw

Openrent are useful for this sort of thing.

https://www.openrent.co.uk/tenant-referencing