UK Landlord Forum / Life

A quick question.

Does anyone have any recommendation to specific tenant references sites that they have used before and are really happy with.

I know there are a load online but I would rather see if people have a favourite.

Thanks in advance.

Are you going it alone again?

Could you not consider an Agent for Tenant Find and remove a little bit of the hassle from yourself? They'll choose the referencing company, they'll do the Right to Rent checks and take ID etc.. You can still do the viewings if you want to... so you can eyeball them and figure out if they're going to start banging on about the electrics.

I've used different Agents for Tenant Find throughout the years, they all use different companies... I've noticed little difference in the reports I receive back. They're all about 1 page and have pretty high level details with a PASS or FAIL (possibly with a recommendation - but you get that from the Agent anyway).

Yes I am going it alone again. I was going to see how it went and if I met anyone good enough and if not then I was going to think about an agent.
I just can't see how they can charge so much money to take a few pictures and put it on rightmove. It really does annoy me.

I have read that the right to rent check are only a case of take copied of there ID's. And give them the right to rent guide. I hope I am not missing anything else with that.

I just wondered if there was any online company that do these referencing checks that people use a lot and are happy with.
As I said I would rather go with someone that has been recommended.

Depends on how much "so much money" is... I suppose. I pay £250 for Tenant Find and I'm relatively happy with that. They get the property out there, they take the enquiries and do a bit of initial qualification for me before arranging a viewing to suit me. After I've done the viewing, selected a Tenant and negotiated a deal, they do the referencing and other checks and leave me from that point on.

I am OK paying £250 for that. I would not be OK paying £1,000 or an ongoing %age of rent received.

We use The Online Letting Agents "Gold" service, £59.00 + VAT. For that fee they list us on Rightmove, Zoopla, Gumtree etc., handle the initial enquiries, do the reference and financial checks, draw up the contracts etc. We for our part take the photos, write the advert and meet the potential tenants before choosing who we want. We would rather meet everyone than just go for the most financially sound applicant. We have used them for our last 5 lettings and would not hesitate in recommending them. Check out their reviews.

Well if I could find one that did it for that much it would be ok.
The cheapest I have found after a lot of haggling is 350 plus VAT and that was just for a tenant find. NO referencing or checks at all. That was extra. They usually want a months rent here. Which I just find shocking.


Thank you all for your comments.

Have you haggled?

Oh yes believe me I have haggled with them all.
Some of them wont even budge.. Some of them will a bit.

Sorry, I saw you'd said you haggled, I meant to ask we're you successful... but I see, now, that was the successful price.

Part of me would still be tempted.

Would they or you do viewings etc.? That might be why your price is higher - or it could just be location. Time to consider on-line? At least give it a go... not recommending UPad (as it didn't work out for me) but it might be an option.

Yes I got the agent down to 350 which again isnt good enough to just put some pictures on rightmove.
I do the viewings as I have had bad experiences with agents just getting you the first one that says yes just to get there money.

I have looked at open rent. Have you had any experience with them at all.
What about online referencing services. Any that you have used or know that others have used and are pleased with??

Thanks hippogriff.

Here is the link to the Online Letting Agents.
http://www.theonlinelettingagents.co.uk/

We have used Open Rent and was happy with the basic service provided. We also carried out some checks on the prospective tenants myself using publicly available information. We interviewed the tenants and asked them to provide information we considered important. And finally.... we used our instinct - if it does not feel right, it probably isn't.
So far so good 2 tenants in two properties and no issues at all. In fact, they have become friends. No agency involved - we decided to save the money and do it ourselves.

Ok so I was wondering if anyone can recommend a good site for just tenant referencing.
A company that people  have used before and are happy with. yes there is a lot online but don't just want to pick one from the list.

any thoughts or experience with this site???

https://www.totaltenantreferencing.co.uk/services.aspx

From looking at their website, it doesn't look like Total Tenant Referencing do the 'Right To Rent' checks, which is the biggie.
If you do RTR checks yourself, you could fall into Data Protection Act  problems.

I am looking to find a company that takes responsibility for RTR checks, unfortunately it looks like they will only do it if they can fully manage the letting.

As far as I am aware and please landlords with more experience please let me know if i am wrong.
The right to rent checks are just a case of taking a copy of say there passports and making sure that that documentation is there's. So compare it to themselves.

And making sure that they have the right to be in this country. So looking for visa's in there passport if you are dealing with someone not from this country.
And you have to give them the right to rent booklet.