UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hello,

I had an inquiry on my flat and don't want to agree on a viewing without making sure it is a match both for the tenant and me. Everything seemed ok over the phone (professional, builder, age 26, can provide references, payslips, enough earnings etc.) but then he said he is a very private person and there must be absolutely no bill on his name. When I asked him why and explained my position on transferring bills on tenant's name, he didn't like the question. He was adamant on being very private and having absolutely nothing on his name. I wasn't sure how to understand this, whether it is my mind being suspicious of this fact, or there might actually be something behind it.

What is your view on it? Any advice? Should i agree on a viewing?

Many thanks!

Quote from: Nika on November 05, 2020, 12:53:54 PMShould i agree on a viewing?

No.

who no? just trying to understand if this is a normal request...

Quote from: Nika on November 05, 2020, 12:56:40 PMwho no? just trying to understand if this is a normal request...

It's not, is it?

If he scarpers, or just refuses to pay you rent for however long, you would also be liable for bills on top of that.

i would definitely consider not starting this tenancy. Let it be some one else problem. This is the real world, he can't just decide to not have bills in his name. There is a reason the bill payer is named!

Absolutely not,he must think you are daft.He's either a conman or a nutter.

I love the directness of these responses 😁 its what's so good about this forum.  You can mull things over on your own until you begin to doubt yourself so it's really helpful to be told straight.

Quote from: heavykarma on November 05, 2020, 02:16:56 PM
Absolutely not,he must think you are daft.He's either a conman or a nutter.

Hahaaa Agree! well it did seem really odd to me. I get his point, I rented places with bills included too.  but what was strange when I asked him why bills included, his reasoning wasn't financial or anything else, he said he can even pay a couple of months rental money in advance, bills are not a problem to pay to me directly, he is just concerned about his "privacy". I actually started questioning in my mind his real line of work. He told me he was a builder, but I have doubts about this now....

Ah, I get it.He's an undercover agent.There's a lot of them around!

The only question is - why are you still even contemplating it? Surely there are enough "normal" Tenants out there for you to not consider going with an outlier? People are outliers for a reason... usually something that will cause you a problem, later on. We can't say what... but we are old enough and battle-scarred enough to know that when an odd fish knocks at your door, and then tells you that they will start paying rent money in advance... you just walk on, there's nothing to see here.

We all like privacy but we can't really avoid paying our bills in our name. He probably doesn't want to be tracked by someone... or something.

If there is any doubt there is no doubt.

This is not a normal request and if there's a genuine reason behind it then he needs to explain it.  He hasn't, keep well clear.

Why do I get the feeling this Tenant is currently moving in? 

Come on Nika,you can tell me,no one is listening.Have you signed him up?