UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi, we are in the process of arranging our first tenancy. The couple who want it have told us they do not have a credit history as the girls has lived with her mum and her partner lives with them and therefore do not want to pay to have a credit check. They have given us their payslips confirming their income along with employer references and character references. We have also made 'verbal enquiries' to people we know that know them. They seem like a lovely couple who will look after the house. They are paying a bond and the girls mum has said she will happily sign a guarantor form. We are happy to go ahead with them....... Does this seem reasonable to other landlords. ......any advice grately appreciated

Hi Lou,

You could always swallow the cost for a credit check and not make them pay for it. I mean, they don't cost that much. There's a list of credit check services here: http://www.propertyinvestmentproject.co.uk/blog/list-of-tenant-credit-check-services-for-landlords/

Just because they lived with their parents it doesn't mean they won't have a credit score. Don't they have any direct debits (e.g. phone bills) or a credit card?

In any case, if they seem reasonable and you've done your own referencing, I don't think it's a major issue. Sounds like you've done the right things.

My only advice would be to provide a 6 months tenancy (the minimum permitted), and then tell them you'll happily continue the tenancy if all goes well.

I would always want to perform a credit check.

Why take people on their word when you don't have to? It's not like you're making lots of profit out of the credit check, I'm sure you will only charge them what it costs you. An alternative is Noddle... check it out... it's quite good, I've used it myself and I'm impressed. It doesn't give you a credit score, unless you pay for it, but a rating out of 5. A person could log into Noddle when you're there and show you their rating. It might give you added confidence.

Having a Guarantor is all well and good... but the problem is that most Guarantors don't really understand what could be asked of them and, when it is asked of them, some can balk. I would not be a Guarantor... even for family.

Failing that... get them to stump up more rent in advance.

Quote from: Lou36 on September 29, 2014, 05:18:48 PM
therefore do not want to have a credit check.

Corrected that for you.  Why would be my question.  They can always get their credit file for free from noddle.

If you want to, credit check the Guarantor.

Personally I wouldn't bother.

You can't just go credit checking people without their permission as it affects their credit record, if you do one without their permission you can get in a lot of trouble and lose the right to ever carry out checks.  The service provider would put a blot on your copybook and all other service providers would see it.

There is no point running a credit check when you have already decided they are of good standing, of course you could ask the Mum to agree to a credit check as part of her agreeing to be a guarantor.

Quote from: RickC on October 03, 2014, 04:45:28 PMYou can't just go credit checking people without their permission...

But no-one has suggested that, at all?

Fair enough, seem to be casually implied.