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Using alias via letting agent

Started by Neophyte, January 11, 2021, 10:32:55 PM

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Neophyte

Hi, I am new to the board and as a first time buy to let landlord. My wife and I really strong about keeping our details private. We are therefore going to use PO boxes and letting agents to create as much privacy as possible and protect our details. However, one area of concern is that we still need to list our name to the letting agent. We have no plans to be dishonest and will make sure the house is in a good state and any future issues with the house that we will be contactable through the agent. We have a unique surname and the property we bought is in very near vicinity which is why we wish to our names not to be shared publicly. Is there any advice if there are ways to protect our privacy as it is a small area we live in. Is it legal to use an alias on the tenancy agreement e.g. wife's maiden name or is this against the law to use an alias?

KTC

You can't do what you are planning to do, for your name or your address.

If your tenant make a written request for your name or address, then you (or your agent) is legally obliged to provide that information. Failure to do so within 21 days is a criminal offence.

Hippogriff

#2
"we have no plans to be dishonest"...  :)

You're in the wrong business if you want anonymity... maybe you can obfuscate things through some extra efforts... but the law is the law and your Tenant (your customer) has the right to know who you are. If you want to hide then you need to be thinking about some other investment vehicle... off-shore accounts... property cabals... gold under the bed? Espionage as a career move?

If I felt so strongly about this, I think I would've looked into it before commencing the journey into the PRS.

Hippogriff

#3
By the way... I did note you said you didn't want your names to be shared publicly. That's not what will happen in a letting. You are sharing your name with your customer. Kind of opposite to how you accept sharing your name with companies you deal with. I'm pretty sure - although you could correct me - that you don't have an alias you use for your dealings with Yorkshire Water (insert any other water company you might use here). You are not in a public sharing scenario... you are sharing your details, as you must, with your customer (you can employ an Agent and limit your interactions, of course, but you cannot be completely anonymous like you want). After all, the Letting Agent won't let you be anonymous with them.

If it helps, all of my properties (bar two) are in close proximity to my home location. I write my own ASTs and don't employ an Agent, and my home address and contact details are always there. I've done this a long time and I've never had someone throwing stones at my window or anything. I would like to move the other two properties closer to me, as that is my strategy... not the other way around. At the end of the day you can try to treat this like a cold and well-calculated business move... or you can understand the truth (and accept it) that letting property at this level (that of small Landlord) is a people business and Agents are actually optional overheads.

heavykarma

Are you trying to avoid paying your income tax? If you are using an agent to manage for you,they will give their phone and email details to the tenant.They will still need to contact you regarding repairs etc.If I was a letting agent I would be most concerned about your odd behaviour.What exactly are you trying to hide from?

KTC

I guess OP can own and operate as a landlord through an offshore company which does not provide publicly company ownership / directorship information.

Revo

I actually live further down the avenue of one of my let's & pass it most days driving or walking, a quick wave & a hello, the house is in tip top condition & have an excellent relationship with the tenant, why hide people will get to know.