Letting agent is asking for details of maternity pay...

[LuluLozenge]

Really a WWYD.

Have finally found a new rental property (they seem to be like hen's teeth in my area). In the spirit of honesty, I told my letting agent that I am pregnant (24 weeks).

I have supplied references from my boss, previous landlords, bank statements, payslips, passport copy, stool samples etc. Now he wants confirmation that I am going to be paid maternity pay.

I am employed on a self-employed basis so I am not entitled to any SMP. However, I am well able to support myself, as I was quite lucky to get a well paid job that has given me some good savings to fall back on.

I am a bit annoyed as I didn't have to tell him about the pregnancy (not really showing). Also, what would have happened if I'd moved in and THEN got knocked up? Would he be knocking on my door for these references now?

I think the icing on the cake is that we paid him a £200 'administration fee' and he couldn't even be bothered to email my boss to ask him himself - he has all his details because my boss emailed confirming my job! He instead chose to call me to ask me to ask my boss to email him.

My boss will lie for me at a push, but I don't want to have to do that.

So what would you do - get boss to lie, or some other option involving the slow death of the agent?

Maybe I'm overreacting, I'm sure you'll tell me I am if so!

Just tell him you plan on going back to work after 4 weeks (is he really going to check? - anyway, you'll be in the house by then!)

I don't think you should ask your boss to lie. That's not fair on him and puts him in a difficult position. He may lose respect for you for even asking him to lie for him.

It wasn't really your place to ask what commission the agent takes. That's between the landlord and the agent.

An agent has a responsibility to protect the interests of the landlord, not the tenant. I think it's reasonable to ask for evidence of your ability to pay the rent. I do accept that people's circumstances change all the time, but they have to go on the basis of the current circumstances.

I admire your honestly, sorry it's caused problems for you.

Are you sure the £200 admin fee is legal? I think in Scotland they're illegal, but I realise it may be different in England. A quick call to Trading Standards might clarify that. Of course, if you are branded a trouble maker, this could cost you the tenancy, so I guess you need to think how keen you are on the house. Possible you could wait and raise this issue after you've moved out, although any potential claim could become timebarred eventually.

Have you signed the contract on the house already?
I would hope so if you have paid him £200.

If that is the case I would just take a baseball bat round ignore it. Some people are just too nosy.

At one point I put my house in the hands of a letting agent. They told me the reason they set the admin fee so high is to deter timewasters applying. People who are not really interested will be scared off at this point. I can understand what they're saying but surely there could be something else in place which could deter timewasters?

i also got asked this when letting and gave the info. plus, now in mat leave after 2nd pregnancy, i am talking to mortgage providers, and they are also reallly interested in the situation! i think you will need to get him comfortable you have sufficient funds sorry.

HHLimbo - that's the thing with this rip off admin fee. If you fail the credit check/referencing, you don't get your money back! Well, not at the letting agents I've worked with in the past! So, you could end up spending hundreds if your credit score isn't great.
IMO credit checks aren't worth diddly squat.

Just say you have saving to cover it (and provide statement if necessary). He probably shouldn't be asking but since you've declared the information I think he is in an awkward position about protecting his client, the landlord.

i had this when my employer's reference came through. the agent's credit checking agency said they would not recommend/approve me as a tenant as they believed that my future financial circumstances would be changing due to my pregnancy.

i pointed out that everyone's circumstances have the potential to change... i might lose my job, become ill etc and that their assessment was sex discrimination under the 2011 Equalities Act - I had checked with the EHRC who advised this to be correct.

the agency backed down and the property owner, who was told, deemed me a more reliable prospect for the long term let - so positive discrimination there

you could try that approach! worked for me - i have a lovely home and baby now.

ring the EHRC with any queries, as they were salivating over the possibility they could bring this as a test case