To think a prospective rental doesn't need this much info?

[Cocklodger]

Took the afternoon off work to view a house.
It was lovely, ticked all the right boxes.
I said I'd like to apply for it. The application forms are considerably longer than my last houses ones were - 3 pages to 8 pages.
They want
4 recent within 12 months employment references (I can do that no problem as they can be from the same job/workplace which is a bit silly but hey ho)
Verification of funds available (understandable)
And a total of 14 personal references.
They can be friends and in laws but not direct family.
Loads of random information about me - a page dedicated solely to what I look like (height, weight, eye colour, hair colour, shoe size, any tattoos).
They also want confirmation off my old landlord that I didn't burn my house down myself house fire caused by electrical fault being the reason I'm moving.
That's ontop of the fact they want me to enclose a copy of my police certificate (criminal record check) which I already had for a different reason.
I'm married but separated - he won't be living at the property. But I need to fill in similar details for him too.
"Hey STBXH can I have loads of your financial info?" That'll go down well.
I haven't looked through the whole thing properly just skim read it. I'm very
This house is absolutely gorgeous and has been reduced twice from $500 to $350 to $300pw (I'd say $400 is probably the going rate for such a property).
I'm starting to see why if this is what the requirements are.
Aibu to be gobsmacked at the information they want and tell them to shove their house into a certain orifice of theirs?

14 references???? I only needed one, that's a bit excessive even before you have to describe yourself like you're setting up a classified dating ad!!

For my last rental I needed a total of four references (1 LL, 1 work, 2 personal although I could've also done 2 work 1 personal) so I'm very at this

I don't think I even know 14 people who could provide a reference. That's madness

Why do they want all that information? They can't just request anything without a valid reason.

Who is the data controller? I would speak to them.

I think there is a good reason price is dropping, they are being unreasonable. And that would concern me about how they would be as landlords. I would not be interested,

What you look like or how much you weigh is just bizzare, never mind the 14 references. Move on, forget that house. You'd never live in it in peace.

Who is asking for all this? An agent or the landlord?

Seriously, Tattoos????????

As for your ex's details, why would they need those? Would that not be a data protection issue?

The application forms were given to me by estate agents, but apparently only some of it is needed by them. The rest the LL has requested so it has been added in. I presume that's why there's so many weird things. I don't think many professional agents would give a stuff what I weigh

That's really OTT!

4 work and 14 personal references is insane! One work and one previous landlord is all I've ever had to provide. I could understand maybe one personal but 14 seriously?!

When I had a guarantor due to bad credit history, they had to provide their financial info but did so direct to the agents, if they insist on STBXH info, is that an option, so he's not giving it to you?

But tbh I would be looking for a different place to rent from if at all posdibldv

Wtf??

Great that this is probably the reason the house is such a bargain but not great in that they are probably going to be horrendous LL's.

Can the estate agents put you in touch with previous tenants?

They don't really want a tenant that's for sure.

glum STBXH and I get on very well and parent together very well, I'm lucky in that respect but I don't think it'd go down well. I'm not sure how I'd react if I was asked. I'd likely say no - so I'd expect him to. I'll likely be putting it behind me and looking at other houses to be honest. Even if I did jump through every hoop and get this house I don't think they'd be very nice landlords

I would walk away, the landlord is going to be a nightmare for the poor tenant who ends up living there

Imagine that for a landlord I'd steer well clear, nice house or no

I can sort of see why it's a bargain I'd look elsewhere.

So they'd have wanted you to get a criminal record check if you didn't already have one?

When I moved last month I needed 3 payslips, 3 bank statements, 3 references (employer, personal, ex-landlord) & a scan of my passport.

If this is what the LL is like now then what would they be like if you were living in their house? If I were you I'd look elsewhere.

I'd steer well clear. The Landlord has serious issues and isn't the sort of person you want to be renting off.

It's like in the book "The Girl Before"!

Do they needs names of 14 people who could potentially be referees or they need actual physical references?

14 names, addresses, phone numbers and emails. I don't know if they'd contact them all though.

I'd walk away. That's utterly ridiculous and strongly suggests to me the landlord is going to be a nightmare.

That would ring alarm bells for me. Tell the estate agents you will not proceed and why.

Are you sure they have haven't accidentally given you the application forms for MI5 instead?