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?

Thats just weird.Red flags going off here.They would be nightmare LLs.

Im supposing they think tattoos are rough.But why on earth do they need to know your weight and eye colour.And 14 references is stupid.

I would be gone,and not rent off them.

Hmmmm, to be asking about your looks, weight, shoe size etc makes me think they've got hidden cameras throughout the house and a bunch of pervs who'll pay them for access.....

Run, run, run, run.

They are absolutely bonkers.

This is why we need more regulations for landlords, though. It infuriates me that there's nothing to stop a landlord deciding 'ooh, you have tattoos and are separated, I don't want you'.

Weight? Shoe size? Tattoos?

What the actual fuck, like. Run. Run away. No house is worth this.

Walk away, that is insane.

And probably why the price keeps dropping.

I've heard of this sort of vetting before on a course I went on. They're using the personal details to see if you match any stereotypes and then eliminate accordingly. So if for instance, you are overweight and have tattoos, you won't be getting the house, as that might mean you're a slob and won't fit the image they want for the house. If you've got brown eyes and black hair......hmmmmm! Might be black and we don't want blacks , catch the drift?

Horrible people. You'll find somewhere else. Post here what you're looking for and we'll nose around.

If you're really interested in it,

Ask the Agent for their standard form which you will complete but not the nutty landlords' questions.

Ask for a rent reduction due to intrusive LLs questions as it's off-putting to think LLs may be a pain to deal with if you proceed.

Make sure the LL's ability to enter the property is legally binding, change the locks to your own on moving in to stop LLs getting in, then reinstate their originals on moving out.

Have the place 'swept' for electronic recording devices.

If you stick to your guns, you may end up with a lovely cheap rental, but you must be aware that the Lls are beyond odd, so be prepared to deal with that in exchange for cheap rent.

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).

Sorry, WHAT?

Run for the hills. These people are barking mad.

Presumably the info on tats and the criminal checks are because of the anti bikie laws in QLD (in which case I'd be fucked as I'm about 70% tattoo ink!) but that's just insane.

I'd be so embarrassed as the REA to be asking for info like that on prospective tenants.

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.

run!

That and wanting ex DH details, I would report them as surely some of it's illegal?

I'd just fill in the reasonable bits and provide a few references, then give it back to them telling them that's all they're going to get out of you, and if it's not good enough for them you'd be surprised if they ever let the house! Don't fill out the "personal appearance" section or any details of your stbxh.

That's utterly insane! Is it even legal to ask the personal details about what you look like?

14 references?!

Walk away. They sound like nutters.

I would be sending an email to the estate agents saying exactly why I was not sending the application form back.

No LL needs such personal details about you or financial details of someone who isnt even going to be living there what a ridiculous thing to ask for. And as for the references, did they put a load of bingo numbers in a bag and chose a number?

We had to fill in ethnicity, height, weight, eye colour and hair colour for renting our property in Texas - it's apparently standard here.

I queried it, it's used to ensure that the person they rent to is actually the person living in the house. I said to the realtor that I thought it would be considered discriminatory in the UK.

I've gone through less rigorous application forms for jobs!

14 references?!?!? I don't think I know 14 people to ask for a reference!

I would definitely be passing on the rental but also I would be asking the estate agent to be passing on the message that you love the house, and would love to rent it but the intrusive application form has put you off as it is too detailed and you worry that they would be one of those landlords.

Also, depending on where you the landlord is actually opening themselves up to being accused of discrimination ... it's why jobs can't ask for personal information on any "protected characteristics" in applications (They can ask but there is no obligation to answer and you can't be penalised for not answering) as an applicant could use it as a way to say they were unfairly discriminated against if they don't get the job.

I'm surprised they aren't following the principles of the Data Protection Act. One of which states that the information should be "relevant and not excessive". I would have thought a letting agent would be bound by this?

I have a feeling this poster is in Aus, so UK legislation won't apply.

In any case - the landlord sounds utterly bonkers so i would walk away - and say the agent you want it passed on to the Landlord why!

Blimey that is ridiculous! my last tenants (a couple), I got one reference from previous landlord, between them.

Don't walk, RUN from this place. They will be nightmare landlords. No landlord needs to know if you have tattoos or not.

The reference requirement is insane. That's 18 total references... there aren't 4 people at my workplace who could give me one unless I asked for one from people who work FOR me, and I don't know 14 people who aren't family. I know about 5. Totally nuts.

You don't want to live there. These are the kind of landlords who will let themselves in at 6am on a Sunday morning because they saw your curtains were still closed and wanted to make sure you were still alive...

That's ridiculous. I rented for 14 years and never had to answer any questions like that. A basic credit check, photocopy of passport and employers + old landlords reference is normally fine. The landlord sounds so creepy and unreasonable! I'm really surprised the estate agents have agreed to ask prospective tenants for all those extra details - it doesn't reflect well on them either. I would stay away from that house for sure I feel sorry for whoever ends up living there.

I'd tell them you'll give the standard information required by the agent and nothing more. I expect they'll tell you no. So I'd continue my search.

sounds really OTT. i would look for something else, the LL sounds a pita already!

This genuinely sounds like the plot of a tacky thriller I've just read.

She (tenant) had an S&M relationship with the LL about halfway through the book, and ended up dead at the bottom of the stairs*

*no spoilers

Avoid this landlord. The requests are ridiculous, and quite probably breach data protection as as there is no good reason for requesting much of this information.