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?

I'd get onto the RTA in QLD and check if this is legal - I'd be stunned if it is.

www.rta.qld.gov.au

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
A LL is not allowed to ask for this information.

Only certain people can ask to see a DBS check certificate.

If you aren't in the UK please ignore my post.

In future perhaps it would be a good idea to put that you aren't in the UK clearly in your OP otherwise you are going to get a lot of irrelevant advice.

The op is clearly not in the uk (dollars!) so talking about the data protection act and dbs checks is a bit moot

I would contact the estate agents and ask them to request exactly the same information about the landlord (criminal records check, tattoos and eye colour, 14 references) before you enter into any form of contract with them
bunch of loons - no matter how cheap the property gets its not worth the aggro

Run a mile the landlord will probably have stipulations on the times you are allowed to use the bathroom and what food you can cook, perfume you wear so you don't devalue the home with lingering smells.
I expect you won't be able to put any nails in the walls and all furniture will need to be placed in such a way as it does not rest on the walls. Also furniture must be placed on a material separating it from the existing flooring so as not to cause any staining or damage.
You will be mithered to within an inch of your life if you go for it.

Unfortunately it's not illegal - so long as I have the option to refuse (which means I don't get the house but that's ok). They can ask whatever they like. Legislation only applies to entry condition report etc.
There's no legislation (so I'm told by RTA) for this. If I provided the information I could possibly have a case for discrimination if they say, asked for my ethnicity and turned me down on the basis of being the wrong colour, but that's probably the only thing appearance wise they didn't ask for.
In any case I won't be providing the information. It's ridiculous on the upside I've got a viewing (different house and agent) today so keep your fingers crossed for me

saucyjack I think I've heard of that book. Mumsnet needs a terrified emoji.

persiancatlady I do post a lot (as a few of you have clearly recognised me and my location!) but I thought the $ not £ was enough of an indication.

vaseline
I know your post was in jest, but it's actually pretty usual here (as I've experienced and been told by 2 long term expats) to not be allowed to nail anything into walls. It has a lot of implications you wouldn't think of. As well as decoration and photos you can't put up useful things like pretty spice racks or curtain rails (which is a nightmare when blinds never cover 100% of the window so you get a one inch slice of the sun in your eyes at 6am )
Sigh.

It sounds like Sheldon from The big bang theory. Way to over the top run for the hills I would.

FOURTEEN

they sound batshit. i would say drop the hot potato but think of the future threads we would miss out on!

I'm a landlord and I can't think of any reason why I would need to know this much about you. Just requesting it screams either discriminatory (appearance) or weird.

The only thing that matters is a handful of well sourced references (although who submits a bad reference) and your ability to pay the rent. However, it sounds like there is more to it like perhaps LL has had really bad tenants in the past? I would ask the agents history with the ll and perhaps whether it's worth meeting them. Beyond that I would only offer what the agent requires by way of info.

Firstly I'd be talking to the agent & asking what they thought they were playing at? It's their job to advise landlords & renters. They're doing a crap job giving you that load of shite. I'd be unimpressed with them. Then I'd talk to them about the owners & what their situation is. They might be an elderly couple who have had bad tenants & have been advised by some well meaning but misguided twat friend/son/daughter that they need to do this. (My Mum is in her 70's and has had a few bad tennants through an agency & if my SIL bullied said to do this she might be forced to go along with it. (I live in a different country or I'd sort it out.

Is it also managed by the agency?

Have you seen the tenancy agreement? (See how batshit that is).

You might get a property you love for a good price, so check things out before dropping it.

I think there is something slightly sinister about this level of disclosure. Personal desciption I imagine is to try and establish your nationality could therefore be racist. Weight could be to try and establish your class/background. Are you sure you are not being recruited for the secret service? As a single woman I think you would be safer to swerve this rental.

It's not fourteen actual references it's a list they can pick three from, still excessive mind! We've had property sublet illegally so the visual questions are just to establish who you actually are also it may be to help with immigration checks as those can be the Ll responsibility. I'd talk to the Agent before you go off the deep end as a Ll who pays this attention to detail probably keeps the property to a great standard.

Can't see immigration being a reason tbh. The EAs already have a copy of my visa (sent ahead of time as I only have an e-copy, my passport wasn't stamped)
If they were so concerned about subletting/letting others stay with me, surely
they're better off actually meeting me?
For all they know I could just sublet to someone else who is 5ft fuck all and blonde....
I don't know where you're getting the number three? but they ask for 14 contactable references. That's how a reference is given (in my reasonably vast experience on the whole, but limited experience over here). You contact them, ask your questions, get them answered and well, there's your reference surely? So I don't see the difference between asking for referees to contact and asking for a reference?

We had a real jobs worth of a property manager in our last property and she wasn't that bad. We just had to give 100 points of ID, employment references, rental ledger from previous real estate, proof my visa would last at least the length of the lease and confirmation the dogs weren't riddled with fleas/were as well trained as we claimed.

I really hope you find somewhere suitable soon.

Come on, obviously not the UK given the dollar signs and the amount!!