AIBU landlord asking for Work contract

[crazymumofthree]

We have seen a property we like through an agent, agent has said landlord wanted a payslip (partner started new job so agent just said to get employer to write a letter stating hours and salary which we did, landlord not happy with this so said he was happy to wait till end of month, just sent payslip through to him and he's now asking to see DH work contract in full. This is all on top of a normal credit check done through a referencing company. I don't really feel comfortable sending through DH whole contract as it's a bit personal plus not really sure how I will send a 18 page contract through to him. I don't really understand why he needs it as we've already proved income in two ways plus the credit agency will call DH work and get references from them and also our current landlord. AIBU refusing to send it over? When asked why he wants all this extra info he said landlord had a dodgy tenant beforehand who didn't pay etc etc. We have had a bad experience with our last agent trying to increase the rent before we signed then taking our holding deposit so not sure if we are also being OTT worrying our end.

Hang on, they want copies of your savings account?!
No. No. And no again. I can't see why they would need any of that. Unless they are trying to steal your identity or something. Honestly, I'd let the property go, if the LL is being this much of a pain in the ass now, what's he going to be like of you move in.

Usually if you rent via an agency, you need to give them six months of bank statements, proof of current address, six months of payslips and they then call HR to confirm salary etc - unless that's just on Merseyside? I was previously in a similar position elsewhere in the country, OP, and had to have a guarantor because I wasn't in a position to supply payslips in the first month of the job. (LRD would that work for you? I had a nine month contract at that university, but still needed somewhere to live even so...)

I'd be inclined to send the LL a copy of the Data Protection Act TBH.

Or if it’s too invasive for your liking but you’ve got savings, perhaps offer to pay for a few months in advance go demonstrate you’re solvent? I know I’ve found that convincing enough as a LL before.

But yes, compared to what Hefzi said re having statements, payslips etc you don’t look like very solid tenants with one payslip and letter.

Glad it's not just me thinking hell no to the contract. Was beginning to think it was me being unreasonable.

On a side-note, in case anyone is wondering how they would send an 18 page document, I would open Google Drive on my phone, choose "+" them "scan", and it will help you to photograph all the pages of a multi-page document, combining the photos into a single pdf file.

@Hefzi we have rented 3 houses in the last 4 years (due to landlords keep selling) and we have only ever had to do a credit check through an agency - for this we supply our current landlords details for a reference, current employer so they can get all details from that (or you send a payslip) and a credit check. Never before have we had to send in bank statements.. wage slips etc! I assumed through the credit agency they can find all this information themselves.

He did mention about 6 months rent in advance I think to DH but I am sure he said no, we are in south east so talking about £12k not just a small amount, not enough trust to just transfer that all over in some seemingly strange landlord that doesn't live in the UK even if it is through an agent!! Lots of warning signs maybe we should just let this house go...

I would just tell them that you don't feel comfortable doing it since you've provided a bunch of information/ evidence already. You could ask why they'd even need further info?

Tell them you do not want to continue. This is taking the piss. I was a BTL mortgage underwriter and these requests from a landlord would be setting my spidey senses going.

Could you offer a guarantor? It turns out (recently been trying to move) the credit check of the referencing is really basic - it looks for ccjs but nothing else, and doesn't show income etc (which is why I guess they ask for payslips too)

If you don't really love the house, though, I'd pass on it if it feels too intrusive (which I completely understand - I felt similarly but was quite restricted in where would be an option. In the event, I don't think they even looked through them )

hefzi, what you find usual certainly isn't usual in any of the three cities I've rented in over the past decade! But interesting to know it's how things are where you are.

However, the issue I have is that I've offered a guarantor, to pay rent upfront, to provide bank statements, and absolutely everything else I can think of. I can't understand it. I suspect it's simply a 'there is a box and we must tick it' attitude. The company is called rentshield (if anyone's heard of them) and they're doing the check on behalf of the lettings agent, but you don't seem to be able to speak directly to a real person, only to respond with frustration to their weird messages on an online form!

But, sorry, this isn't my thread! It's just been very cathartic on a really frustrating day.

I'll add it to my already vast list of "only on Merseyside" then, LRD Sometimes I think I'm in a parallel universe up here...

I don't see what else you can possibly do for them, though - other than withdraw your interest and start again with another company that doesn't use them. If I was a ll, I wouldn't be very happy that perfectly good tenants were being denied or delayed in this way.

Good luck to everyone "enjoying" the relocation process at the moment

I'm sure Merseyside is perfectly reasonable. We're trying to move to Yorkshire, so I suppose not a million miles (?!).

But thank you for the advice/comments, as at least now I feel I have a better sense of what on earth we could do differently (not much ...).

OP please ignore all the posters telling you to show the landlord his work contact. This is really unacceptable from the landlord. So many posters comment on things they have little or no understanding off.
I would contact shelter ASAP to discuss this with them. They have a free phone line and online chat to ask these sort of questions. They will give you the best advice.

Hell No! I rented in London for years and unless things have dramatically changed, this is not normal.

As a PP has mentioned the credit check only shows your credit rating and that you don’t have CCJs so won’t confirm your income. But the usual way to do this is for the agency to call your employer’s HR department. Not to demand a load of sensitive personal information. I do see why the landlord isn’t happy with the payslip though- if your DH were on a 0 hours contract or a large portion of his take home pay is commission/bonuses 1 payslip might not reflect his actual guaranteed salary. But again, LL needs to call HR, not demand a copy of his contract. And the balance of your savings account is none of his business.

I’d tell the landlord he’s welcome to call your DH’s work to confirm his income but that you won’t be providing anything further, if he’s not happy with that then look for somewhere else.

What happened in the end, OP?!

We didn't give the contract to them just refused, didn't hear anything for a week or so, found a new property we liked more and have just signed a contract. The day we were due to sign the contract the old estate agent messaged to say that was fine about no work contract and the landlord was happy to go ahead! We declined!

Ha! That'll learn 'em! I'm very pleased for you, @crazymumofthree

I think it's intrusive. Have you asked why he wants to see the contract, when HR have already confirmed the nature of the role and you have sent a payslip? I would rent elsewhere to be honest, because if he's a dick about this it won't be the only thing.

Oh good! Just saw your update.

A bit late now, but you could have asked to see the LL's mortgage statements and Tax returns

Well if you ever go for a mortgage you will get asked for a lot more than this - investments, pensions, childcare bills etc etc! The landlord is just protecting himself. It's no big deal send the page that says salary and says permanent. He doesn't need to see the rest.

Flopsymopsycottontailbuns

A bank is lending you hundreds of thousands of pounds. A landlord isn't. They have a reasonable right to see proof of income but the OP's DH supplied access to that information with the payslip and contact with his employer. No need for the contract to be seen as well.

@snausage - our contracts usually say something like "nothing in this contract creates any rights with third parties"

An employee is free to disclose this document to anyone, it is not "employers property" once it has been given to the employee, so none of the employers business.