Do landlords/letting agents need to know how many kids?

[brellas]

Ok I'm not going to go into my whole situation but it is pretty desperate!

I have 3 dcs and need to move ASAP. There is a 2 bed house right by my sons school which would be perfect. Also opposite the park and so close the dcs friends houses

We only need this house for 6 months, it's just a stop gap and nothing more. It's cheap and the money we would save would be great also.

Youngest dc is just a baby so doesn't need his own room yet.

Ideally the dcs in one room and me and dh in another OR....if the bedrooms are tiny then I'd even get a sofa bed for the living room and me and dh could sleep down stairs.

The house is small but it's for 6 months and exactly what we need.

The ad says short term let is fine.

My question is, do you have to say how many children are living in a property?

I'm only asking as i rang up about another 2 bed last week which was much more expensive and not really the right location but we got told we couldn't look at it as I told them we had 3 dcs and they said the property was too small.

Can I just say I have 1/2 dcs and miss one out?!?!

As a landlord I’d want to know because it will impact the level of wear and tear on the property.

Its a baby. For 6 months.

As the agent is erring about it being small, I'd just mention the one child.....

As a landlord, I'd say be totally honest and upfront about your family. I insure my properties based on the family numbers actually living (I have to declare adults and their dependents) so I think if anything did happen, then insurance might prove a sticky situation - for example, if there's a fire and you need to be temporarily homed.

Offer your previous positive references and state you can meet the deposit, be honest and you'll be fine.

I wouldn't let to you but not because of the number of children; but because you only want a 6-month AST, I'd be more likely to advise stretching the truth with this! LL's want long-term tenants.

I am not spouting rubbish. Overcrowding is a problem for some landlords as it usually creates condensation and then mould etc. A baby usually comes with a lot of stuff. But I wouldn't be keen to let to you anyway as you only want 6 months. Not worth it

As mentioned, the ad states a short term let is acceptable. The letting agent said 6 months won't be an issue. The property has been empty for at least 6 months also

If it's been empty for 6 months i wouldnt go near it.

@WipeOutTo can I ask why? It's recently been renovated by the looks

Rennovated? Then it's not been empty as such. Just unavailable.

I really have no idea to be honest. The ad doesn't say. The pictures make it look like it has but could be totally different

It's been on the market for 6 months. Just not well advertised

As an estate agent who also deals with some lettings we ask because in Scotland the local authorities and government come down like a ton of bricks on over crowding (at least they claim to, never had to deal with it yet). Government introduced this to protect tenants though as someone above pointed out overcrowding impacts on the property as well. There are guidelines in place about occupancy, how many kids can share a room and when they are classed as needing their own room. Anyone over the age of 16 must be named on the lease though under 18s don’t have any obligations under it.

That being said, if you tell me you have no kids I don’t see any kids I’m not going to ask questions.