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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Landlord refusing reference

25 replies

Lochnessgiraffe · 08/03/2021 17:07

I'm pissed off and don't understand why they won't.
I'm currently looking to move. I've seen a new house to rent passed all the other checks, credit references and work but I just got a call from the letting agent who has informed me that my previous landlord is refusing to give me a reference. I don't understand why. I lived there for about 18 months. I moved in with my dp in Dec so gave them a month's notice. Everything was fine they verbally agreed to a reference now they are refusing? Aibu to be pissed off!

OP posts:
IamTotoro · 08/03/2021 17:29

Have you broken things/paid rent late/caused any problems?

LakieLady · 08/03/2021 17:30

Perhaps they don't want you to move!

FelicityPike · 08/03/2021 17:31

Did you break your lease with the 1 month notice? By that I mean how long was left on the lease?

activitythree · 08/03/2021 17:32

@LakieLady

Perhaps they don't want you to move!
They already moved
SchrodingersImmigrant · 08/03/2021 17:32

Maybe it's a mistake on their part like confusing you with different tenant so I would call and ask what's up with that.

Original poster
Lochnessgiraffe · 08/03/2021 17:33

Nothing broken no late payment etc. I had 1 months notice in my contract. This is why I'm struggling to understand why they won't give me a reference

OP posts:
Original poster
Lochnessgiraffe · 08/03/2021 17:35

I've called , no answer texted no reply and emailed but nothing back from them yet

OP posts:
stablefeet · 08/03/2021 17:49

The letting agent manages the property, they can give you a reference.

MrMucker · 08/03/2021 17:50

It's business-they see the person/agent requesting the reference as direct competition on the rental market. It might be to do with the rental being a better deal than the rent they charge themselves. Maybe they have a similar property for rent and think they could get more, so by blocking your chances, they also increase their own.

Another reason is they may not be acting legitimately as landlords in some way. By offering a reference, they have no idea whether that will open them to scrutiny somewhere down the line eg if they say you pad your rent on time and every time, they are also implicitly making a declaration of their income, and they don't know who will see it.

Get in touch and ask. Because they could also just be a lazy arse who needs a prompt.

MrMucker · 08/03/2021 17:51

O, forgot-when you get in touch to "prompt" you can also ask if they have anything to rent coming up as you have a friend looking.
Their response will be helpful in terms of reading where you stand with them.

Original poster
Lochnessgiraffe · 08/03/2021 18:00

I rented directly with a private landlord. So no competition

OP posts:
MrMucker · 08/03/2021 18:13

@Lochnessgiraffe

I rented directly with a private landlord. So no competition
OK Well, all rental properties are in competition, because people looking to rent don't necessarily distinguish between wanting an agent situation or a private situation. It's more about finding the best place and overall cost etc.

It's still worth contacting them. You don't know what their thinking is. So find out.

Original poster
Lochnessgiraffe · 08/03/2021 18:21

I am trying to contact them but no answer . I might just have to send the letting agent my bank statements which show rent payments

OP posts:
NailsNeedDoing · 08/03/2021 18:41

They might have something going on in their own private life that means they don’t have the time or the ability to do favours for previous tenants right now. It’s a pain in the arse for you, but don’t take it personally. It’s unlikely that it’s because of you if you say you were a good tenant, it’s much more likely to be because of something else that the LL has going on.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 08/03/2021 18:41

My dd had this.
Her land lady was an arsehole.
Dd explained and showed her bank statements with rent payments and her deposit refund. New agent passed it to new landlord who was happy.

theotherfossilsister · 08/03/2021 18:45

Can you check they are actually legally registered as a landlord?

WittyUser · 08/03/2021 18:53

I had an old estate agent who refused to provide a reference unless I paid them £30. I let the new agents know, thankfully they were outraged on my behalf, and just took proof of paying on time from my bank statements and deposit return.

VodkaSlimline · 08/03/2021 18:58

Did you get a proper inventory done when you moved out and do you have a copy of the report? What happened to your deposit?

Original poster
Lochnessgiraffe · 08/03/2021 19:00

Hopefully they'll take my bank statements that show a regular payment to them. My dp will get his landlord to provide a reference for the last 5 years. Finger crossed. Its just really annoyed me

OP posts:
Original poster
Lochnessgiraffe · 08/03/2021 19:01

I did get an inventory done and my deposit back

OP posts:
VodkaSlimline · 08/03/2021 19:10

I'd send them your bank statements, the inventory report and proof of your deposit being returned. Then once you've signed the new tenancy agreement, shop your former landlord to HMRC and their local council. Mwahahaha!

2021ishere2021 · 08/03/2021 20:37

Have you tried ringing on another number to see if he will answer?

Surely if you had a proper tenancy it will have his address in it?

Re his rationale I wonder is he not a legal landlord and doesn't want evidence of letting a property. Maybe he just can't be bothered because there is nothing in it for him....

Original poster
Lochnessgiraffe · 08/03/2021 21:03

I've tried mobile/landline/txt and email. Going to sort out bank statements

OP posts:
GreenlandTheMovie · 08/03/2021 21:38

It might be the way that the reference is being asked for. I quite often get abrupt requests from letting agents to fill in their standard reference forms for previous tenants. They can take about 20 minutes to fill in each, sometimes more, because some of them ask for very precise details such as the rent paid.

While I'm quite happy to give personal licenses to individual tenants to show, I get quite tired filling in endless forms for letting agents and sometimes simply send them the basic information in an email without filling in the form.

mumwon · 08/03/2021 21:45

is it possible he is subletting?

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