Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Invasive questions on rental application...

48 replies

CandlesBlanketsandTea · 17/05/2021 13:29

I'm being evicted as my landlord wants to cash in on the booming housing market, so I'm trying to organise viewings. Because of the limited number of properties some estate agents are asking for you to complete an application form. So far I've been asked for the make, model and registration of my vehicle, which I didn't think was necessary information for a viewing. The current application I'm working on requires my bank details, 3 references and wants to know the length of my current relationship? I'm single so this is irrelevant but I don't think it's anyone's business. They've also written on the form that they will keep all your details indefinitely unless I inform them otherwise, isn't this breaching GDPR rules?! I'm so annoyed with everything to do with the housing market. Maybe I'm being unreasonable but I'm scared I'll be homeless and do worry about how this information could be used to discriminate against different groups in society.

OP posts:

Hollyhocksarenotmessy · 17/05/2021 14:07

Are you in England?

Due to Covid, there is a ban on issuing eviction notices at the moment - so your landlord can't give you anything until the ban ends of 01 June. At that point, the eviction notice required will be 4 months.

Have they issued a notice and are trying to break the law here?

skirk64 · 17/05/2021 14:14

They need that info so that they can check your background.

I know you are single, but if a couple is applying one that has been together for ten years is a more stable prospect for a landlord than a pair who have been together for a couple of weeks. The latter is at greater risk of breaking up during the tenancy which may mean rent doesn't get paid.

Bank details and three references is pretty standard, I was asked for those things twenty years ago. Usually references were employer, current landlord and either previous landlord or personal.

Likewise, someone with a 2021 Range Rover is probably wealthier than someone driving an R reg Ford Ka. Either they have the money to buy it outright or were seen as a credible applicant for credit for it.

LittleOwl153 · 17/05/2021 14:23

Fill in as much as info as you want to give. Clearly your car registration is not relevant to a rental application any more than the colour of your underwear on the day you complete said form.

It might be relevant if you move in if for example there is secured parking included... but take each question as it comes. Ask what they need it for and only fill in what you want to.

References etc I would expect to complete, along with salary details/employment reference. I can't see why they need your bank details though unless it's for a credit check. Again maybe relevant IF you want to.move in...

Original poster

CandlesBlanketsandTea · 17/05/2021 14:32

I don't mind providing the bank details and references once I've seen a property and want to move in, ahead of time it feels really unnecessary. Plus I think they are breaching GDPR by stating they want to keep them indefinitely. I don't think the car registration is relevant for a viewing.

OP posts:

nancywhitehead · 17/05/2021 14:37

Could they be asking your car reg for parking reasons when you go to view?

Original poster

CandlesBlanketsandTea · 17/05/2021 14:37

@Hollyhocksarenotmessy

Are you in England?

Have they issued a notice and are trying to break the law here?

Yes, I'm in England and have been issued a section 21 with 6 months notice. I thought landlords could evict with 6 months notice. Please can you tell me where I can find the information about it being illegal? Thank you

OP posts:

Original poster

CandlesBlanketsandTea · 17/05/2021 14:39

@nancywhitehead

Could they be asking your car reg for parking reasons when you go to view?

None of the properties I looked at had that type of issue, all had either on street parking or a driveway. It's another piece of unnecessary information they are collecting.

OP posts:

nancywhitehead · 17/05/2021 14:41

Also, all GDPR states is that you have to tell people what you are going to do with their data and how long you plan to keep it.

As long as they inform you and can justify it, they can hold it as long as they like. e.g. Data can be kept indefinitely if they plan to use it for archival or statistical reasons.

Newkitchen123 · 17/05/2021 14:42

Do they check car for outstanding finance? Wouldn't that be part of the credit check though?

Original poster

CandlesBlanketsandTea · 17/05/2021 14:43

@nancywhitehead

Also, all GDPR states is that you have to tell people what you are going to do with their data and how long you plan to keep it.

As long as they inform you and can justify it, they can hold it as long as they like. e.g. Data can be kept indefinitely if they plan to use it for archival or statistical reasons.

I just don't agree with keeping my bank details indefinitely for a property I might not like or don't get accepted to live in.

OP posts:

idontlikealdi · 17/05/2021 14:43

I'm guessing there's a huge influx of people wanting to move post Covid so they're trying to wrestle people out. Doesn't make it right though. I wouldn't give all that info until I had offered.

Original poster

CandlesBlanketsandTea · 17/05/2021 14:45

@Newkitchen123

Do they check car for outstanding finance? Wouldn't that be part of the credit check though?

I would have thought car finance would be covered in the credit check, it didn't ask if you owned it outright.

OP posts:

Bluntness100 · 17/05/2021 14:47

I just don't agree with keeping my bank details indefinitely for a property I might not like or don't get accepted to live in

But that’s fine, it has clearly stated they won’t keep it if you don’t wish. I don’t get the issue on this one? It’s not like they aren’t asking you if you want them to not keep it,

Original poster

CandlesBlanketsandTea · 17/05/2021 14:48

@idontlikealdi

I'm guessing there's a huge influx of people wanting to move post Covid so they're trying to wrestle people out. Doesn't make it right though. I wouldn't give all that info until I had offered.

You are right I'm just really stressed about it 😔 it feels so invasive and I didn't want to be moving during a pandemic.

OP posts:

BeastOfBODMAS · 17/05/2021 14:59

It looks as though they’ve given you a generic application to rent form so that if/when you find somewhere they can process it quickly in such competitive times. No landlord is going to want to miss out on 3 weeks rent whilst agents chase references in this market.

They should be providing you with their full privacy policy and explaining how they use, store and share your data, and your rights.

Leave the car stuff blank and if asked, perhaps you are considering changing cars and don’t know what you’ll be driving by the time you move.

You can always do a full subject access request under GDPR and use your right to have your personal data forgotten once you’ve moved in somewhere. It’d serve them bloody right for collecting it in the first place.

When I was looking at houses to buy, one national name estate agent passed on my details to loads of other branches (in areas I wasn’t looking in) as well as Sky and a load of other utilities and services - without my consent. I had a few months of sales calls where I told them all to sod off and stop breaking the law and they eventually tailed off. That’s probably about the worst that will happen.

Flowerlane · 17/05/2021 16:02

That’s crazy! I would not be telling them what car I drive let alone the registration. There is no need for them to know this at all.

Regarding if you are single, I did get asked when I moved in who would be moving in but not if I was in a relationship etc so I would only tell them who will be living there nothing else.

Bank details I would not give over until I had viewed the property and was happy to proceed with taking the property on.

murbblurb · 17/05/2021 16:05

You won't be evicted at the end of the six months. That's the point at which the landlord can start the court process. Big backlog even before covid, and all the legals must be perfect.

As for all the non financial questions - very strange.

Thecatsawinner · 17/05/2021 16:17

Is there a big shortage on rentals where you are? If so by pre checking you/doing paperwork in advance it means that you can get straight on and take on a property, in my area rentals aren’t even getting advertised as agents have a load of prospective tenants, paperwork completed on their books.

I would probs fill in forms but insist that data is destroyed if not going with that agency.

DroopyDaff · 17/05/2021 16:21

I’d put down that you drive a Ferrari OP . Say it’s in for a service when/if you turn up in a rust bucket for a viewing.

lydia2021 · 17/05/2021 16:24

They would get false bank details from me, unless I was going to rent from them.. Banks etc always saying dont give out bank details. Trust is a two way thing

babyt2020 · 17/05/2021 16:29

Your landlord is correct they can issue a section 21 with 6 months notice, pre covid it was only 3 months. We've issued to our tenants and sold our house. I don't see why they need your car details? I understand financial information but not relationship? Odd!

dreamingofsun · 17/05/2021 16:37

i can understand the relationship question - we rented to a couple in part because he had a good job. after a few months they spilt and we were left with the non working person who then trashed the place and didnt pay any rent. and we had no way of claiming anything back from her.....so once bitten twice shy.

Nosafeguardingadults · 17/05/2021 16:48

@dreamingofsun

I'm in a violent relationship and my partner is working and he's the ones who trashes and smashes. I'm non working one but have money to pay rent because of disability but can't leave because loads of landlords are prejudiced like you. If tenant trashes place there's no landlord reference so most of us don't do that or we end up homeless after. I feel scared about the intrusive questions asked because private landlords and letting agents isn't same as regulated banks and could be anyone including fraud people or violent criminal.

TheLastLotus · 17/05/2021 17:10

Been renting for 6 years and never come across forms like this.
Can you just leave the irrelevant parts out? It might be a generic form where some parts need to be filled for specific properties (like car make)

Also relationship isn’t relevant what if it was a pair of friends renting together?

GroovyClementine · 17/05/2021 17:20

The car thing sounds intrusive and I'd be very concerned about an estate agent/landlord who said they were going to keep my bank details forever even if I don't get the property.

I think some of this might be to do with Covid, as in the authorities have been seen to be intruding massively into our private lives because of it and largely getting away with it. This has been noticed by private entities who have now decided they can do it and get away with it for their own ends too. It's all just creeping down the slippery slope of lost liberties.

Flip

1 2