To think these potential tenants don’t add up and suspect benefit fraud

[ChocoLeibnizBiscuits]

I know mumsnet hates landlords but I have unexpectedly found myself one.

I received tenant reference checks through and the applicant has had over £40k in this bank account for over 6 months however they have also been receiving almost £1000 a month in universal credit. I’m not at expert but I know how difficult it is to get UC and a quick google shows you won’t get any if you have over £16k in savings.

they also wanted to pay 6months up front.

I feel mean rejecting them
but something doesn’t add up does it?

Might have been a single claimant now moving in with their partner who has cash?
Offering 6 months upfront would suggest poor credit history.
If it smells off though, I'm sure you've plenty of other applicants you could use 😊

It’s very difficult to evict tenants so I’d go with your gut.

Annoyingly it came off the market when i tentatively accepted their offer (they offered slightly less than the advertised rate) so I need to put it back on again.

Red flags all over this. Avoid.

this!
these peasants who think they deserve a roof over their heads!!
wtf, who do they think they are??
you should rinse them for every penny they have

Rent upfront would ring alarm bells. And make sure there’s a homeowner guarantor

Greedy or what

LOL

people only pay up front like that when they're going to use the property for something dodgy.

How distasteful and unpleasant that sounds.

Go forth and multiply

Shhh

No one wants you here. Off you trot.

I feel mean rejecting them
but something doesn’t add up does it?

Something doesn't add up that's for sure.

There's a lot of universal credit threads at the moment. This is the second fraud-connected one I've read today alone!

Rinse them?

Where do these people come from!

If the £40K is in a child’s name or an account opened in their behalf it’s fine. Did you not ask further questions?

Good lord, you can negotiate on rent?! This never occurred to me when I was renting. I’d see a place I’d like, and go view it/meet the landlord. Then pay the rent advertised if I was successful. The thought if bartering down or, heaven forfend, have the landlord attempt to make me offer more than advertised by pulling some cheap sales trick designed to make me think I might be missing out…never occurred to me!

On this, though, I’d agree, something’s not quite right here.

Was the uc paid to the same person who had the 40k in the bank?

sounds like cannabis farmers.
why did you even entertain this.

If you are in any doubt don’t let to them.
I would always advise having an empty property rather than taking on the wrong tenant.
It is so hard to evict if things go wrong.
Six months rent is nothing if they don’t pay any more and it takes maybe 9 - 12 months to evict , or if they trash the place.

@palygold not sure what you’re implying but I can assure you everything I’ve written is true.

I’ve rejected the offer because there’s just too many red flags (there are other issues which also make me question the applicant’s truthfulness).

everyone deserves somewhere to live but I’m not responsible for housing them. I will be a good landlord and have made sure the property is immaculate and fairly priced (I’m not actually making a profit, i just don’t want to make a loss).

I would be forwarding their check results to universal credit.

@Sugarplumfairy65 yes this was what made me read the reference report very carefully as it didn’t seem right you could have that much in the bank over an extended period of time and get nearly £1000 a month. I have far FAR less in my bank account and it hasn’t even crossed my mind to explore if I’d be eligible to claim.

palygold not sure what you’re implying but I can assure you everything I’ve written is true.

I didn't say it wasn't

I was talking about the sheer number of universal credit threads. I made that a separate point, with a gap, so as not to confuse.