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?

Well said!!!!

FGS typical MN over reaction.

We had to rent temporarily, we had that much in the bank too and we offered to pay upfront so that it was not only out the way but that we may be picked over others. We weren’t cannabis farmers FFS.

You used to get 12 months for personal injury payouts before it affected UC. Could have been that.

Cannabis farm. Pay upfront, landlord is happy and doesn't inspect, six months later and no bills have been paid, there are holes in the walls, the place is a fire risk and the original "tenant" never even set foot in the place.

Well said @Sweetlikechocolate6

What about disabled people?

You do realise that it is now ILLEGAL to not rent to somebody on the basis that they receive benefits

There are circumstances that allow over £16k temporarily in savings, fleeing DV and recieving your share of a marital assesst via a court is one. As are house sales etc. Victim/injury compensation etc. That could explain wanting to get rid of cash by paying rent up front. But usually someone will be honest in those circumstances.

What are you talking about. I recently helped aomeone find a rental and there was, of course, no guarantor needed because their wages were enough

If you receive the sale of a house as a result of divorce proceedings it is disregarded for 6 months I think, there's other circumstances too where there's a temporary disregard

Wow the naïveté here!!!! What you fail to understand about private renting is that for EVERY application even couples on £60k+, a Guarantor earning 3 times the rent, is required!

What nonsense.

Wow the naïveté here!!!! What you fail to understand about private renting is that for EVERY application even couples on £60k+, a Guarantor earning 3 times the rent, is required! If the property is £1.5kpm that means you need a guarantor that is MINTED! This is a requirement up & down the country now and they don't usually accept guarantors who are retired, so parents are often ruled out. So everyone who doesn't have a minted & kind enough sibling/mate willing to guarantor, you have NO CHOICE but to bypass the guarantor requirement by paying the full initial tenancy term up front. Initial tenancies are almost always 6 months

What utter bollocks. Guarantors with 3x rent are not required at all! I’m a private LL and I don’t ask for this, and never would

We were looking to rent 18,months ago and it was bananas to even get a viewing never mind a house! We were told consistently that people had 6/12 months up front to offer, and so we started offering 12 months up front too just to be considered. Def not a cannabis farmer!

@NAndJAgainstStrepA In many parts of the country it is!!! Yet there's no adjustment. I privately rented for 20 years and it's landlords with attitudes like yours, that made my life hell, despite never missing a rent payment and never having a single complaint in all that time. Left every property I lived in, in pristine condition.

Thank GOD you never became a LL.

@Cheesuswithallama That is very, very unusual. Ask Shelter, they'll tell you that pretty much everywhere requires a Guarantor now

It's not unusual and you don't need to shout

It bloody isn't! I rented privately for 20 years! I know what I'm talking about

Where in the county is a minted guarantor always required?? Laws don’t work like that!! Are you talking about student accommodation? Or all rentals?

Grim. So upsetting to read.

Never accept 6 months up front, it's usually money from illegal activity which they will no doubt continue in your property.

I used to be an agent and it was a tell tale sign.

Yes you're a private landlord! You can set your own terms. Every single letting agent & estate agent in my county & town require a Guarantor for every let, regardless of income

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 This is a forum! Using typed text! How on earth can one shout?! 🤣

It’s definitely bollocks. Only people I’ve ever known to need a guarantor are students. Never heard of this ridiculous claim. And I’ve been a LL for 10 years. So not my ‘naïveté’

There's a huge shortage of rental properties at the moment (thanks to all the government policies)

Don't accept anything less than the best possible tenants. If you smell a rat, you're probably right.

If you don't listen to your gut instinct it'll probably cost you. Stuff that could possibly go wrong;

They'll trash the place, and you now only have 5 weeks rent to cover the damage.
They could stop paying rent
They could turn the place into a cannabis farm
They could ring you every day with issues that are bogus
They could bring 3 dogs in who shit all over your carpets.
They could do a runner after 4 weeks and after they let their teenage children throw wild parties pissing off the neighbours and trashing the place that had just been fully renovated (bit detailed that, but a real story those last 2)

Landlord here of over a decade and also worked in the sector extensively. I've seen things I can't unsee. Be cautious and strict with your choice of tenant. People on mumsnet like to say landlords are evil and refuse to accept that tenants can also behave appallingly. You have the right to choose or reject who you rent your house to. It's not up to anyone else.