to refuse credt check agency access to my bank account!

[TheGabster]

I am trying to rent a house and I am fine with the potential Landlord running a credit check on us. I am happy for them to enquire with my bank whether I am a good customer or not, and how long I have had the account. I have given them all the details of the bank account.

BUT I don't see why I have to give them permission for them to access the full activity re: debit and credits for my account that even a police investigator would have to get a Court Order to access!

And what do they need to know my next of kin for? Incase I snuff it during the credit check or something????

AIBU????

Your potential landlord wants to see what money goes into and out of your bank account?

next of kin not a problem - just tell em

could be that these agencies have tightened their criteria in light of current economic crisis ie people living/borrowing beyond their means.

It's not uncommon for institutions to request bank statements, this amounts to the same thing.

If you refuse they may think you have something to hide.

What house are you renting FFS Windsor Palace? I can see why they would want your next of kin in case you do a midnight flit. It may be easier to trace you, but access to you bank account. No way. I don't think YBU! Credit check should be enough!

Windsor Castle even!

Slightly different but this is the reason I dont apply for council tax benefit... as they want 3 months worth of bank statements

YANBU but I think if you want to rent this flat you are being a bit silly. If a potential tenant did this to me I would think they were hiding something and not let to them. You don't even know the people doing the creadit check - why on earth does it matter if they see what is going in and out of your account?

Up to you though!

Seriously alicet you ask potential tenants for access to their bank accounts? May I ask why, not being argumentative, just genuinely want to know.

"You don't even know the people doing the creadit check - why on earth does it matter if they see what is going in and out of your account? "

Um, is it not obvious why it's a problem? In any case, it's uneccesary. The last time i rented (approx 3.5 yrs ago i think) we were asked for this. Instead we gave copies of 3 months payslips, references from work and bank.
No need to see what you have coming in and out of your account.

Redtartanlass I was speaking hypothetically - I don't have tenants. I just mean that this is probably part of what the credit checking agency asks for. And if I heard back that they had refused part of the credit check it would make me wonder why.

I don't actually see why they need this information to check if you can afford the rent / if you are likely to default payments which is what I meant when I started with YANBU. However as they have I think refusing might give the impression that you have something to hide and therefore i would give access if it was me.

I also think they want next of kin in case something happens to you while you are living in their property so they know who to contact OP, not as you suggest in case you snuff it during the credit check

YANBU, even our mortgage provider didn't want that level of detail! Proof of income was good enough for them, you'd think it would be for a landlord.

Idrankthechristmasspirits actually I don't care who sees where my payments are going / who I am getting money from if I don't know them (eg people from crdit check agency). i would have a big problem with a random punter seeing this and wouldn't necessarily want the people I work with knowing what I buy for example but a credit check agency? I mean please tell me why this matters to you because I just don't get it!!!

Not being arsey by the way - just interested to know if I am being hopelessly naive and missing the point here because I really don't see what the problem is

alicet sorry thought you meant your tenants. Mmmm why should I care if people look at my accounts. Good question I have absolutely no idea why it makes my skins crawl. I'd feel the same about people looking thrugh my dirty washing or looking in my rubbish bin! Just doesn't feel "right".

Is this Finders Keepers by any chance? I had the same thing with them and refused to use them.

FFS... I'm old enough not to give my parents bloody contact details when I rent a house. (they were my next of kin at the time). I'm sure they only want this info so they have someone to chase for rent if you do a dissapearing act.

sorry. rant.

landlords can chase a next of kin as much as they like should the tenant default on payments - they won't get it however and it's fairly easy to lie about.

I'd be more worried about the landlords finances to be honest. I've heard plenty of stories about tenants who paid their rent religiously, only for the house to be repossessed under their very nose.

It's a tenants market right now, if you don't like the way they do business, go elsewhere.

Good point myfunnynametaken, it is tenants' market. Go elsewhere!

Thanks everyone. Decided to give them permission in the end but still object to it. Glad to see it is not just my skin that crawls at the thought of it!!