Can a letting agents withhold landlords name/details?

[Sarahjsxx]

Hello,
So we've had a very difficult time trying to move into a new rental property, we were due to move tomorrow and yesterday the landlord removed the property from the market! So we are in a very difficult situation
We passed all the referencing checks, but the landlord kept asking for more information, my husband and I have different surnames but we've been married 7 years (not that this should matter) the landlord asked us to prove we are married, for 2 different references from our previous properties which we gave and apparently after that they just removed it from the market, these requests had been going on for the last 2 weeks. Rental properties rarely come up where we live and due to the small timeframe we were desperate for the property
In any case, we asked the letting agency for the landlords name and email or phone number, they said they can't give this due to GDPR, is this true? This does seem unfair due to the landlord knowing absolutely everything about our lives at this point and we can't know this basic detail?

The landlord pays for the agent to do the work - it's their house, their rules (within the confines of the rental laws of course). If you don't like it you'll need to buy your own place

GDPR is complete bollocks in this context.

The landlord would be named on the tenancy agreement in any event.

The property has been removed from the market, why do you need the landlords details?

Presumably no agreement has been signed

When you say removed from the market, are you saying you won't be moving in tomorrow? In which case, no, I don't think they should (can?) pass on the potential landlords name and details.

If you are moving in tomorrow, the details will be on the tenancy agreement.

So the rental has fallen through and you’re asking for the landlords details? As an agent that would worry me, what do you want them for?

In Scotland there is a publicly accessible landlord register-is there ome where you are?

Well of course we would love to buy our own place and are planning to but not very easy once stuck in the rental market. No we are not moving in tomorrow, I know it would have been on the tenancy agreement. The letting agent told we can report the landlord to the council

Had you actually signed the rental agreement?

No, the agents had it ready for the past week but the landlord kept asking for more information

So if you haven't signed, I'm not sure what you would be reporting the landlord for to the Council? Changing their mind? It's horrible what has happened but I don't know how having their details is going to help or what you would do with the details?

Sorry you got messed around like this.

Send a request to the agent that all your personal data is deleted from their and the landlord’s record and ask for proof.

If you’re not going ahead with the tenancy then they don’t need your data

Apologies- I shouldn’t have said “proof” above but rather confirmation.

The landlord now put the property back on for rental with a different agent 🤷🏻‍♀️ so they obviously had an issue with us. Hopefully they get the married couple they want

Just for info, you can download the title documents of any property in the UK from Land Registry - only a few pounds to do it, you are likely to find the owners details on there.

I’m really sorry this has happened to you. Unfortunately landlords will experience difficulties with tenants and that can make one very wary. I guess you could try to see if the new letting agent could help you to communicate with the landlord. Good luck!

Thank you for the land registry info
I can understand that but we did pass the referencing and gave the extra references aswell, to be honest it could be lucky it has happened as the landlord seems awkward and probably unwilling to help if anything did go wrong in the property

Report the LL for what exactly?
The LL can change their mind up until they sign the Tenancy agreement and so could you and No, you dont have a right to their address but their name would have been on the agreement - address probably c/o the lettings agent. No idea why you would want their address though.
Its really crappy that you are in this position but you dont really know what has gone on between the LL and The Agent and as for the information the LL wanted this is usually requested by the Referencing Company and the LL has no involvement.
Maybe the LL is an arsehole but dont take as gospel what the Agency tells you, its very unusual for a LL to do this last minute, especially the changing Agent bit

So is it worth us applying again through the new agency? As far as they told us the acutual referencing was complete last week, they told us that the landlord requested our marriage certificate and a further reference from another rental property, can the estate agents be making this up?

I have no idea if anyone is making anything up but you ahve nothing to lose by approaching the new Agency.
I have to say though that I deal with roughly one Tenancy a month due to my work and I have never ever seen a marriage certificate requested

I think it's definitely worth reapplying with the new agency.

FWIW a friend is a landlord. He had to change lettings agents because the old ones were terrible. They weren't forwarding messages from tenants including for important repairs. Meanwhile the tenants thought the problem was the landlord as the agency had told them they were waiting for his reply.

Sounds like the landlord here wasn't happy with the agents for some reason. Quite possibly nothing to do with you at all. I wouldn't be surprised if he or she doesn't even know you applied. Who knows if the first agents passed on your application to the landlord. Or they might've told the landlord you were the ones delaying.

Why do you need the landlord's details? Are you considering legal action?

We didn't 'need' them but said to the agency it doesn't seem right that the landlord has every detail of our life but we don't even know his name, they suggested reporting him to the council I didn't know you could
Yes thank you it could be an idea, I just don't understand why anyone would want the marriage certificate? We do have different surnames but have been married for 7 years, not sure why being married makes any difference
It does seem strange they have then put it on the next day with someone else rather than picking another tenant who applied

Section 1 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 gives tenants the right to know their landlord's details. But unfortunately you did not become a tenant so you cannot insist the agent tells you.
Apply to the new agent as others have said. Although potentially this could cause issues because the first agent could claim they introduced you and still want their fee. So for this reason the landlord might not want to rent to you now.

I'm so sorry this has happened to you.

Perhaps it's the agents that the landlord has had a problem with hence changing agents. Only way to find out is to apply for the property through the new agents🤷‍♀️

The reality is, a landlord can decide who they want in their property. Ultimately it's their choice.