Rental credit check

[Jen221199]

Hi all,

Looking for any advice please.

Going to view a property on Monday with estate agents, it asked on the form if I had any ccjs/Ivas/bankruptcy etc so said no as I haven’t however in between this I was reading their website which says they use let alliance who perform full hard credit checks and now work with transunion. I am worried as I have two defaults from nearly 3 years ago both settled. I have no bad credit since then but score on credit karma is still classed as needs work. Think this is because I upgraded my phone and car insurance in Feb. There’s no affordability problems references etc however I am now worried about failing this due to the defaults. Has anyone being checked by Let Alliance this last year as seems before this it was only for public information?

Thank you

Anyone???

get in touch ASAP and say what you've said here. Settled CCJs are a good thing, but saying something that isn't true is not. A landlord is likely to reject you when this comes to light. I would and have.

As rent payment is pretty much optional at the moment, landlords will be very choosy.

I don’t have ccjs though? That’s all it asked ccjs, ivas or bankruptcy on the form, it didn’t mention defaults but it wasn’t until after when I was looking on their website and it said let alliance conduct the checks, that I saw they can see your whole credit report from transunion and wondering if the defaults will cause an issue.

Yes, last year. I had to give them access to the last 12 months of bank statements too.

I used to work for let alliance when I was at uni. Im almost certain they won’t care unless you’ve got any of those things listed. As long as you earned the ratio of affordability and have good references you should be fine.

Thank you, So is it correct they can see your whole report from transunion? Did you have any defaults? I won’t be opting for the online banking as would never give anyone access to this and read you can just provide wage slips and bank statements instead however it is the credit check I am worried about and if the defaults would cause me to fail, although it never asked on the application form about defaults, i don’t want to waste £165 if they come back and say no.

When I worked there we could see the credit score but it wasn’t a consideration. You could always call up and ask if you are worried!

21Flora, oh good thank you for this, been really pancaking but it definitely didn’t mention defaults on the form only the above I stated but you never know how they work

I let a house earlier this year. Agents did a fairly comprehensive credit check. House had lots and lots of interest so the agents only considered people with very good credit scores.

I did send them an email on Thursday asking but never heard back, my score was fair however has dropped to just under this now putting me in the “needs work” section due to upgrading my phone and car insurance and going above 25% of my credit card limit (only £1k limit) and clear it each month so was thinking they would see the score and two, although closed, defaults and decline me but if it is just the others they are looking for, that makes me feel a lot better. Thank you for your help

Beamur, wonder how that is possible as they don’t do the checks until after you have paid the fee? I didn’t think they let more than one person pay

Just to clarify, are they making you pay for the credit check?

No, I just have to pay one weeks rent which is the holding fee and then they will start the checks, it does say if info doesn’t match it wouldn’t be refunded, again though never mentioned defaults on the form but I am so worried about the defaults and my score

No, I didn't have any defaults. I didn't think letting agents were allowed to charge a fee anymore though, I definitely didn't pay for mine.

It’s the holding fee and providing everything goes through ok, they deduct from the rent from what I have read.

So long as you haven’t provided false information, even if you for some reason failed the referencing they legally cannot retain the holding fee. They’d be liable for a £5,000 fine if they didn’t (if you provided false information they would be entitled to keep the holding fee).

Holding deposit is allowed- landlord pays for checks. Op will not get holding fee back if she has not given relevant information that later comes to light. Why not just contact the agent and explain?

I don't think my agents charged the prospective tenant. They whittled it down to 2 possible tenants and did checks on both. The better candidate overall was offered the house. I have paid a fee for the agent to find me a tenant so suspect that I have in part paid for this. Only the people who are now living in the house have had to pay anything.
I chose these agents as they seem pretty fair but on the ball.

Because I haven’t lied on the form? I do not have any ccjs etc and that is all it asked for, I do not want to openly admit that I have two closed defaults for silly amounts from 3 years ago for the LL to say no to me straight away, even though I have a well paid secure job with the council and no other debts, when it may not cause an issue with let alliance as it doesn’t mention defaults. I was just curious if anyone had been checked with defaults and if it would cause a fail down the line. No false info has been provided though

Beamur, ah yes, that makes sense. Totally get from a LL’s point of view they would want the tenant with the better credit score

If it makes you feel better, the couple who got the house did have an expired ccj, but it was several years ago, and the agents didn't rule them out.

That does make me feel better, thank you for that. Sounds like I may be ok then and hopefully pass the checks without needing a guarantor etc as didn’t want to go down this route.

Fingers crossed OP. I would email the letting agent and just say 'this wasn't asked for on the form, but can I make you aware of X old defaults, in case they are flagged up by let alliance.' And a very brief explanation. This could help if they get a 'computer says no' from let alliance with no details?

No, you didn't lie on the form,but that may be the conclusion with half the information. Your call in a rental property shortage.

I’ve been searching the net most of yesterday about it and saw a similar post on money saving expert from 2020, guy had 3 defaults as well as a DMP and says was no issues with check as he didn’t have any ccjs etc so hoping it should be ok and not going to mention the defaults as like Beamur said, his tenants had a good credit score but did have a satisfied ccj therefore assuming even those with good credit might have something, missed payments etc.