Renting in someone else's name

[loversrock]

Not sure if this is in the right section..

Anyway just wanted some advice on renting...

Does anyone know the risks of renting a private property in someone else's name via an agency? If you can't rent a property due to bad credit is it likely you would get caught and what would the consequences be for the person who's name is on the tenancy and the tenants living there?
The person who's name is on the tenancy wouldn't be living there and wouldn't be doing it for any financial gain.. just a favour

Thanks

You'd be illegally subletting to the tenant. If the tenant is pretending to be the person who signed the tenancy agreement then they are fraudulently pretending to be the other person.

The risk is all that of the person who has signed the tenancy agreement - if the tenant doesn't pay the rent and/or damages the property then the person who signed the tenancy is liable for all that.

This would potentially also be a nightmare for the LL should anything go wrong. Really not fair on them at all.

Seriously, there is good reason why checks are carried out on potential renters. If someone fails those checks then unless they can get a guarantor and satisfy the landlord and his agents that they will be able to cover the rent and afford to live there they shouldn't be living there.

They will find out

Surely it would come to light during referencing. Any landlord who has a clue would be doing employer and previous landlord checks too, and you'd be caught out. Not worth the risk.

If it's because of bad credit then surely the friend could be a guarantor to the actual tenant? No need for subterfuge, although of course the guarantor would still be liable if the actual tenant does a bunk...
A guarantor signs to say that should the tenant not be good for the money, they (the guarantor) will pay up. It's a very standard thing, and about the only way students (and the precariously self employed) can ever rent anywhere.

Newsflash, sweetybumps - as this is a common drug dealer tactic , wise landlords/ agents do a lot of checking. You will get caught, evicted months later ( it takes a while), landed with the costs and can whistle for a reference. Do this in a small town and you will need that railway bridge to sleep under.

If it is a landlord that doesn't check - don't come blubbing on here when you get a dump rented from a crook.

There are honest ways.

What bad credit do you have? I was under the impression that a letting agent could only see publically held information like bancruptcy or CCJ's. It might not be as bad as what you are expecting.