Hi everyone. Currently living abroad, but plan to come back to the UK soon. My plan is to buy within the next year or so, so I will rent until then. I currently live in accommodation provided by my employer overseas, so I have been spared the agony of renting in the UK for the last 4 years!
My question is: how far back do agencies/landlords want landlord references, and how long do agencies keep details of former tenants? I can give the details of the accommodation manager of my flat overseas, to prove that I am a good tenant that takes care of the property. But as I don't pay rent (my employer covers my rent), I don't have proof from my time overseas that I have paid my rent on time each month. I don't have details of my landlord when I lived in London 4 years ago and I rented through an agency - are they likely to have kept my details to provide a reference after 4 years?
Feeling a bit nervous about it because I've heard so many horror stories about how bad the rental market has become!!!