Renting a new flat... a question!

ethos

ethos

ethos

Soldato
Joined
5 May 2003
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UK
Hi guys,

About to start renting a flat with my girlfriend, the guy has asked of 3 months bank statements. Now, I'm not too happy providing him with this as I believe this is pretty personal and not really any of his business. Also wage slips are common practice, which I have no problem with providing.

Legally, where do I stand with this? Is he actually allowed to store / view my bank statements on request.

Thanks.
 
wage slips show how much you earn but not how much you can afford, i can see why they are asking for it.
 
I guess he can ask for whatever he wants. Doesn't mean he's going to get it. Just say no - here's my wage slip and here's the phone number of my employer's HR department if you want to confirm.
 
How about asking the landlord to see his bank statements - you want to make sure he can afford the mortgage and the house isn't going to get repossessed while your renting it?
 
we are required to see 3 months bank statments to check affordability. like someone said above that wage slip only shows what you are paid. not your outgoings.

When we take up references in our letting office we ask for refreences obvioulsy. plus 3 months bank statments.

are you going through a agency or direct to the landlord?
 
I can understand why he is asking for it, but didn't think it was common practice.

I might give him my statement, but block out the outgoings / names of what i've paid out to just showing my incoming wage....

Don't really want him to be looking at my lifestyle / money and deciding if I can pay for it... I can. Also surely the months rent up front and deposit cover this sort of thing.
 
clv101 said:
How about asking the landlord to see his bank statements - you want to make sure he can afford the mortgage and the house isn't going to get repossessed while your renting it?
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because this is a great idea. :roll: most landlords use the rent to pay the morgauge. there is no reason for the tennet to need to see the landlords bank statments.
 
ethos said:
He doesn't use an agency, so it's just through him (properly done though).
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its common practice im affraid.

make sure there is an inventory done. WITH pictures taken. make sure you read it. and edit it untill you agree. and keep a copy.

as others on this forum have found out, its very important to get your deposit back. make sure he puts it though the DPS as well and not in his bank
 
Thanks, yea going to make sure we don't get done over with the inventory.

Hmmm, what to do- what to do!

May just do like I said and give it to him but without the outgoings... see what he says. Although I'm guessing it'll be a ... cya!
 
If he's giving you hassle consider renting elsewhere - its not like theres a shortage of property provided you can afford it (which I'm sure isn't difficult for a couple renting just a flat).
 
Stinky said:
because this is a great idea. :roll: most landlords use the rent to pay the morgauge. there is no reason for the tennet to need to see the landlords bank statments.
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to be fair, most tenants use their paycheque to pay rent. Proof that he's earning enough from his tenants isn't proof that he's spending it wisely. The rent only shows what he earns, not what he can afford, remember ;)
 
This is surely what the months rent up front and disposit is for tho?

Again I can understand he wants to see how I'm spending my money, but at the same time- I don't like that idea at all....
 
Clearly tell him where to go. Legally there's no obligation for you to provide bank statements and from a personal perspective, given it's his property you're living in, if he persists in asking for statements you can just turn it back around on him and ask to see his state of finances before committing to a tenancy agreement.

Reminds me of a few years ago, I was renting a small flat for a short period of time (not in this country, and not for my personal use may I add) and the first prospective landlord wanted 6 months bank statements and proof of income. I told him I couldn't provide either but given the nature of the transaction and agreement of the use of rental space I could guarantee that on a set day on each month, at a set time if required, he would receive his rent in cash or it would be deposited into his bank account, plus a little extra to cover me not being able to provide any proof. He didn't go for it - basically told me over the phone I was lying and never heard from him again.

The next guy I approached had an agreement drawn up and signed and sealed within 5 days and the rental period went without a hiccup.
 
Sod that, I've never had to provide that to rent somewhere and I never would. I've shown a payslip before to a landlord, but usually they're fine without anything. At least in my experience.
 
if you tell him to stuff it. and try and find a rental property though any agent they will ask to see your bank statments.

he is quiet within his rights to ask for it.

for example someone can show a payslip that says they are earn 2k a month (great everyone thinks) then you look at the bank statments and it shows they are actually paying out 1.8k a month on loans credit cards etc. i wouldnt have a problem showing mine if i was rent, maybe thats becuase thats my line of work. but dont miss out on a good flat becuase your unsure.

we have thousands of photocopied bank statments in this office right now. they are only used as i precaution, its part of the vetting preceedure (sp)
 
Moredhel said:
Sod that, I've never had to provide that to rent somewhere and I never would. I've shown a payslip before to a landlord, but usually they're fine without anything. At least in my experience.
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Same. Don't rent anymore but when we did rent, we didn't even need to show payslips - paid the deposit and first month's rent and that was that.

I wouldn't have shown my bank statements, there's not a shortage of places to rent around here so would have taken my money elsewhere.
 
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