Private landlord - can I do credit checks on new tenants (with permission)?

[FirstTimeMD]

I'm a first time landlord looking to rent out a second property on the private market.

Is it possible for me as a private landlord to do a credit check on potential tenants, provided I get their permission first?

I had a look on Equifax, Experian and TransUnion but it seems as a private individual I can only request identity checks, not credit checks, on an individual.

What I want to check is that the potential new tenant hasn't fallen behind on other payments in the past (credit cards, loans, etc) or got CCJs.

Does anyone know if this is possible? Or do landlords check the financial background of new tenants some other way?

Thanks for any tips / pointers.

 

[matlob]

HI, fairly sure you can and I have always done so in the past.

Take a look at open rent if you are a first timer and advertising etc. They will advertise, check and set up the tenancy for just a small fee. I wouldn't personally use an agent as they just move money from the tenant to you and charge you a chunk for it

 

[paulears]

If you are renting property this is one of the permitted reasons to get their record checked - the firm you choose to give you the report will get you to complete a declaration. It's a valid and reasonable request. I think it's called tenant screening if you want to find somebody to provide it. I don't think an individual can go to the big providers like Experian directly - so you use a third party. My landlord did one on me and he's a very old fella not a big business - just a guy who owns some office property.

 

[Mark T Jones]

You would need to pay a membership fee to use experian etc.

Find someone who subscribes or join open rent.com

 

[brucegreig]

+1 for Openrent - I use their tenant check service, which can include a credit check if you want it to. Or go direct to a service like RentGuard, but actually the price is (last time I checked) the same on Openrent and I find the process easier than going direct. RentGuard is geared up for estate agents, I think, they aren't very good at dealing with individual landlords, so is actually smoother going via Openrent in my experience.

 

[Lisa Thomas]

I ask my perspective tenants to send me copies of their own.