So what’s this got to do with the rental market?
It appears that an agency that prepares what appear to be false references in the private rental sector in the US could be targeting prospective tenants here in the UK. The agency claims to provide a range of services including what it calls ‘misinformation’ in the form of employment and accommodation references amongst others. It claims that its services are “perfectly legal” (which should set anyone’s alarm bells ringing) and that “misinformation on a resume isn’t a crime”.
In itself, misinformation may not be a crime however withholding information or telling a white lie to get a better premium or bigger payout on an insurance claim for example is a crime under the Fraud Act. If found out, the dishonest policyholder could find themselves with a criminal record, out of pocket and barred from buying insurance or credit products.
A tenant deliberately providing false or inaccurate information with the intent to deceive their prospective landlord or letting agent could potentially find themselves in hot water.
Now this US-based company may well have shot itself in the foot before they could shove it through the door to the UK property market by emailing an industry commentator – however, its emergence on our shores should serve as a warning to landlords and their agents alike. The private rental sector is extremely competitive and would-be tenants with a less than perfect track record are likely to resort to dishonest means in order to present a better picture of themselves to prospective landlords.
We at SourceLet believe that the key to a successful tenancy is accurate and honest referencing so making sure that you have the backing of a large reputable UK firm is paramount. Use a service that thoroughly checks a large number of databases – if you don’t, then there is an outside chance that some detail could fall through the cracks. No-one wants a dishonest tenant, so why run the risk?
