QUESTION FOR NRLA FORUM MEMBERS
Hello, I am a one man band with no rental experience. However, I am a registered Agent now through RentSmartWales and am trying to rent out my elderly mother’s second house for her. I have advertised her rental property and want to narrow the numbers down prior to carrying out viewings. Following this I will be taking references through the NRLA website. I’ve prepared some ‘Pre-Screening’ questions which I intend to email to everyone who expressed an interest (8 draft questions below). I need to know if the questions are reasonable and legal. NRLA have already advised me to complete their data protection privacy form and share this with potential tenants (I do need a registration number apparently from somewhere). Would you be excluding some questions or changing the wording? Would you add more questions? Also, where do I stand with data protection - some questions e.g. on income are sensitive. Below is the email I intend sending, thanks:
Dear XXX,
Thank you for expressing an interest in potentially renting the above property.
Before we consider conducting any viewings of the property, we require you to provide some initial Pre-Screening information as noted below. If successful in this Pre-Screening stage, the information you provide will be verified using a third party reference check later down the line. Please answer the 8 listed questions below as fully as possible:
Question 1
Please provide a little background about yourself and the people who will be living at the property e.g. current employment, previous career, link with the local area (if any) etc?
Question 2
Why are you moving? We’d like to understand your current living arrangements (renting or other) and why you want to leave your existing property?
Question 3
When would you like to move into the property? We’d like to understand your renting timetable requirements.
Question 4
What is your gross monthly income? We need to understand that you can afford the Security Deposit (£575) and the monthly rental (£575).
Question 5
How many people will be living at the property? We need to be sure there is enough space for everyone to live safely at the property.
Question 6
Are any of your household members who will be living at the property smokers?
Question 7
Do you have any pets or are you considering keeping any pets at the property?
Question 8
Have you ever been evicted from a rental property or are there any previous landlord/agent compliance issues we should be aware of e.g. non-payment of rent.
Please provide your responses to the above 8 questions by email by noon on Sunday, 27 September 2020.
Regards,
