Concerned Mum trying to help her daughter

This Facebook discussion between a letting agent and a concerned Mum is well worth sharing in my opinion. Please feel free to discuss. 

Concerned Mum – I wonder if you could give me some advice what documents would a 21 year old student would have to show to rent a house after university and would they need a guarantor to sign for them I would be very grateful if you could let me know this because we don’t plan on signing as guarantors for our daughter and she has no documents to show

Letting Agent – Sorry Kay but your daughter is very unlikely to find a decent home on that basis then. If you can’t trust your daughter to the extent of providing her with a guarantee then why would you expect a landlord to trust your daughter with rights to their property?

Concerned Mum – Thank you very much for the information that you have sent to me. My Daughter also has three hamsters, three mice, two gerbils, a rabbit and a guinea pig so I am guessing a landlord would not except all of those animals?

Letting Agent – Some landlords take a view on pets, I’m one of them. However, I do so based on logic. I like to see proof of current residence then take a look for myself. I also consider a persons ability to put right any damage caused at the end of a tenancy. Therefore, the amount of deposit paid, the finances of the tenant and the credit rating and income/assets of the guarantor are all taken into consideration.

Concerned Mum – Thank you for that but My husband and I just wont be signing for guarantor so that she can stay down in Southampton my husband said a long time ago that we would not sign for her after she has finished university and anyway I have all of her documents at home can you tell me what she would have to show you

Letting Agent – Always proof of identity and proof of residence, e.g. passport and driving licence. Many landlord also request to see six months bank statements and copies of utility bills. Guarantors are regularly expected to provide similar information. It is usual for landlords and letting agents to insist on seeing original documentation. Make sure that any agent you deal with is registered with The Property Ombudsman, you can never be too careful when handing over documents of this nature due to identity fraud.

Concerned Mum – my daughter has not got a passport and she has not got a driving licence and all of her bank statements come to my address the only thing she has got is her ID card from university would that be enough for her to rent a house without the other documents?

Letting Agent – I must refer you back to my initial response “Sorry Kay but your daughter is very unlikely to find a decent home on that basis then. If you can’t trust your daughter to the extent of providing her with a guarantee then why would you expect a landlord to trust your daughter with rights to their property?”

Concerned Mum – would her student ID be enough for her to rent a house after university?

Letting Agent – That’s at the discretion of the landlord. We certainly wouldn’t recommend our landlords to accept that as the only form of ID and proof of residence, especially without a guarantor.

Concerned Mum – so that means that she will have to come back home and live with us again as we will refuse to sign as guarantors for her. You have been very helpful thank you. We wont let her have any of her documents down at Southampton as I said before all of her bank statements come to my addresses and she has no documents to show other than her student id card. I hope that would that be enough for her to rent a house.

Letting Agent – You are very welcome. Whether your daughter moves back home or not is a matter for you and your daughter to decide. I wish you well 🙂

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