Potential Issues renting a property after a fraudster

[leonlettuce]

Hi all, long-time reader but new member - so unable to place this in SP&L. Posting this for a non-petrolhead mate.

Friend is considering renting a property where the previous tenant appears to have been / is a serial fraudster - serial starter of businesses that go bust owing lots of money, half a dozen identities, etc.

Apart from the possibility of disgruntled victims turning up looking for their money (he can probably handle this, as he doesn't look much like a middle-aged woman...), are there other things to be aware of and what can he do to protect himself?

Is simply renting the same property enough to create a link or bad mark on his credit history, for example?

Goes without saying that he'll be insisting all the locks are changed... but any advice, or experience of similar situations, would be very gratefully received I'm sure (I'll point him to this post).

Mucho thanks.

[fozzymandeus]

leonlettuce said:

Is simply renting the same property enough to create a link or bad mark on his credit history, for example?

Yep.

[xreyuk]

The property will have a huge black mark against it, affecting his credit rating.

[Rick101]

I disagree. Your address isn't linked to your credit rating.

The only mention of address is checking it against electoral roll

[Mastodon2]

I think common sense should dictate that your friend suggests this bloke look elsewhere to rent. Not just the potential problem of bailiffs / disgruntled victims turning up causing trouble, and potential damage to your friend's credit or reputation for harbouring dodgy characters, but the mere fact that this bloke is an obvious conman means your friend will probably be forever chasing him for rent money.

[vit4]

Mastodon2 said:

I think common sense should dictate that your friend suggests this bloke look elsewhere to rent. Not just the potential problem of bailiffs / disgruntled victims turning up causing trouble, and potential damage to your friend's credit or reputation for harbouring dodgy characters, but the mere fact that this bloke is an obvious conman means your friend will probably be forever chasing him for rent money.

I might be due a whoosh parrot here; but I think the OP's friend is looking to rent a place for himself to live in, not letting out to a potential conman

[OracIe]

Rick101 said:

I disagree. Your address isn't linked to your credit rating.

The only mention of address is checking it against electoral roll

+1
The law changed some years ago to protect flat mates, for example one with good, one with bad credit. Address now isn't a factor apart from electoral role. It wouldn't affect his own credit capability.

[leonlettuce]

Thanks for the input chaps.

vit4 said:

I think the OP's friend is looking to rent a place for himself to live in

This, yes. Fraudster has moved on. Landlord rumbled her and was able to use the deposit as a lever to get her out without fuss, and is now offering the place to my mate (who is rather risk-averse, hence the question here).

OracIe said:

Address now isn't a factor apart from electoral role. It wouldn't affect his own credit capability.

That's encouraging, and something a solicitor should be able to confirm; thank you. Be nice to know that the credit agencies do observe this... ?

[OracIe]

See here