What Will My Landlord See on a Credit Report?

12th Nov 2024

When renting a property, landlords or letting agents usually ask tenant to pass several checks to make sure they are trustworthy people who are going to pay their rent on time. These checks often include affordability assessments, references from previous landlords, and a review of your Credit Report. Sometimes, landlords may even review your social media profiles to get a better sense of what kind of tenant you might be.

What Type of Credit Search Do Landlords Conduct?

Landlords will typically do a soft search when you apply for a rental property. Unlike hard searches used by lenders, which focus on your borrowing and repayment history, soft searches only access publicly available information and won’t affect your credit score. Landlord checks will verify your identity and check for any court records, such as County Court Judgments (CCJs), that might indicate a history of missed payments. Tenants have to give consent for a soft search to be carried out.

Can Landlords See My Previous Rent Payments?

Historically, landlords could not view your history of rent payments on your Credit Report. However, new rent reporting platforms now allow for rent payments to be included in some types of Credit Reports, but it will depend whether your current and previous landlord is signed up for these schemes. Landlords can’t see the same level of detail as lenders, and will only be able to see information about serious defaults which have gone through court.

What Information Is Included in a Landlord Credit Check?

Landlords and letting agents focus on two main pieces of information from the public data in your Credit Report: court records, and electoral roll information.

·        Court Records: Landlords check for any CCJs or bankruptcies that may indicate a pattern of missed payments. They won’t be able to see the details of the CCJs, just that some are present on your record.

·        Electoral Roll Listing: Being registered to vote confirms that you live at the address you provided. If you’re not registered to vote, this is probably the quickest and easiest step to improving your credit score.

If there are mistakes in your court records or Electoral Roll information, it's wise to get these mistakes fixed by speaking to the credit referencing agencies and proving why they’ve got it wrong.

Can You Rent a Property with Bad Credit?

Yes, it is possible to rent a property even with a bad credit record. Minor issues like occasional missed payments or a lack of credit history generally won't appear in a landlord's search unless they have led to more severe actions like CCJs or bankruptcies. If you do have CCJs or other problems, landlords may still approve your application if you offer a larger deposit or provide a guarantor.

In addition to your Credit Report, landlords may assess your affordability by requesting proof of income or contacting your employer. They may also take up references from previous landlords to see whether you paid them your rent on time, and how well you looked after their property.