My rental agreement just showed up in the post and agnecy want 101 pieces of information, whether I smoke, last LL, how long I have been employeed, etc etc..
They also want to see proof of my salary.
This is in a small town with about 5 estate agents and at some point I will buy a house from one of them. So do I really have to give them my salary details?
I have no problem giving them my employeers contact information with which they can verify I really do have a steady job but I would prefer not to let them know my financial situation as it would weaken my bargining position should I decde to buy a house from them in the future.

You don't have to give them your salary details, but they may refuse your application if you don't. I've rented a place and not provided this info, I simply told the agent that I was not prepared to do that but I would provide an accountant's letter to confirm affordability (I am self-employed)

You could try this tack and say that your employer will confirm that rent does not exceed a percentage of your salary. You just need to stand up to them, say that you are not borrowing money and therefore do not feel you should have to disclose such personal info.

Background checks - just an extortionate cost they are attempting to justify

They will ask your employer to give your salary!

I've been sitting next to my boss several times when they've called - and they ask outright for what salary you are on. I've said to my employer - do not disclose the amount (don't want colleagues to know) - but what they then do is say - is this person earning between this amount and that - and keep going with small margins until they get a good idea. Using Yes/No answers.

The rental agency I've just signed up to, also published the minimum amount you must be earning to rent a flat in each bracket. Despite proving I earn far more - they still insisted on knowing the exact amount.

And, they did a bank reference in addition to the charges for checks etc - for which I paid £10 in addition to £179.00 for checks to be taken out.

Not exactly sure what the bank reference was about - but basically - they told the bank how much I was paying and asked them to confirm the amount I was earning vs rental amount. Someone even told me that banks will provide a precis to agencies of your monthly account balance for the last six months.

As far as worrying about a bargaining chip - don't worry about that - the EAs / Letting agencies I've worked with - don't give a damn - if you get an offer of a mortgage - and want to pay xyz - depending on the market - they'll forget what your references said for lettings - unless you're hiding something - but even then, they are really not so clued-up and the opportunity to sell to you - particularly in the current climate - they won't care.

Having been in numerous properties I've rented and then LL sold with me in - the Lettings and EAs don't share info.

Thanks for the info.


Which is fine. My employer made me sign forms to allow them to release my salary details to the tax account they hired on my behalf so clearly treat this as confidental information.

If I do buy there I firmly intend to hide my financial situation as I do not intend to get more than a 3x mortgage and if they knw what x is they will have an idea of where my true limit is.

I'm not going to give them to them, but I am also going to contact the LL directly and let him know what I am doing and why. The background checks are nominally on his behalf so he should get the final say.
I'll tell my employer to confirm that I have worked for them for 8 years and if that is not sufficent they can go and jump.

I'm also 90% sure my employeer will never recieve a call and like you say they are just tryinf to justify the exorbitant costs they are levying.
I'll post an update when I get a response back ( most likely a few days)