Hello there!
I’m new to OpenRent and wanted some advice. My friend and I have arranged a viewing for a property via a landlord on OpenRent, and she’s requested we bring hard copies of references, ID, and payslips. Is this a red flag? It feels very odd to bring these kinds of documents just to a viewing, and we’re a little nervous about it. Has anyone experienced this before?
Thanks so much.
Maybe no one else has applied? Do not leave these items with her. If you do not like the place, no need to show them to her. Is not something I do until I have met all the viewers
It seems like there have been other applicants judging by what she’s said. But it defo doesn’t seem normal to bring hard copies to a viewing, as that’s something that would surely happen afterwards and via OpenRent?
Usually yes . But up to you if you want to do it
Ok, thanks for the help Colin.
She probably wants to check that you are serious and not a time-waster.
I’d ask her if you like the place can you hit the “Rent now button”. That will kick of the process for you to send your depot and submit the documents. Only then would I leave the hard copies with her.
There are many Landlords that only use Openrent for advertising, so will still do referencing themselves. This might be how your Landlord chooses to do it. Unfortunately for you, thers is no ‘standard way’.
If your Landlord is using Openrent Rent Now, even then the Landlord might prefer to ask you for pre-qualification documents before proceeding with RentNow.
ID is normal because we have to check your right to rent and that includes seeing the original ID documents. Payslips is unusual at that stage and hard copies of references are an indication that this LL really doesn’t know what’s what. I never get refs from the applicant themselves because they are so easily forged. I get them directly from a verified source.