We have been asked to provide a reference for a rental guarantee, only about £4k and the client can easily afford it, but 2 of the questions are:
1) In your opinion, can they afford the monthly rent for the period of the tenancy?
2) Have you any reason to doubt their integrity?
I don't see any problems, but I object to being asked to comment on affordability, presumably that is what they are being paid to assess?
How would people answer these questions, obviously I don't want to cause any issues to the client.
Replies (3)
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Affordibility
I have answered this in the past by saying that I do not keep a record of my clients personal expenditure and therefore I am in no position to give an opinion. On point 2 the answer is usually that I have no reason to doubt, but why do they bother asking such stupid questions?
As you say its there job to work out if the guarantor can afford it?
try this
[details of past income, etc]
In accordance with our normal practice for all clients, we can make no assessment of our client’s continuing income or future outgoings.
Whilst the information provided above is believed to be true, it is provided without acceptance by [the firm] or its principal of any responsibility whatsoever, and any use you wish to make of the information is, therefore, entirely at your own risk.
references
I always stick to the facts and where they ask opinions reply:
"We can only provide information based on historic data and do not provide opinions, It is for you to reach your own conclusion as to whether our client meets your criteria for this loan/ guarantee etc".
As has already been said, it is not up to us to tell them whether the client is a good bet. That's their job and its what they get paid for.