I contacted this agency as a high-earning professional (over £30k p.a.) with an impeccable 6.5-year local tenancy record. Like many others, they demanded sensitive financial and private data just to book a preliminary viewing. …
Reply from Webbers Estate Agents Bude: We strongly disagree with this characterisation of our process.
As clearly stated in our listings, all prospective tenants are required to complete a short pre-application prior to any viewing being arranged. This includes basic information such as employment details, income, and any relevant credit history. The purpose of this is straightforward: to ensure applicants meet affordability criteria (typically around 30 times the monthly rent) and to allocate limited viewing slots fairly within a high-demand market.
At this stage, we do not request supporting documentation, and the information required is strictly limited to what is necessary to assess whether a viewing is appropriate. This approach is consistent with standard lettings practice and the principles of data minimisation under UK GDPR.
It is also standard practice across many sectors—including housing, financial services, and other regulated industries—for an initial assessment to include the provision of relevant background information.
Where applicants choose not to provide the minimum information required, we are unable to progress their enquiry. This is not a failure of service, but a necessary step in applying a clearly stated and consistently applied process.
We are a professional business with a duty to our landlords to identify suitable tenants efficiently, fairly, and responsibly. This requires a structured approach, which is applied consistently to all applicants without exception.
If this process does not align with your expectations, you are of course free to pursue alternative properties elsewhere.
