Updating post from Reddit.
Hi
New landlord here. Had a few viewing via open rent and one couple wants to rent the house but say will be sharing with another couple who are not presently in uk. Contract is only in 1 tenant name. Will I be responsible for getting verification done for second tenant too later on if and when they arrive.
Could this be a thinly veiled rent to rent?
Run a mile. You’re agreeing to let a property to people you’ve never met and who won’t be signing the agreement. So many potential ways this could go wrong for you.
Yes everyone over 18 needs to sign contract preferably in person so yiu know they exist.
If you mean the ‘right to rent’ check, then yes. Any other referencing is entirely up to you (likely impossible in practice since they are overseas).
Be careful you’re not being taken for a ride here: are you sure the original couple (who presumably you’re referencing properly) are not ‘fronting’ for the others (unreferenced) and will simply move out, leaving you with this second pair?
Think there are warning signs here that you should heed from other posters. You should get verification for any occupants.
Anyone who is an adult in your property needs the right to rent checks else you will be in huge crap.
Run a mile.
This will also make it a HMO. Two households and 3+ people.
Those idiots have done you a favour. Probably would be ok as they are being stupidly honest (maybe) but why agree to have people you haven't verified in one of your most expensive assets?
If only one tenant signs the lease, legally you’re only responsible for verifying that person. The others aren’t officially on paper, so you can’t hold them accountable. Still, it’s a red flag. Definitely do your own background checks before signing. You can post this on r/Leaselords too, the LLs there are quite helpful and been at it for years, helped me several times.
In right to rent all occupants on tenancy or not! Need to pass right to rent checks saying they are not on the tenancy won't go well.