Property referencing - legal liability

[ChuffingHell]

I have been asked by am employee to provide a reference to a letting agency, detailing length of employment, position and salary in relation to a property she wishes to rent. She has asked me to state that she earns more than she actually does (roughly 30% more). She is also due to go on maternity leave later this year and has asked me to state that she will receive more maternity pay than she actually will (the company operates a statutory maternity policy).

I'm not happy about doing this but she is an adult so is old enough to make her own decisions about what she can and cannot afford. I also know nothing about her partners' career status so can't comment on their overall financial situation and wouldn't want them to miss out on a property unnecessarily.

The ethics of this and the potential impact on the Company's image are something that needs to be considered seperately but my question is from a Company legal point of view, does anyone know whether the business could be held liable for providing false information?

[MustafaTickl]

Yes - and the civil and criminal consequences can be severe for both the company and the individual directors/managers personally if whoever the fraudulent information is provided to is damaged as a result.

[themas]

I agree - don't do it.

[mrsbear]

Hi there

My advice to you is please do not, under any circumstances, provide this false information.

References are taken up for many reasons, one of which is to make sure the tenants can afford the rent! You are also condoning a lie on her application form which is one of the grounds that landlords can get tenants evicted - the courts take a serious view of this.

(I am writing as an ARLA letting agent of many years experience)