Tenant referencing guide

Your property is probably one of the most expensive things you own, so you don’t want just anyone moving in.

Referencing is the best way to protect yourself against bad tenants, ensuring that they are who they say they are, giving an insight into their ability to pay the agreed rent and their history of paying rent in the past.

First and foremost, ensuring that the tenant is who they say they are is very important. A tenant giving false details is obviously indicative of potential bad intentions. It is also important to establish identity in order to ensure that the contract is enforceable.

A good reference should include both employer and landlord references (although these may not be available if you are renting to a social housing tenant, or if the tenant has not previously rented).

The reference should include details of any bankruptcies and County Court Judgements (known as CCJ’s – a formal court decision that money is owed) and previous credit history, which will indicate whether they have failed to pay bills in the past.

Your reference check should include a confirmation of their employment status and current salary, which in turn enables you to identify whether they are able to afford the monthly rent.

Our comprehensive referencing service covers all of these important areas. Our tenant reference report provides a clear indication of whether or not your potential tenant has met our criteria, allowing you to let your property with confidence.

Before undertaking reference checks, we take various measures to ensure that your tenant will pass and also recommend you take a holding deposit (we assist you fully in this process) to protect yourself in the event that they don’t, or that they rescind their offer.

If it becomes apparent at any point that your tenant may fail the reference check, we will discuss the options with you.

You are fully supported by our team before, during and after the referencing stage.