Can you ask for tenant references?
Most landlords will ask a tenant for references. It’s an obvious safeguard. After all, this person is going to be living in your rental property. You need to know they can afford the rent and that they will look after your property.
Are landlords required to give references UK?
Landlords are under no legal obligation to provide a reference, and indeed if you have had a bad experience you may wish to decline, in which case the credit reference agency seeking the reference will refer to other sources such as a previous letting agent.
What do referencing agencies check?
When screening you, an agent should ask questions about your employment, previous employment and renting history and why you are looking to rent a particular property in a particular area. As well as details about your work, they might ask how far the commute is.
Can you fail a reference check?
Getting a bad reference from an employer is rare, but it’s not illegal to give a poor review. Most employers and colleagues are unlikely to give a poor reference.
What do landlord references ask for?
Other important questions to consider asking include – Did the tenant have roommates that contributed to the monthly rent? Were they evicted from the property? Did they have any pets? Did neighboring tenants ever make complaints against the tenant?
What does a landlord reference include?
Describe your relationship – Include any relevant information such as how long your tenants have rented from you and any personal connection you may have to them. Other landlords want to be assured that you’ve known your tenants for a sufficiently long period of time.
How can you fail a reference check?
Some of the common reasons why prospective tenants fail the referencing process include:
- County Court Judgments (CCJs) against their name. Even if these are satisfied they are likely to show up on a credit check for some years.
- Poor income to rent ratio.
- Breaks in employment.
- Previous Landlord’s reference.
- Poor credit score.
