Good tenant referencing is the single best protection a landlord has against rent arrears, property damage and costly evictions. Skip it, or do it poorly, and you're gambling with your biggest asset. Here's what every landlord should check.
Since 2016, every landlord in England must check that their tenant has the legal right to be in the UK. You'll need to see original ID documents, make copies, and record the date. Get this wrong and you could face a £1,000 fine per tenant. At Winsor, we handle Right-to-Rent checks as standard.
The golden rule: rent should be no more than 40-50% of the tenant's gross monthly income. Ask for payslips (last 3 months) and an employment reference. If they're self-employed, ask for SA302 tax returns or accountant references. Don't just take their word for it.
A previous landlord reference is worth more than any credit check. Ask: Did they pay on time? Did they look after the property? Would you rent to them again? If the previous landlord is hesitant, that's a red flag.
A credit check tells you about the tenant's financial history — CCJs, defaults, missed payments. A few missed credit card payments aren't necessarily a dealbreaker, but multiple CCJs or bankruptcy history are serious warning signs.
Thorough tenant referencing takes time and costs money — but it's nothing compared to the cost of a bad tenant. At Winsor, every tenant we place goes through a full referencing process. It's how we protect our landlords' investments.
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