The starting point for any tenant reference check is getting the tenant to complete and sign a tenancy application form which should contain a statement giving us permission to carry out credit checks and seek references from employers and previous landlords.
In addition, we always ask for documentation providing proof of:
1) Current address
2) Affordability
3) Identity
CHECK TENANTS PREVIOUS ADDRESSES
To check current adderess we ask the tenant to show us two latest utility bills, payslips and bank statements.
Recent bank statements for the tenants’ current account can be particularly useful as this will give an idea of whether the tenant is in credit and whether money (e.g. salary) is being paid into the account and rent is being paid out.
Used in this way it acts as an additional check on the employer’s and current landlord’s references and provides further proof as to whether they are meeting their obligations.
REFERENCES FROM CURRENT AND PAST LANDLORDS
It is possible that the tenant’s previous landlord will say anything if it helps to get rid of the problem tenant onto someone else. For these reasons, we also get a reference from the landlord before the last one.
CREDIT SCORES AND TENANTS
As part of the referencing process, we do a credit referencing check.
The credit reference report will usually include a score which can be used to assess whether the tenant is a good risk. The report should also tell us whether they have something negative in their credit history, like a county court judgement.
