A reference is one of the best ways to help assess the potential risk when vetting new tenants for your property.

Here are 5 tips for writing a tenant reference or click here for a template letter.

1. Keep the letter formal

• Introduction e.g. Dear / To whom it may concern
• Clearly show what the letter is about e.g. I am writing this letter to recommend…………. as a tenant
• Close e.g. Kind Regards / Sincerely

2. Include relevant details

• Payment history e.g. how often / how much they paid / did they pay on time
• Was the property tidy and well maintained
• Relationship with the neighbours
• Any legal notices served

3. Your relationship with the tenants

• How have you known them
• Any personal relationship

4. Extra information

• Qualities of your tenant e.g. hardworking, reliable
• Employment situation
• Pets

5. Keep to the point

• The letter should be less than a page long

When you can’t get a reference from a potential tenant

You could send a Tenant Reference Request to their existing landlord requesting all the information you feel is required to assess the risk.

• How long have they been tenants in their current property?
• Do they pay the rent on time?
• How often is the rent due and have they ever been behind with payments?
• How do they pay?
• Have they damaged the property on any way?
• Have they caused disturbances or caused complaints?
• Has there ever been cause to serve a legal notice?

Character reference template

Click on the link to download a character-reference-template

If you would like advice on commercial property or residential  landlord insurance get in touch with the team at Lockyers or call 01924 278222.