Tenant referencing: Essential information

Before you sign the lease, letting agents or landlords use a process called referencing to make sure you'll be a decent tenant and a good fit for the house you wish to rent. Many agencies outsource the referencing procedure to other businesses.

Verification of your identity, your ability to pay for your tenancy, your credit, and your former landlord's opinion of you as a good tenant are among the many checks that are made.

The time needed to gather the necessary data can range from a day to a week. Being direct, truthful, and as specific as you can will be helpful. Inaccurate information may cause your move-in date to be delayed.

Documents and Proof of identity

You will need to present identification so that your landlord or letting agent can verify that you are who you claim to be. You will also need to prove that you are legally able to rent in England. This can be provided in the form of a permit card or visa, a driver's license, a passport, or a UK birth certificate. The complete list of acceptable forms of identification is available on gov.uk.

Evidence of employment and/or income

Your ability to pay the rent for your new tenancy will be assessed based on recent pay stubs, bank statements, and/or documentation from your employer attesting to your current wage. For this to be approved, your pay typically needs to be 2.5 times your rent share. To expedite the process, you can inform your employer ahead of time that they could be required to provide this information.

You must submit a tax return or an accountant's reference if you work for yourself.

You could need a guarantor if there is a problem at this point. They will have to go through a similar credit check and reference process because they commit to pay the rent or any damages if you are unable to. In order to prove your guarantor's capacity to pay for their own living expenses as well as any prospective extras you might not be able to afford, these checks will need a greater wage to rent ratio. You ought to think about someone who could fill this position.

Reference from the previous landlord

You might be asked to provide feedback on your tenancy from your previous landlord. To ensure a prompt response, you might inform them beforehand that this information would be needed. Additionally, you might be requested to present your current tenancy agreement and a bank statement that reflects your most recent rent payment.

Credit checks

To proceed, these checks need your consent. Your credit history will be "soft checked" by your agency or landlord via a credit reference agency. Your credit score won't be impacted because this provides a summary based on publicly accessible information, such as whether you're on the electoral roll, as opposed to the thorough "hard check" needed for a complete credit application.

You can begin getting ready to move in after your landlord or leasing agent is satisfied with all the proof you have provided and sends you the tenancy agreement to sign.