When a letting agent conducts a tenant reference search, they are trying to verify the identity of the applicant(s) and check their affordability of the rent. Below is a description of what they do.
Credit History Checks
A credit search is carried out which looks for county court judgements, missed payments and history of insolvency. Every CCJ does not necessarily mean that a tenant application will be declined. You would look for further explanation of the circumstances and age of the CCJ.
Employment and Income Verification
Rent-to-income ratio: Typically agents apply a rent-to-income ratio. This is usually set at around 2.5 times the annual rent of the property and will need to see proof of income via payslips, a letter from the employer or even accounts if the applicant is self-employed.
A reference from the applicant’s current or previous landlord(s) will confirm if they have paid rent on time, looked after the property and ended a tenancy in good order without argument. We have dealt with many references that have contained vague comments which in our experience have often contained the seed of problems later on.
Right-to-Rent Identity Checks
In order to rent a property in the UK, the tenant must have the right to live in the country and to rent a property. In essence, they must have a valid passport, visa or have been granted settled status in the country. They must also provide proof of this status in the form of identity documents before a tenancy can begin.More on Letting Agents Bridgwater can be found at Sykesmoore Letting Agents in Bridgwater.
When an Applicant Fails Referencing
A failed reference does not mean you have to turn down an applicant though. Sometimes letting agents can be okay with the applicant paying a larger deposit where allowed by law, a shorter initial contract length and even asking for a guarantor. Ultimately though it’s best to err on the side of caution.



