To minimize the risk of your tenants defaulting on the rent once they move in, it's important to carry out proper credit referencing checks.

This is something that all good letting agents do automatically.

The importance of obtaining a credit reference check on potential tenants

With increasing numbers of people becoming tenants it is even more importatnt than ever to be as sure as you can about your tenants' financial status.

In fact, if you are taking out some form of Rent Guarantee and Legal Expenses Insurance you will find that the insurers will insist that all tenants covered by the scheme must be properly referenced first.

A bonus to all this is that when prospective tenants know that they will be fully credit checked it does tend to discourage any dodgy ones!

What exactly is Tenant Referencing?

You obtain prospective tenants' permission to access their credit history etc and there are different levels of referencing, with correspondingly different afees:

Credit Profile Plus

• Credit Score
• Bankruptcy CCJ (County Court Judgements) / court decree
• Anti fraud check
• Personal identity check
• Report on detrimental credit history
• Undisclosed addresses

Comprehensive Plus
Same as Credit Profile Plus and:
• Landlord / Managing Agent reference
• Employers reference
• Previous employers reference
(if applicable)

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Landlordsandletting.co.uk is an information site. Seek independent legal advice before proceeding with any transaction. LandlordsandLetting is owned by Sureweb Ltd and acts as an introducer only. Rentguard policy conditions are always subject to Terms & Conditions of the relevant Rentguard Policy Document wording.