Checklist for Referencing:

If you decide not to use a letting agent, then you should choose your tenants very carefully. Before signing up a tenant, We advise that landlords should always use a legally drawn-up Tenancy Agreement. The other things they should check with tenants include:

• Are they employed on a permanent contract? Check with employer

• What about affordability?

• What about credit worthiness?

• Self-employed? Ask to see their accounts for last three years. If not available, ask for an accountant’s reference or, if you are still not satisfied, insist on six months rent in advance.

• Can you see their passport or photo driving licence? Ask them to sign something, then check signature against passport or driving license.

• Can you see utility bills from the last three years? (To check their last addresses)

• Request a reference from any previous landlords.

• If they are from overseas, can you see their work permits?

If they are working temporarily in the area of the property, it’s worth popping into the property now and again to check that it is not being overcrowded. Cases have been known where two or three people sign up for a flat, then sub-let the couch and floors to half a dozen other people.