How Long Does It Take for Tenant Referencing in East London?

Tenant referencing can help to choose tenants who are more likely to pay their rent on time and live responsibly in your property.

If you have a rental property in areas of east London where there is a high tenant demand, such as Barking or Stratford, there may be competition for renting your property.

This means that you can be more selective with prospective tenants, and performing tenant referencing will help to identify tenants who have demonstrated that they are reliable rent or bill payers. The checks also help to verify that tenants will be able to afford their rent and that they have not been problematic tenants in the past.

What is tenant referencing for landlords?

Tenant referencing for landlords includes several sets of checks that will provide insights into the financial credibility of a tenant and whether they have any past renting experiences that suggest they could pose a risk. They include:

• Right to rent checks

Landlords are required by law to do right to rent checks to ensure that potential tenants have the legal right to rent in the UK. These can be done by the landlord or letting agent. If landlords transfer responsibility for right to rent checks to the letting agent, they should get written confirmation of this agreement.

The following types of tenant referencing are not legally required but are highly recommended:

• Credit checks using credit referencing agencies which provides information about any County Court Judgements (CCJs) or insolvency.
• Proof of identity such as a driving licence or passport.
• Employer reference showing the tenant’s salary.
• Previous landlord references.
• Proof of income through bank statements or payslips.

How long does tenant referencing take?

Generally, tenant referencing should only take a few days to complete unless there are delays in the tenant providing the required details, or if references from employers or previous landlords are held up.

Can you speed up the referencing process for tenants?

Yes, you can speed up the referencing process by directly contacting previous landlords and employers over the phone. Using digital referencing agencies or proactive letting agents can also help to speed up the process.

Want to know more? Rent arrears are often the trigger for possession proceedings — find out what to do when your tenant is not paying rent and how a tenancy deposit dispute can arise at the end of a tenancy.

Is tenant referencing a legal requirement?

The only aspect of tenant refencing that is a legal requirement is conducting right to rent checks. Landlords who fail to complete right to rent checks can face penalties. Evidence must be gathered before the tenant moves into the property and all tenants aged 18 and over must have their right to rent in the UK checked.

What does tenant referencing involve in East London?

The process for tenant referencing in east London is:

1. Collect information from the tenant

You can use an application form to gather information such as:

• Name, date of birth and address
• Contact details
• Employer details
• Previous landlord details
• Proof of ID and address

2. Verify right to rent status

This includes checking original documents such as passport, visa or biometric residence permit. For tenants who have a digital immigration status, they will be able to provide a share code that you can verify using the Home Office’s online checking service. You must also keep records of when you completed the check and retain copies of documents.

3. Complete a credit check

You can use credit refencing agencies such as Equifax or Experian to get an overview of the tenant’s credit history.

4. Verify income and employment

Contact the tenant’s employer for confirmation of their employment contract and income. You can also request copies of payslips and/or bank statements from the tenant to confirm income. Many landlords require the earnings to be at least 2.5 times the months’ rent.

5. Contact previous landlords and guarantors (if required)

If the tenant has provided contact details for previous landlords, contact them to ask questions about their experience with the tenants. For example, whether they paid rent on time and whether the property was left in good condition. If you request a guarantor due to limited credit history, for example, you will need to complete checks for the guarantor such as ID verification, credit check, income and residency status.

6. Issue the tenancy agreement

If you have completed all the steps listed above and are happy to go ahead with the tenancy, issue the tenancy agreement and request a deposit from the tenant that you will need to place into an approved protection scheme.

What is required for tenant referencing?

The key documents required for tenant referencing include:

• ID (passport, driving licence, birth certificate)
• Original documents for right to rent checks (passport, visa or biometric residence permit)
• Bank statements and payslips (3 months)
• Proof of address (utility bill or bank statement)
• Employment reference
• Previous landlord reference

Want to find out more? It’s also important to understand how preparing for the Renters’ Rights Bill will change the eviction landscape, and what electrical safety certificate obligations you need to meet before seeking possession.

Is referencing different for internationals or student tenants?

Yes, for international tenants you will need to check different types of documents to confirm immigration status. For student tenants, landlords will usually request a reference from their university/college, and you may also prefer to request that they have a guarantor.

Can a letting agent do tenant referencing for landlords in east London?

Yes, letting agents in east London will do the tenant referencing as part of their tenant finding service or full management service.

If you require any support with tenant finding or referencing, we can help. Our lettings services cover areas such as Plaistow, Leyton and East Ham.

Contact us to find out more about our services.