How can i do my own referencing checks?

Jowo_2

new_home_owner wrote: »

And likewise i dont think a landlord would give a bad reference to someone they want to get rid off

That's true. Landlords seeking a more accurate picture of their tenant should ask not the current landlord, but the previous because it is well known that landlords wanting rid of nightmare tenants don't want to sabotage their onward accommodation by giving a poor reference, otherwise they'd be stuck with them.

I had an alcoholic tenant (obviously you don't discover this during a credit check) who aggravated her co-tenants by being bolshie when drunk so they asked her to leave and she agreed. She paid her rent on time, reported repairs in a timely way and was always pleasant to me but the other tenants said her drinking made her a nightmare to live with. I wasn't asked for a reference from her next landlord but if I was, I think I would have given her a good one just to get her out of the other tenants way rather than lose the sober ones.

Here's some tips for tenant screening.

http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/tenant_screening.htm

MrYorke

thanks to all the help and advice. i'm going to have a look at a few different sites mentioned as i have a couple of viewings booked in and want to hit the ground running

clutton_2

do use the tenancy application form on www.landlordzone.co.uk and get prospective tenants to fill it ALL in - also make sure you SEE all the required proof of residence, income, benefit entitlement, NI number, drivers license or passport and take notes on the relevant data

be wary of folks who "live with friends and need to move in a hurry"