Landlord not responding to reference requests

RedBern

Hi, my daughter gave notice and has found a different property to rent, and has asked her current landlord to provide a reference. Despite several requests from the new landlord's agents, he isn't responding. She's always paid her rent, these no reason why she wouldn't have a positive reference from him. The new landlord is reluctant to let her rent without a reference... Any suggestions on how to persuade her current landlord to comply with this request?

King_Of_Bling

RedBern wrote: »

Any suggestions on how to persuade her current landlord to comply with this request?

Go around there with a cricket bat?...other than that can't think of anything that you can do to force him/her to give a reference.

RedBern

thanks - and don't think I hadn't already thought of that! She can prove that she's paid her rent every month by showing bank statements, and could provide refs from elsewhere, but they're asking for current landlord, so it's proving a problem, and very stressful!!

BornAtTheRightTime

Offer the new landlord her old landlord's phone number, and advise old landlord that he may get a call. It could be that the old landlord is busy and doesn't see writing a reference as important, but will answer a call and have a quick chat.

RedBern

yep, she did that. New landlord's agents reported that they rang him, he said could they give him a few minutes he was busy, and ring back. They did. He switched his 'phone off. That was earlier this week. My daughter left him a message saying had he received ref request, he said he'd not had anything (new landlord reported 3 x messages and e-mails). She's asked them to resend today, and sent him message asking him to confirm he's received them.... nothing.

Alter_ego

Unfortunately, giving a reference is not compulsory. He is clearly not going to respond, maybe he doesn't feel able to say anything positive. Maybe he's just being awkward, but there is still no way to compel him.

FATBALLZ

Offer him money? Next time you might just be better giving the letting agent your own number and pretending to be the previous landlord yourself.

Eton_Rifle

I believe no reference is a bad reference. This is what I've been told many agents do as it avoids confrontation but yet gets the message across loud and clear.

RedBern

Eton_Rifle wrote: »

I believe no reference is a bad reference. This is what I've been told many agents do as it avoids confrontation but yet gets the message across loud and clear.

hmm... thanks - but if there's no reason for a bad reference then that clearly is not 'proper'?

clutton_2

paying the rent on time is not the only measure of a good tenant. Maybe there are things about the tenancy that you dont know.

franklee

Eton_Rifle wrote: »

I believe no reference is a bad reference. This is what I've been told many agents do as it avoids confrontation but yet gets the message across loud and clear.

Not necessarily especially in the case like the OP when the tenant hasn't left yet. If a landlord wants to get rid of a bad tenant they're hardly likely to imply a bad reference. If this tenant was that bad I'd think the LL would be giving an OK reference to get rid. It sounds to me more like he wants to keep her by scuppering her move especially as it's the tenant who has given notice not the LL. Again if she was that bad surely she'd have been given notice? Perhaps he can't afford a void and wants to keep a good payer? For these reasons a reference from a previous LL may be more accurate as they no longer have an interest in if the tenant moves out or not.

I'd hope the new LL would look at the situation as a whole e.g. how long has she been at the property (who is going to keep a bad tenant that long), were there any renewals, payment history and how she interviews. If it were me I'd be inviting the new LL round for a look at the property to show it's neat and tidy. Hopefully that plus the bank statements would be enough. Also does she have any correspondence with the current LL, e.g. complaints about repairs not done, anything to show the current LL might have a grievance that isn't justified or something like that? Can she provide a list of inspections there have been without complaints about her?