t: 0333 3447850e: hello@redkeylets.co.uk
    Get a Valuation
    Register/Report a repair
    LogoLogo
    • Testimonials
    • Blog
    • Contact

    Branch Details

    Our Branch

    21 Bridge Street, Newport, NP20 4AN
    e: hello@redkeylets.co.uk
    t: 0333 3447850
    Newport Area Guide

    Looking to buy or sell?

    Please visit our sister branch,
    Fortis Properties

    Out of Hours Emergency

    An emergency repair would include issues that need to be fixed as soon as possible. Examples would include: burst pipe/flood, fire, vandalism, broken locks, blocked drains, blocked toilet and no heating/hot water. Anything that would be a danger to your health and safety or likely to cause damage to the property.

    In the event of an emergency during a holiday period – or outside office hours – please follow the guidance below.

    Smell Gas?
    In the event that you smell gas open all the windows, turn the gas off at the meter and call National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999
    For all other emergency issues, please call 01633 742371 and our friendly team will assist you.

    Home/News/How to pass tenant reference checks

    How to pass tenant reference checks

    almost 3 years ago
    Lettings
    How to pass tenant reference checks

    Any letting agent worth their salt will undertake reference checks on potential tenants. Referencing is a vetting process to ensure only the most genuine, trustworthy and financially-sound renters can reserve a property.

    If you’ve been a tenant before, you’ll know there are background checks on your employment and financial status, as well as investigations to establish whether you have the right to rent a property in the UK, and if you have a good track record with past landlords.

    In 2022, figures from one tenant referencing and credit check company showed that an increasing number of tenancy applications were being cancelled by letting agents. In the first four months of the year, an average of 509 tenancy applications were voided by agents each month.

    Vouch’s continuing analysis uncovered a worrying trend for cancelled applications as 2022 progressed. In August, 1,959 tenancy applications were voided per month – almost four times as many than at the start of the year. It is thought a large proportion of tenants whose applications failed had not passed referencing checks.

    Lettings remains a competitive market so tenants should start the application process knowing that they stand a good chance of passing the referencing stage. It is possible to prepare in advance so you reduce the likelihood of being rejected.

    Here are 4 key areas you should pay attention to:

    1.     Finances

    A tenant’s finances will be scrutinised. To pass, there needs to be evidence that a tenant has been using the same bank account for some time, having their wages paid in and not living off a huge overdraft. You may be asked to provide three months’ worth of bank statements to prove what money is saved and what current outgoings there are. 

    Credit checks will specifically look at whether a tenant has a bad debt habit. Missed or late payments – whether it’s attached to a utility bill, a credit card or a personal loan – can be a cause for concern, as will a County Court Judgement (CCJ) against the tenant.

    1.     Employment

    As a general rule of thumb, a tenant’s income should be two and a half times the rental cost to pass referencing checks. As well as checking for evidence of the correct wage being paid using bank statements, it’s usual for the tenant’s employer to be contacted to prove the tenant is in safe, secure employment receiving the wage that has been stated. 

    1.     Tenant behaviour

    The referencing process will see the letting agent make contact with a tenant’s current and past landlords. They will ask about their conduct inside the property and whether the tenant has always paid their rent on time. 

    1.     Right to Rent

    Some tenancy applications are rejected as the renter couldn’t prove they have the right to rent a property in the UK. Passing this mandatory step of tenant referencing relies on the renter having the correct paperwork. This Government page displays a full list of acceptable documents when proving a tenant’s Right to Rent.

    Don’t worry if any of the above concerns you. If you have a small blip in your credit history, never rented before or just started a new job, it is still possible to pass the referencing process. Please ask us for advice before you start any application as it may be necessary for you to provide a rental guarantor

    Share this article

    More Articles

    Why Rent Reviews Matter—Especially Now

    Why Rent Reviews Matter—Especially Now

    Published 1 day ago

    Following on from our previous post on retaining tenants, it’s time to address the next step in maximising your rental income: rent reviews. Regular rent reviews help ensure your property keeps pace with the evolving market—vital in high-demand areas like Fairwater and Cardiff.

    Read More
    Electrical safety in the lettings spotlight

    Electrical safety in the lettings spotlight

    Published 5 days ago

    Keeping tenants safe is of paramount importance and there is legislation that ensures the UK’s privately rented homes are fit for habitation. An important milestone in England has brought one area of safety back into the spotlight.

    Read More
    Short-Term vs. Long-Term Leases for Landlords in Newport & Cardiff: What's Best for Your Rental Property?

    Short-Term vs. Long-Term Leases for Landlords in Newport & Cardiff: What's Best for Your Rental Property?

    Published 5 days ago

    As a landlord in Newport or Cardiff, deciding on the ideal lease length for your rental property is a strategic decision that impacts everything from your cash flow and tenant turnover to the amount of time you spend on property management.

    Read More

    Sign up for our newsletter

    Subscribe to receive the latest property market information to your inbox, full of market knowledge and tips for your home.

    You may unsubscribe at any time. See our Privacy Policy.

    Back to Home

    Services 

    Renting with us
    Residential Lettings
    Portfolio Management
    Block Management

    Area Guides 

    Cardiff CF5
    Cardiff CF11
    Newport NP19
    Newport NP20

    Main Branch Details 

    Red Key, 21 Bridge Street,
    Newport NP20 4AN
    t: 0333 3447850
    Email us

    ARLA
    OnTheMarket
    PrimeLocation
    SafeAgent
    ThePropertyOmbudsman
    Zoopla
    Logo
    © 2025 Red Key Property Services
    Privacy Policy|Terms & Conditions|Cookie Policy|Complaints Procedure|CMP Certificate|CMP Security Certificate
    Powered by