Checking a tenant or a landlord

What it is reasonable to ask, what checks can and cannot tell you, and why agreement comes first.

Why it is worth doing

A tenancy involves a deposit and a key on one side and a monthly rent on the other. Each side is trusting somebody they met recently. A few ordinary checks turn that into a decision made with some evidence.

If you are letting a home

• Ask for proof of who the tenant is and where they work, and look at the originals.
• Ask for a reference from a previous landlord or an employer, and call to confirm it.
• Agree to the check with the tenant first; people are entitled to know what is being asked about them.

If you are taking a home

• Ask to see something that shows the person letting it owns it or is allowed to let it.
• Be wary of anyone who asks for a deposit before you have seen the home, or who cannot meet.
• Pay by a method that leaves a record, and get a receipt.

What a check cannot do

A check confirms what it checks. It does not predict whether a tenant will pay on time or whether a landlord will return the deposit. Keep the agreement and the receipts; they are what you will rely on if something goes wrong.

This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules differ between states and change over time, so confirm the details that matter to you with a qualified professional or the authority concerned before you act.