Before you start renting a property, you will need to meet various requirements. In this blog, we’re answering the question, what are rental checks?
What are rental checks?
Rental checks are completed by either a landlord or a letting agent before you start renting a property.
Rental checks are necessary as they help to prove that you are a good tenant. They also prove that you will be able to pay your monthly rent. Before you begin these rental checks, you will likely be required to pay a holding deposit. This is so that you can secure the property.
You must provide letting agents with the right documents within the time limit given. This will help you to get your new tenancy contract finalised as soon as possible.
What’s included in rental checks?
It’s in the landlord’s best interest to ensure that you are a good tenant that can afford to make rent payments on time. As a tenant, waiting for these rental checks to be completed can be stressful. Here’s what’s usually included in rental checks.
Employment
By verifying your employment, a letting agent can see that you can afford to pay the rent. You will likely need to meet a certain salary threshold to ensure that you can rent the property. This can often be made easier if you are sharing your rental costs with a housemate, as you are more likely to reach the threshold.
Those completing the checks will likely contact your employer to verify your job title and salary. You may be asked to provide bank statements as proof of a regular income.
Credit checks
A credit check will be performed on you to ensure that you do not have a bad credit history. This again shows that the landlord can trust you to pay on time as you have not experienced debt problems in the past. A third party credit reference agency may be used for the credit check. They will check for debts and county court judgements, which will be included in your credit report.
Reference checks
If you have been a tenant previously, you may need to provide your new letting agent with the previous landlord’s details. This is so that they can ask them for a reference for you.
If you have not been a tenant previously, then your current boss may be asked to provide a reference for you rather than previous landlords.
Guarantor
In some cases, you may be able to add a guarantor to your application. If you choose to do this, screening will be completed on them as well. This acts as a safety net for the landlord, so that if you are unable to pay your rent, the guarantor can step in. This can be a family member or other adult who can afford to pay the rent for your property.
Right to rent check
In order to rent in the UK, you must meet ‘right to rent’ checks. These include the following.
- You must be able to provide your British passport/Irish passport or National Identity Card
- A non-EU valid passport showing that you have the right to live in the UK
- Residency permit
As a British or Irish citizen, you have an automatic right to rent. However, you must still provide the documents as they are requested.
These must all be original documents. Some letting agents will ask for multiple forms of identification, such as a birth certificate or driving licence.
You will be told about all of the necessary documentation in advance of your application being finalised. If you have all of the documentation ready, it can help to speed up the processes for moving into your rental property. If any other documents are required by your letting agent, these will be requested from you.
We’re here to support both tenants and landlords with the whole renting process. We offer legal services for landlords, such as EPCs, gas and electrical safety. We also offer a wide range of property management services, such as the following.
- Furniture packages
- Rent and deposit collection
- Regular inspections
- Inventory management
- Tenant check ins and check outs
Get in touch with us for all of your landlord needs and for support as a tenant.
