finding a tenant
whether you market the property yourself or use a letting agent, be clear about the type of tenant you want and any restrictions you have, such as whether pets or smoking are allowed.
background checks
once you’ve found a potential tenant, you can carry out background checks before giving them a tenancy agreement and allowing them to move in. documents commonly asked for include:
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proof of id, such as a passport, driving licence or utility bill from their current home
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proof the tenant can afford the rent, such as a payslip, bank statement or benefits letter
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references, such as from one of the tenant’s previous landlords (eg you can provide a tenant reference for a previous tenant using our landlord reference letter)
if you want a credit check done on a potential tenant, you can engage a company to carry one out, but you must have written permission from the tenant first. you must also cover the cost yourself – it’s against the law to require a tenant to pay for it.
if you’re concerned about the tenant’s ability to pay the rent, you can ask them to provide a guarantor. this is someone who agrees to cover the rent or any property damage if the tenant doesn’t pay. make sure the guarantor agrees in writing to take on the role. you can also carry out the same background checks on the guarantor as done on the tenant.
remember, it’s illegal for landlords to discriminate against tenants on the basis of gender, sexuality, race, disability or religion.
charges
in scotland, there are very strict controls on what a tenant can and can’t be charged for by a landlord or letting agent.
the only payments landlords and letting agents can legally require a tenant to make are the rent and a refundable deposit. these charges are also subject to restrictions. for example, rents can only be increased once a year and following a three-month notice period, while deposits can’t be more than two months’ rent and must be lodged with a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme.
it’s a criminal offence to charge a tenant an illegal premium. these illegal charges include administration fees, holding fees and fees for credit checks. if a tenant is charged for an illegal premium, the landlord or letting agent must repay the tenant and could also face a fine of up to £1,000.
