Landlord guidance

Tenancy background checks

You can ask a prospective tenant to complete an application form giving you consent to obtain credit, previous Landlord and employer references. Make sure that the application form explicitly asks for their consent for you to have this information.

You must check that a tenant or lodger can legally rent your residential property in England. A right to rent check must be carried out within the 28 days before singing the tenancy

Check with the Home Office if the tenant is a Commonwealth citizen but does not have the right documents (opens new window)  - they might still have the right to rent in the UK.

Before the start of a new tenancy, you must check all tenants are over 18 years old, even if:

• They are not named on the tenancy agreement.
• There is no tenancy agreement.
• The tenancy agreement is not in writing.

Useful Links

• View Guide on Deposit Protection Schemes (opens new window)
• View Model tenancy agreement for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (opens new window) 
• View Guide for landlords: electrical safety standards in the private rented sector (opens new window) 
• View Guide on How to Rent (opens new window) 
• View guide for landlord and tenants: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (opens new window)