As a landlord, you want to know if a potential renter will pay their rent on time and if they will follow the terms of their lease before you sign it. A landlord reference letter can help you decide if a prospective renter is reliable. Here’s what you should look for when you receive a reference letter from a potential renter — and what you need to know if a past renter asks you to write one.
What is a landlord reference letter?
A landlord reference letter is a letter a renter gets from someone expressing confidence in that individual to a potential new landlord. A letter of recommendation for housing can give you a broader understanding of whether a prospective renter would make a good renter, making these letters invaluable tools when you’re screening people who want to rent from you.
These letters often come in the form of a reference from a previous landlord, but prospective renters may also give you letters from other individuals who can vouch for their character. A personal reference letter for housing may come from individuals such as:
- Colleagues
- Employers or managers
- Friends
You’ll generally want to ask for a letter of reference for renters with poor credit, but it’s not a bad idea to get these letters from any prospective renter. A rental letter of reference should give you the potential renter’s rental history including any history of late rent payments or lease violations, and a general sense of the prospective renter’s character. These letters help you understand whether someone applying to rent a unit or house from you will make a good tenant.
What to Look for When Reading a Landlord Reference Letter
A recommendation letter for housing from a previous landlord should state:
- Lease term
- Monthly rent
- Any late payment occurrences
Because a landlord reference letter will help you decide if a prospective renter should rent from you, you should also look for other key details and descriptions. Look for further information about:
- Peaceful behavior: You want to ensure someone who rents from you can interact with your other renters (and you!) in a peaceful manner. For example, if a prospective renter has a history of noise complaints against them, this could be a red flag that gives you pause before accepting their rental application.
- Property maintenance: If a renter fails to treat the property with care and causes any damage, you’ll need to make repairs. You could lose money as a result.
- Safety: As a landlord, you’re responsible for the health and safety of all of your renters. You want to make sure a person who rents from you won’t cause any disturbance or turmoil for your other renters — or worse, endanger the safety or even lives of other renters.
- Timely payment: You need to know a renter will pay their rent on time. You also want to make sure they’ll stay on top of monthly payments for water, electricity, and any other utilities.
Writing A Landlord Reference Letter
A previous renter may also ask you to write a landlord-renter reference letter for them when they move to a new place, especially if you have a good relationship with that renter. You should answers questions such as:
- Did the renter pay their rent on time?
- Did the renter break the terms of the lease?
- Did the renter cause unnecessary property damage?
- Did the renter leave your property in good condition?
You’ll want to remain professional if you’re writing a reference letter for a previous renter, regardless of whether you had a positive or negative experience with that person. If a former renter asks you to write a reference for a future landlord, you can keep these tips in mind when writing:
- Follow all laws: Make sure your letter complies with all fair housing laws. Depending on where you live, local laws may include additional protected classes. Keep these regulations in mind when discussing the renter. You may even want to have a lawyer review your letter before you submit it.
- Include only relevant information: A landlord reference letter isn’t the place to vent hard feelings. Simply describe the rental history with facts, making sure you remain professional. You can look back on your lease to note policies the renter followed or did not follow.
- Stay honest: You want to give the future landlord an accurate picture of the renter. Make straightforward, truthful statements, backing up what you say with proof like late rent notices or rent receipts where possible.
- Use a template: Using a sample landlord reference letter will help you make sure you write all of your letters in the same format so that you can keep things professional and precise. Templates also save you time if you have many letters to write.
Sample Landlord Reference Letter
Here’s a sample landlord reference letter you can use if a previous renter asks you to write one. This letter can also serve as an example when reading a letter a prospective renter provides.
[Your Name]
[Your Address or Company Address]
[Street Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Date]
To Whom It May Concern:
I am providing a reference on behalf of [Renter Name] at [Rental Property Address] from [State Date of Lease] to [End Date of Lease]. [Renter Name] had a [Type of Pet] living with them during the lease.
[Renter Name] was a reliable and responsible renter who was timely in all rent payments. They received no complaints from neighbors and left the rental unit in good condition upon move-out. They did not violate any terms of the lease. We refunded their security deposit in full.
I would gladly rent to [Renter Name] again and I give this recommendation without any reservations. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at [Your Contact Details].
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Full Name]
It’s common for renters to provide a reference letter from a previous landlord when applying to rent somewhere. By knowing what to look for in a reference letter, you can better assess if a prospective renter is a suitable match for you.
Looking for renters? List your property on Zumper and let quality renters come to you.
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