Buy to let landlords urged to check tenant history

13 April 2010

Posted by Jeni Browne

Buy to let landlords need to ensure they always carry out background checks on potential tenants.

This is according to the National Landlords Association (NLA), which has warned too many landlords fail to look into the financial history of prospective occupiers.

The risk of failed rent payments can be substantially reduced if buy to let landlords run a tenant check, which includes investigating any cases of bankruptcy or insolvency, as well as getting references from previous landlords and employers.

Chairman of the NLA David Salisbury said "tenant checks should not be an optional extra for any landlord" and urged buy to let owners not to make the "costly mistake" of failing to look into a renter's past.

"If a potential tenant has a track record of not paying their rent … the landlord should know," he stated.

Earlier this month, the NLA launched a new service for Scottish buy to let landlords, giving them access to an online resource featuring information on all aspects of renting out property.

Why not take a look at our best Buy to Let mortgages and make an enquiry online now.