Will your tenant end up on the naughty list this year?
Most tenants are of course abiding to the rules, however, bad tenants are notorious for moving from property to property, getting away with not paying rent on time or even not paying the full amount. This can cause a lot of issues for the Landlord as it will restrict cash flow and eventually end in the Landlord losing money and potentially ending up in debt. Making a judgement about whether your tenant will have a harmonious relationship with you as the Landlord is never easy, however, there are a few signs to look out for when accepting new tenants.

Do you have their references?
When considering a new tenant it is always worth asking for the contact details of their chosen references. These can include past Landlords & Employers, two sources which will normally provide a fair and accurate profile of what you can expect from your tenant. Using these references you can find out if your tenant is in permanent employment or have a regular income, pays their rent on time and treats properties with respect.

What is their Employment Status?
Finding out the employment status of your potential tenant is always a key aspect to look out for, without secure and regular income it can be very difficult to feel confident that your tenant will be able to pay rent in full and more importantly, on time.

Have you done a credit check?
A credit check can reveal a lot about your potential tenant. By ensuring you do a credit check on your tenant before accepting them as a tenant you can see if they have had a CCJ (County Court Judgement) against them, a big indicator that they have failed to pay money they owe in the past. Furthermore, it can also reveal if your potential tenant has been in prison in the past and hid this aspect on their application

Are your potential tenants on housing benefits?
If you are choosing to take on tenants who are on housing benefits we advise that in this situation that you always ask for a guarantor. By them having a guarantor you will always have a back up to request payment from.

Right to rent check
With right to rent checks now mandatory in the UK as of the 1st February 2016 you cannot overlook this. A right to rent check will require you to check all identification for all the potential tenants over the age of 18 who will be living in the property. Upon doing this you will be able to ensure they have the right to reside in the UK. BY NOT DOING THIS CHECK, YOU OPEN YOURSELF TO THE RISK OF A £3000 FINE PER TENANT AND A CRIMINAL RECORD