Referencing typically involves gathering information about a prospective tenant to assess their suitability for renting a property. Here's how it generally works:

Application Form: The prospective tenant completes an application form provided by a third party referencing company. This form collects personal details such as full name, current address, employment information, and previous rental history.
Credit Check: A credit check is conducted to assess the tenant's financial history, including any outstanding debts, loans, or bankruptcies. This helps determine if the tenant has a reliable financial track record.
Employment Verification: The tenant's employment details are verified to ensure they have a stable income to afford the rent. This may involve contacting the employer directly or requesting recent pay stubs or bank statements.
Previous Landlord References: The tenant's previous landlords may be contacted to obtain references regarding their rental history. This helps assess factors such as payment punctuality, property upkeep, and behaviour as a tenant.
Right to Rent Check: In certain countries like the UK, landlords are required to verify the immigration status of prospective tenants to ensure they have the right to rent property in the country.
Additional Checks: Depending on the landlord or letting agent's policies, additional checks such as criminal background checks or rental guarantor checks may be conducted.
What if I am self-employed? If you're self-employed, the referencing process may involve additional steps to verify your income and financial stability. Here's how it typically works:
Accountant's Reference: We will request a reference from your accountant to verify your income and financial stability. This reference may include details about your business, income, and financial standing. Along with open banking.
Credit Check: A credit check is still typically conducted to assess your credit history and financial responsibility. This helps landlords evaluate your ability to meet rental payments.
Previous Landlord References: If applicacble, references from previous landlords may still be requested to verify your rental history and behaviour as a tenant.
Additional Documentation: You may be asked to provide additional documentation to support your application, such as business registration documents, proof of address, or identification documents.

Referencing benefits both landlords and tenants by promoting transparency, accountability, and trust in the rental relationship. It is a standard procedure in the rental process that serves several important purposes, such as; assessing suitability, mitigating risk for landlords, compliance and ensuring financial stability. By verifying your background and financial status, landlords can make informed decisions on who to rent to and minimise the risk of renting to tenants who may default on rent payments or cause damage to the property.

While it's not a legal requirement, having tenant's contents insurance is highly recommended. Here's why:

Protection of Personal Belongings: Tenant's contents insurance covers your personal belongings against risks such as theft, fire, or damage caused by unforeseen events. Without insurance, you would be responsible for replacing your belongings in case of such incidents, which can be costly.
Additional Living Expenses: If your rented property becomes uninhabitable due to a covered peril, tenant's contents insurance may cover additional living expenses, such as temporary accommodation and meals, while repairs are being made.
Peace of Mind: Tenant's contents insurance provides peace of mind knowing that your personal belongings are protected against unexpected events. It can help alleviate financial stress in the event of a loss or liability claim.
 

When renting a property, you'll typically need to provide several documents to the landlord or letting agent as part of the application process. Here are the common documents you may need:

Proof of Identity – Valid government-issued photo identification, such as a passport or drivers license with an accompanied birth certificate.
Proof of residency – proof of current address, such as a utility bill, bank statement, or council tax bill.
Right to Rent Check – you will need to provide documentation to verify your right to rent in the UK, such as passport or residence permit.

As well as paying the rent, the ‘permitted payments’ depending on an individual tenancy or a company tenancy will be charged to tenants entering via Beresfords.
 

Deposit protection is a system designed to safeguard tenants' security deposits during a tenancy. It typically involves placing the deposit in a government-approved scheme or a designated third-party scheme. It helps ensure fairness and transparency in the handling of tenants' deposits, providing peace of mind for both landlords and tenants throughout the tenancy. It helps prevent disputes and protects tenants from unfair practices while also encouraging responsible tenancy behaviour.

You can ask more questions in your local branch, either by phone, in person or via email. Click here to find your local office contact information.