Requirements · Renting a home
Tenant referencing, guarantors and what landlords may ask for
Last updated 25 October 2026 · 3 sources listed · Reading time about 4 minutes
Short answer
Landlords and agents commonly verify identity, the right to rent where required, income or affordability, previous landlord conduct and sometimes credit history. Self-employed people, students and newcomers often supply alternatives such as accounts, bank statements or a guarantor. Data protection and anti-discrimination law apply, and rules differ by country, so check local guidance.
Who this is for: A renter preparing an application who wants to know what documents are normally requested, what is reasonable and what to do if they have a thin credit or employment history.
What to evaluate
Proof of identity
Landlords must be sure who they are letting to and, in some places, are legally required to check status.
How to check: Prepare a passport or national ID and ask which documents are acceptable in the jurisdiction.
Proof of income or affordability
Landlords want evidence you can sustain the rent over the term.
How to check: Gather payslips, employment contract, tax records or bank statements, and learn how self-employed income is assessed.
Landlord references
A previous landlord can confirm payment history and care of the property.
How to check: Warn your referee in advance, and have contact details ready along with tenancy dates.
Credit and rent history
Some agents run credit checks to gauge reliability, though they differ in how strictly they apply the results.
How to check: Ask whether a check will be done, which agency is used and how to obtain a copy of your report.
Guarantor suitability
A guarantor takes on legal liability, so landlords look at their finances and location.
How to check: Confirm requirements such as residence in the same country and what the guarantee covers.
Data protection
You are sharing sensitive personal information and should know how it is stored.
How to check: Ask for the privacy notice, how long documents are kept and who they are shared with.
Comparison
| Applicant situation | Common evidence | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Employed full time | Contract, payslips and employer reference | Probationary periods that make landlords hesitate |
| Self-employed or freelance | Tax returns, accounts and bank statements over a period | Irregular income that agents may discount without explanation |
| Student | Enrolment proof, funding evidence and a guarantor | Guarantors needing to meet residency and income rules |
| New arrival in the country | Passport, employment offer and a savings record | Limited credit history leading to requests for more rent in advance, where lawful |
| Retired or living on benefits | Pension statements or award letters | Discrimination rules vary, so ask for the reasons for any refusal |
Decision worksheet
Rate up to three options against this guide’s own criteria. It runs in your browser and saves only on this device. It is a thinking aid, not a recommendation.
1. Have you checked each criterion?
0 of 6 criteria checked.
2. Compare options (0 = fails or unknown, 3 = meets it well)
| Criterion | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Proof of identity | |||
| Proof of income or affordability | |||
| Landlord references | |||
| Credit and rent history | |||
| Guarantor suitability | |||
| Data protection | |||
| Total (max 18) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Questions to ask before you commit
- Which documents do you need and by what date?
- Do you run a credit check, and will a footprint appear on my report?
- What are the income requirements and how are they calculated?
- If I need a guarantor, what conditions must they meet?
- How is my data stored, shared and deleted if I withdraw?
- If the application is refused, will you tell me the reason?
- Is a right-to-rent or immigration check required, and what documents satisfy it?
- Is there any cost to apply that is permitted under local rules?
Typical trade-offs
Use a personal guarantor
- Upside
- Can unlock a tenancy when your own record is limited.
- Downside
- Puts someone else on the hook and may strain trust if payments are missed.
Offer more rent upfront where lawful
- Upside
- May reassure a hesitant landlord.
- Downside
- Reduces your cash reserve and is restricted in some jurisdictions.
Apply for many properties at once
- Upside
- Raises the chance of an offer.
- Downside
- Can multiply credit searches and result in holding deposits tied up in several places.
Common mistakes
- Submitting incomplete documents. Delays often lose the home to another applicant, so prepare a folder in advance.
- Not briefing the referee. A slow or confused reference can sink an application.
- Assuming a guarantor understands the commitment. Explain what the guarantee covers and for how long.
- Overstating income. False statements can void an agreement and may justify forfeiting a holding deposit.
- Failing to ask for the reason behind a refusal. It may reveal an error in your credit file that can be corrected.
Related questions
What if I have no previous landlord?
Many people rent first without a landlord reference. Offer alternatives: an employer or university reference, evidence of regular payment commitments such as a utility or phone contract, character references from a professional, and bank statements showing stable income. A guarantor can also fill the gap. Explain your situation plainly when applying, as agents often have processes for first-time renters and will usually prefer a clear explanation to missing information.
Does a credit check harm my credit score?
A check done with your consent for a tenancy application is typically a soft search, which usually does not reduce your score, though practices vary by country and provider. Ask which type will be used, request the name of the agency and obtain your own report beforehand so you can correct errors. Applying to many agents in a short period can still leave several records visible to lenders.
Can a landlord refuse me because of my job or benefits?
Landlords may set affordability criteria, but many jurisdictions prohibit decisions that discriminate on protected grounds, and some courts or regulators have challenged blanket bans related to benefits where they indirectly discriminate. Rules differ widely. If you suspect unfair treatment, ask for the reason in writing and consult a tenant advice or equality body. Keep communications, as they may support a complaint.
Who can act as a guarantor?
Requirements depend on the landlord, but guarantors are usually relatives or close contacts who live in the same country, have stable income or assets and can provide identification. Some agreements ask the guarantor to sign a deed covering unpaid rent and damage. They should read it carefully, understand how long the obligation lasts and consider independent advice, since the commitment can continue through extensions of the tenancy.
How long will my documents be kept?
Data protection law in many places requires organisations to keep personal information only as long as needed and to explain this in a privacy notice. Ask the agent how long application documents will be retained, whether they are shared with third parties such as referencing firms, and how to request deletion if you withdraw. Send copies through secure channels rather than ordinary email where possible and redact irrelevant details.
Sources and further reading
These pages were reachable when we last checked. They informed definitions and rules referred to above; they do not endorse this guide. Where rules differ by country, check the authority for your location.
- How to rent: the checklist for renting in England — UK Government, retrieved 27 October 2026
- Your data matters — Information Commissioner's Office, retrieved 27 October 2026
- Renting privately — Citizens Advice, retrieved 27 October 2026
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