The Biggest Mistakes Landlords Make When Choosing a Tenant

After 11 years in lettings, I have seen the same mistakes again and again. They almost always come down to one thing: prioritising the wrong thing at the wrong time. The landlord who goes with their gut instead of the references. The one who takes the highest offer without asking how the tenant will pay the rent. The one who ignores a patchy employment history because they like the person. It rarely ends well.

Proper referencing is not a box-ticking exercise. It is there to answer two questions: can this tenant afford the rent, and are they likely to look after the property and pay on time? Affordability is usually calculated as rent being no more than a third of gross income. That is a guideline, not a rule, but if someone is stretching to 50% of their income you are taking a risk. Employment stability matters too. Two years in the same job is very different from two months.

The highest rent offer is not always the best tenant. I have seen landlords reject a solid, long-term tenant for an extra £50 a month from someone with a shaky history. Six months later the high bidder has left or fallen into arrears, and the property is empty again. The cost of a void and a bad tenant often wipes out that extra rent many times over.

Red flags to watch for: gaps in employment or rental history that are not explained, a previous landlord who is reluctant to give a reference, or a tenant who pushes back on referencing or tries to offer cash to skip it. None of these automatically mean no, but they all deserve a proper look.

Good tenant selection is boring, in a good way. It is consistent. It is evidence-based. It takes a bit longer. And it saves you a lot of trouble later. I am always happy to connect with fellow property professionals. If you would like to get in touch, you can reach me at jess@jhwood.homes or via LinkedIn.