Reference payment

[jase222]

Hi,
I have a tenant who's leaving shortly and a letting agent sent through letter asking for a reference for the tenant, in the letter there was also 4 pages of questions about 120 to be precise.

I know it will take best part of a hour as quite a few are detailed and require looking up in dates etc ,i normally write a letter stating the tenant was tenant from xxx to xxxx and never missed a payment.

The tenant hasn't been the worse or the best but if she wants a reference should she not pay if its a' lot of work and time, i recently had to pay £80 for a Drs medical ? this is the first time in 30 years as a landlord i've had to fill out something this long for a reference.

Cheers

[Berlingogirl]

That's far too long! I'd just say the tenant was here from date to date, always paid their rent on time and in full, kept the property in good order and reported any issues immediately. I would let to them again. You can't charge anything to the tenant.

[theartfullodger]

Send it back stating you will respond when you get those 120 questions completed for the senior member of staff or director from the organisation asking

[ash72]

I would file it, as to be expected to write a reference which would take longer than an hour, is not time that I have to spare. Would be surprised what type of questions they are wanted to know.

[ExpertInAField]

Just because it has not yet been mentioned, you absolutely cannot charge the tenant anything for you to fill out the reference. That is against the law.

[jpucng62]

Is it a Housing Association? Can’t see a private LL asking for all this.

[theartfullodger]

But you could charge whoever is asking this long list of questions

[jase222]

Well, I sent a email to the agency refusing to fill out the reference, but did say the tenant had paid on time.
Anyway within 5mins tenant is on the phone shouting and screaming that because I refused the reference she now has been rejected for the flat!
The agency is now trying to get round it.,what I cant believe is the agency is now rolling this out apparently the rent insurance I companys requiring it, which I think is load of ****'

[Interlaken]

Most ref companies phone the landlord and just want to hear if they paid on time. Just say you don't give references. I think I am right in thinking JPK on here does not ever give a reference.

[Berlingogirl]

But you could charge whoever is asking this long list of questions

That's just what I was going to say!

[Berlingogirl]

Most ref companies phone the landlord and just want to hear if they paid on time. Just say you don't give references. I think I am right in thinking JPK on here does not ever give a reference.

I always give references when asked. I think a good tenant deserves one. I also think a bad tenant deserves one. I've only ever been asked twice in 25 years. Having said that, I expect references will become more important with the 6 months for S21 and the removal of said section.

[1600e]

I wouldn't fill it in either unless I wanted the tenants gone.
why should the LA pay?
It's obvious the tenant should pay for something that long but the government have unintentionally (?) Dicked tenants over in this case.

[jpkeates]

Most ref companies phone the landlord and just want to hear if they paid on time. Just say you don't give references. I think I am right in thinking JPK on here does not ever give a reference.

I don't give references and always explain why.
I've always wondered if my agents do and don't tell me about it!

[landlord-man]

I wouldn't have told the LA that "I refuse to complete x, y or z" as the word REFUSE lodges a negative thought in their heads lol - and they go on auto-pilot thinking the worst - which is what happened in your case.

I would have offered to provide a basic 2 sentence response if requested and offer to complete what I can of the 120 question request upon receipt of the sum of £x for my time.

Also, as with ex-staff references, you have to be very careful - so I would not go in to any detail on a reference - I would either say "I am not able to provide a reference for x" or "I would not hesitate to offer x a new tenancy agreement if requested".

One thing NOT to do is provide a positive reference if the tenant has been a nightmare - Im not aware of it happening but the day will certainly come where a future LL will sue a previous LL based on the reference received.

[newtenant9011]

I wouldn't fill it in either unless I wanted the tenants gone.
why should the LA pay?
It's obvious the tenant should pay for something that long but the government have unintentionally (?) Dicked tenants over in this case.

It's not obvious the tenant should pay, it's a "requirement" of the new landlord and/or letting agent, as such it's something they should budget and pay for, it's exactly this kind of biscuit taking that led to the tenant fees act.