how do you write a character reference for a tenant

How do you write a character reference for rental property?

1. Keep it short and only reference information relevant for an apartment application.
2. Know what you can or cannot say.
3. Be honest and accountable.
4. Never lie.
5. Keep emotions at bay.
6. Keep it structured.

Full Answer

How to write a tenant reference letter for a rental property?

For people who have rented property, it’s worth being proactive and contacting their landlord yourself with a tenant reference request of your own. Your letter should ask for all the information that you would include in a tenant reference letter, if writing it yourself, so: How long have they been in tenancy?

How do I write a character reference letter?

Character reference letters should be written only by persons who know the applicant well enough to vouch for her character. Landlords sometimes require potential tenants to provide a character reference as part of the background check and approval process before handing over the keys to a new rental home.

Why do landlords ask for character references?

Landlords sometimes require potential tenants to provide a character reference as part of the background check and approval process before handing over the keys to a new rental home. They use these references to confirm that the potential tenant possess certain low-risk qualities...

How do you recommend a tenant in an essay?

If you had problems with a tenant, you might need to use a second paragraph. For example, you can write: "I recommend my tenant, James Smith, who has rented from me since April 2012 in Chicago. James has been a good tenant who has always paid his rent on time and in full.

What is an example of a character reference?

Start the letter with a short sentence explaining why you're writing. For example, “I am providing this character reference for Emily Reid, who I would recommend for any role where teamwork and a positive attitude are required.” Explain how you know the candidate and how long you've known them for.

What should a character reference letter say?

Here are five elements all personal reference letters should include:Start by explaining your relationship to the candidate. ... Include long you've known the candidate. ... Add positive personal qualities with specific examples. ... Close with a statement of recommendation. ... Offer your contact information.

What should a letter of recommendation include for a tenant?

The address of the property the tenant rented. The dates of the tenancy. Any lease violations, such as late rent payments. Information about the tenant's reliability, including late rent payments or lease violations.

How do I write a reference letter for a friend to rent?

How to write a tenant reference letter for a friendBe simple and straightforward.Maintain a professional tone.Be honest.If you know the recipient, include his or her name in the salutation.Mention your friend's name.Explain your relationship with your friend and for how long you have known him.More items...

How do you start a character letter?

Form character letters are not persuasive. Instead, each writer should start their character letter by discussing how long they have known the defendant and how they know the defendant. If the person knows the defendant in a professional capacity, the introductory paragraph can explain that relationship.

What should I say as a reference?

If you agree to provide a reference, follow these tips:Keep the information factual. Avoid opinions about issues such as personal conflicts. ... Qualify what you say. ... Make your praise specific. ... Refer to specific tasks or projects. ... Avoid examples that highlight a candidate's weaknesses.

Do landlords have to give references?

So, is it illegal for a landlord to not provide a reference? No, landlords have no legal obligation to provide tenants with a reference. However, if landlords choose to provide a reference, it must be truthful as any misleading information could have legal implications.

What makes good tenants?

Respectful Behavior Pay rent on time. Follow lease terms. Refrain from causing problems with other tenants or neighbors. Keep from damaging your property beyond normal wear and tear.

What is a tenant reference letter?

A reference letter helps a landlord determine whether a tenant will pay their full rent on time and follow the terms of their lease.

What do you write in a character reference for a friend?

How to Write a Character Reference for a FriendThe relationship of the reference to the candidate.How long the reference has known the candidate.Positive personal qualities, including specific examples.A statement of recommendation.The reference's contact information.

What references do landlords want?

Landlords typically ask for references from their tenants to make sure they can afford the property and will look after it properly. We recommend that all landlords carry out a set of financial and background checks, which they can do through our referencing process.

Can you use a friend as a reference?

Friends can make excellent professional and personal references for your job search.

What do you say in a personal reference?

Importantly it should cover the relationship between the subject and yourself, as well as how long you have known each other. It should also include examples of your character, personality and work ethic.

What do you say in a reference letter for a friend?

How to write a reference letter for a friendAccept if you can provide a quality reference. ... Request details about the job opening. ... Ask your friend about goals and objectives. ... Discuss the background of your relationship. ... Mention examples of skills and qualifications. ... Focus on improvement and progress.More items...

What is a good moral character letter?

A Good Moral Character Letter for Immigration is a type of Recommendation Letter written by someone who knows the potential immigrant personally and who can attest to the strength of their moral character.

What do you say when recommending someone for a job?

Dear [First and Last Name], It's my absolute pleasure to recommend [Name] for [position] with [Company]. [Name] and I [relationship] at [Company] for [length of time]. I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with [Name], and came to know [him/her/them] as a truly valuable asset to our team.

What to write in a letter to a tenant?

Check the property . You should also note in your letter whether the tenant left the property in good condition. Was it clean? Did you need to make repairs? Did the tenant cause a pest infestation? Tell the tenant you want to check the property before writing your letter.

What to say when landlord says reference letter is negative?

The landlord might say, “Your landlord’s reference letter was negative.”. For this reason, you might want to show them the letter if there is negative information. You can talk about it and give your tenant the option of not using your reference letter.

How to know if a tenant paid rent on time?

Note if the tenant paid their rent on time. A future landlord also wants to know how stable the tenant is. Accordingly, check your records to see that they paid the rent on time and in full. If not, write down how late they were with the rent payment.

What happens if a tenant is bad?

If the tenant was bad, you should seriously consider not writing a reference letter. A negative letter could expose you to legal liability. More often in the rental industry you will respond to a rental request from a future landlord or screening company.

What to do when a tenant decides to move?

When a tenant decides to move, they might ask you for a reference letter. The letter does not need to be elaborate. Instead, you should explain whether the tenant was timely with rent payments, kept the property in good condition, and was respectful of others. If the tenant was bad, you should seriously consider not writing a reference letter.

How to find out how long a tenant has been?

A future landlord wants to know how long the person has been your tenant. Go through your paperwork to find the dates. You should have a copy of the leases the person signed. If you don’t have any paperwork, look through your bank records. Check the months you have deposited rent into your account.

How to write "to whom it may concern"?

Accordingly, you should write “To Whom It May Concern” as a salutation. Put a colon after the salutation.

Why do landlords require character references?

Landlords sometimes require potential tenants to provide a character reference as part of the background check and approval process before handing over the keys to a new rental home. They use these references to confirm that the potential tenant possess certain low-risk qualities that are ideal in a renter, such as stable employment ...

What to include in a landlord letter?

You could mention items such as job stability, a history of timely payments made to previous landlords or any volunteer efforts that may have been made within the community. These items give the potential landlord valid reasons to believe the potential tenant will not have any conflicts during his residency or, more importantly, a hard time collecting rent when it is due.

How to reiterate the fact that you would personally recommend the potential tenant to the landlord in the closing sentence?

This can be done simply by stating "In closing, I feel that Jane Doe would be a trustworthy and reliable tenant and am confident in making this recommendation to you. Please feel free to contact me if I can provide any additional information that may be helpful during this process."

How to state a relationship with a potential tenant?

State the nature and length of your relationship with the potential tenant. For example, you may state, "I have worked with Jane in the financial services industry for 10 years and have gotten to know her very well during this tenure." It is critical that the landlord knows that you have had a long enough relationship with the potential tenant to be able to provide an accurate and credible reference.

How to close a letter to a landlord?

Close the letter by legibly printing and signing your name. Include your personal contact information in the event that the landlord requires any further information.

How to write a letter to Jane Doe?

Begin the letter with a formal greeting and state the purpose in the opening line. For example, you may use a greeting such as "To Whom It May Concern" followed by verbiage such as "This letter confirms that I would highly recommend Jane Doe as a potential tenant for your property."

What does it mean to write a landlord reference letter?

This means that a landlord expects a similar conduct from the tenant he or she intends to accept. It counts to choose a responsible, reliable sponsor to write a landlord’s reference letter for an apartment. 4. The letter in its entirety should embrace personal sentiments in a positive light.

How to write a letter of recommendation for an apartment?

1. Create a character traits checklist in a notepad before writing an official letter of recommendation. Focus on a friend’s agreeable business and personal conduct. 2. A personal letter of reference for an apartment should include three main parts. The first part, the introduction should focus on the relationship between ...

What does a landlord do with a recommendation letter?

Landlords usually disclose what’s needed and suggest that a tenant secure a letter of recommendation from a close friend or loved one. There’s a standard form of writing a recommendation letter for a friend securing a renter’s flat or an apartment.

What does a landlord want?

A landlord wants to know that it’s a real friendship that’s been nursed for an extensive duration. Long-term relationships such as childhood friendships are especially favored by landlords.

What should the second section of a tenant's report give?

The second section should give background information about the supposed tenant looking to occupy the apartment.

How many paragraphs should a sponsor write?

The sponsor shouldn’t include list format examples. It’s better to write 2-3 paragraphs about him or her.

Do you include your name on a sponsor letterhead?

The sponsor should include his or her name using an informal, cordial form of reception. If the letterhead doesn’t include any return contact information, adding it here isn’t a problem.

What is a landlord letter?

This is a short letter written by a landlord with reference to a tenant who resides on their premises. The purpose of this letter is to provide information to any interested parties that the said tenant is an occupant of the said premises and remits payment with regards to the rental agreement. This document is used to ascertain the credibility of the tenant to third parties.

When the tenant intends to move, what does this document speak to?

In this case, this document will speak to the character of the subject, their relation with neighbors and of course their ability to honor the terms of the rental agreement.

What is the purpose of the names and addresses in a letter?

The names and address of the recipient: this ensures that the intended party is reading the letter.

What is a reference letter from a former landlord?

A reference letter from a former landlord can give a prospective landlord a little more insight into how an applicant treats rental properties from a firsthand source, in addition to the information determined from auto-tenant screening and tenant prequalification.

Why is it important to follow up on recommendation letters?

It’s important to follow up and fact check any recommendation letters you receive to avoid any rental scams or tenants where you could end up with an eviction notice situation on your hands!

Can you disclose your rental history?

Additionally, be sure to keep it professional and do not disclose any information outside of the tenant’s rental history with your property because revealing personal information could land you in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

What should be included in the last section of a landlord recommendation letter?

The last section of a landlord recommendation letter should contain a brief closing statement; one (1) or two (2) sentences. After that, include a formal sign-off, signature, date, and contact information.

What is the body paragraph of a landlord letter?

Body Paragraph (s) The introduction paragraph covers all of the pertinent rental information, but the body of the landlord recommendation letter contains information regarding the tenant’s character. This section can be comprised of a single paragraph or, if the writer has multiple examples or anecdotes to share, ...

What is a landlord recommendation letter?

The landlord recommendation letter is designed for a former tenant seeking a letter of confidence to present to a new landlord. This type of letter is common with individuals suffering from poor credit. The letter serves as a reference to the tenant’s rental history, stating any violations or late rent payments during the course of the lease. The landlord making the recommendation should state the monthly rent, lease term, and any late payment occurrences.

Who to Select?

When looking for a landlord to write a recommendation letter, tenants should prioritize landlords from whom they have rented property for an extended period of time. This will provide the new landlord with an example of consistency and the tenant’s ability to maintain a respectable relationship with a landlord. Tenants who have frequently changed dwellings should seek recommendations from previous landlords with whom they have a good rapport and are close enough to provide proper character reference. Landlords are most concerned about reliability; therefore, a reference that will support the tenant’s dependability is essential.