What to Say in a Letter of Reference for a Tenant

One of the responsibilities of being a landlord can include writing a letter of reference for previous tenants. While it is not a requirement, it is a nice gesture towards any tenants who have been with you long enough for you to establish a significant professional relationship. This is an opportunity to give the next landlord an idea of what to expect should they take a previous tenant of yours.

The best place to start when creating a letter of reference is to introduce yourself. This will include your name, as well as an assertion that you were the person’s landlord. You should also include the address that the tenant resided in, as this allows the receiver of the letter to establish a connection between you, the property, and the tenant. There is no need to include your contact information yet, as that will be covered in the closing of the letter.

Next, provide the basic information regarding the tenant. Restate the previous tenant’s name, as this provides clarification. If there was more than one adult on the lease, and they are both relocating to a new residence together, you can write a single letter that covers them all. Include information regarding the dates they occupied the residence. Ideally, you should be able to provide the months and years of their time in the property. If the person was a tenant of yours, left, and then became your tenant again, specify the time periods including the breaks.

Now that the facts have been affirmed, provide insight into the type of tenant the person was. This is the time to states specifics, such as if they always paid their rent on time. You can also mention if there were, or were not, any complaints about the tenant while they resided there. While it may seem unnecessary to state if a person had no complaints against them, it is reassuring to the potential landlord to hear that as fact. You can also include information regarding the type of care they showed to the property. If you received the property back in the same condition you rented it out to them, state this in your letter.

When you close, specifically state whether or not you would recommend this tenant to another landlord. You may also want to include information whether or not you would be willing to have this tenant return to one of your properties. In cases where you may be hesitant to provide a straight recommendation, stating that you would or would not take them back as a tenant is a good indicator to the recipient of the letter.

As you sign off, be sure to include your contact information should the potential landlord wish to contact you with any further questions. If you prefer to only communicate in writing, you can list only an address or an email address. If you don’t mind communicating by phone, include your phone number as well.