Finding reliable tenants is a crucial step in managing rental properties effectively. Pre-viewing questions offer landlords and agents a practical way to screen prospective tenants early in the process, helping to identify those who are most suitable before arranging viewings.

Using Pre-Viewing Questions to Vet Tenants

Pre-viewing questions provide valuable context about applicants’ circumstances, enabling landlords to filter enquiries efficiently. OpenRent, for example, offers a pre-screening feature that allows landlords to set key questions based on their listing criteria. This means applicants who do not meet basic requirements, such as whether they are students or smokers, can be filtered out before viewings are arranged, saving time for both parties.

Once applicants pass this initial screening, landlords can proceed with comprehensive tenant referencing checks. These checks provide a detailed overview of the tenant’s financial standing and background, including guarantor information, which is increasingly important given recent changes to rent in advance regulations.

Essential Questions to Ask Prospective Tenants

Experienced landlords commonly use a set of targeted questions to assess tenant suitability early on. These include requests for references from previous landlords or employers, preferred move-in dates, and the number of occupants intending to live in the property. Understanding the tenant’s income and how they plan to cover the rent is also vital, especially as affordability assessments must fairly consider a variety of income sources such as employment, freelance work, savings, or benefits.

Additionally, landlords often ask if applicants can provide a UK-based guarantor, which has become more significant since rent in advance is now capped at one month.

Inquiring About Tenancy Length

It is permissible to ask tenants about their intended length of stay. Despite the abolition of fixed-term contracts under the Renters’ Rights Act, knowing a tenant’s plans helps landlords find a better match for their property. However, it is important to recognise that a tenant’s stated intent is not legally binding. Tenancies are now rolling periodic agreements, allowing tenants to give two months’ notice at any time, regardless of initial plans.

OpenRent supports landlords by including a “Preferred Minimum Tenancy” field in listings, signalling the ideal tenancy length, such as 12 months. While this helps attract tenants whose plans align with longer stays, it remains a guideline rather than a contractual obligation.

Confirming Advert Details with Applicants

Landlords should also confirm key details from the property advert with applicants to avoid misunderstandings. This is particularly useful in busy markets where tenants may apply quickly without fully reviewing the listing. Questions might cover whether the property is furnished or unfurnished, smoking policies, pet ownership, student status, parking requirements, and garden access.

It is important to avoid blanket bans on applicants based on personal circumstances, such as receiving benefits or having children, in line with the Renters’ Rights Act. Instead, each application should be assessed individually, focusing on affordability and suitability.

Leaving In-Depth Checks to Professional Referencing

While pre-screening questions help filter applicants, they should not replace professional referencing checks. Detailed assessments of credit history, previous evictions, rent arrears, income relative to rent, and any unspent convictions are best handled by specialist services. OpenRent offers affordable referencing options that provide landlords with clear insights into tenant risk and reliability.

What this means for landlords

Adopting a structured pre-screening process combined with professional referencing can improve the quality of tenant selection and reduce the risk of problematic tenancies. Clear communication and fair, relevant questioning set a professional tone and build trust with prospective tenants. This balanced approach helps landlords navigate the complexities of the current rental market while complying with legal requirements.

Final Thoughts

Pre-viewing questions are a valuable tool for landlords to streamline tenant vetting and focus on applicants who are more likely to be suitable. However, these should complement, not replace, thorough referencing checks. Maintaining fairness and respect throughout the process ensures a positive experience for both landlords and tenants, supporting longer-term rental stability.

Source: Based on reporting from OpenRent

TLA Training Academy

The Landlord Association has launched its new Training Academy for UK landlords, providing structured guidance, compliance education, and practical knowledge to support landlords at every stage. Members can now complete the programme and become TLA Certified Landlords at no additional cost as part of their membership.

Landlords can explore the Academy here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/tla-academy/

Those looking to join and access the full training and certification can register here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/landlord-association-membership-uk/

TLA update

The Landlord Association is currently onboarding new service providers into its Trusted Partner Hub, a new initiative designed to support landlords, tenants, letting agents, and property managers with vetted, high-quality services. As one of the fastest growing landlord associations in the UK, TLA offers partners direct access to an engaged and active member base at the point of need. Service providers across legal, maintenance, insurance, finance, mortgages, tenant screening, and property services can register their interest here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/become-a-tla-service-partner/