What landlords can see#

A tenant credit check is a soft search on your credit report. The other kind — the hard search, or full check — is what lenders run when you apply for a loan, mortgage or car finance.

Landlords, employers and insurers tend to use soft searches, which reveal public information: your Electoral Roll status, insolvencies, and County Court Judgments.

Something newer to know about: rent reporting platforms and rental exchange programmes mean the three credit reference agencies may now collect information about your rent payments.

These let tenants consent to their landlord sharing rental payment information with the agencies, counting towards positive credit history. Your landlord and letting agent need to sign up for the service too. You can see whether the agencies hold your rent payment history by checking your credit report.

What they're interested in, and why#

Your Electoral Roll status, which verifies your identity, confirms you're registered at the address you gave, and that you actually live there. It's also a symbol of stability, which is a green flag. Get it correct before submitting your application, so any issues are easier to resolve.

Any County Court Judgments, which indicate substantial risk. A CCJ is a court's formal judgment that a debt is due. They appear on your report and remain for six years even once the debt is paid, and can make a tenancy agreement harder to get.

Any insolvencies, which landlords also treat as substantial risk. An insolvency is a financial state where someone can't pay their debts, and there are different types. An Individual Voluntary Arrangement is a legally binding agreement with your creditors to repay a debt or part of it over time. A bankruptcy is more severe, declaring an inability to repay creditors at all. All are negative indicators, and like CCJs remain for six years once discharged.

Check your credit report before applying. If your Electoral Roll status isn't appearing, or your name or address looks wrong, notifying your local council usually fixes it. Sometimes an agency is simply missing the information, so contacting them directly solves it. For incorrect court records, contact the named court.

If the party responsible accepts a mistake was made, they have one month to amend your file. Changes should be visible shortly after, though the back-and-forth means the whole process can take several weeks.

You're more likely to pass if you:

  • Have no CCJs or insolvencies
  • Appear on the Electoral Roll at the address you've given as most recent
  • Have no history of missed rental payments on your report

Do they need your permission?#

Yes. You have the right to decline.

Remember they're using the check to confirm your identity and judge whether you pay reliably, so declining might reduce your chances of getting the property.

And they can't charge you for it. Landlords and letting agents aren't allowed to bill tenants for credit checks — letting agent fees for tenants are banned in the UK.

How to prepare#

Check your information. Contact your local council's Electoral Registration Office to verify your status. Being listed on the most recent Electoral Roll at your current address strengthens your application, indicating an interest in renting long term.

Verify what the agencies hold. Note that a letting agent may also run an anti-money-laundering check separately from the credit check. They can return different information about each other. Checking all three at once catches errors and inconsistencies — and making sure your name, address and previous addresses are correct makes it easier for a landlord to verify what they need.

If you have adverse court information#

Some landlords will decline. Others may still accept, with extra conditions:

1. A larger deposit than normally required, giving them more confidence in your financial stability.

2. A rent guarantor co-signing your application, becoming liable if you can't pay. Make them aware of the risks first.

3. A previous landlord advocating for you. References are standard in tenant screening, so asking a previous landlord to confirm you were a good tenant who paid on time can genuinely help.

Court information doesn't last forever. CCJs are removed six years from the issue date, and insolvencies no longer appear once more than six years have passed since issue and you've been discharged.

Other checks in tenant screening#

1. Your right to rent. This is a legal requirement, and landlords face financial penalties for renting to someone without it.

British and Irish citizens can usually prove it with a passport, current or expired, or a certificate of registration or naturalisation.

Otherwise there are two routes. The first is a share code — a nine-digit alphanumeric code that lets non-UK nationals verify their status. The government provides one if you have settled or pre-settled status, a biometric residence card or permit, or used the UK Immigration: ID Check app to scan your identity document when applying for a visa.

Landlords cannot demand you use your share code. The second route is showing immigration documents (opens external site) such as a passport or a Home Office travel document.

2. Affordability checks. Since landlords can't see your full credit report, they may ask for proof of income — recent payslips, employment contracts — or contact your employer about your salary.

Generally landlords want your annual income, or combined income for a group, to be at least three times the annual rent. It isn't a strict rule.

3. Reference checks. They may contact previous landlords about how you were as a tenant and whether you kept up with rent. They might even ask how much of your deposit you got back, to gauge how you looked after the property.

If you're on good terms with a current or previous landlord, this is a real opportunity — consider asking for a recommendation detailing that you paid on time and looked after the place.

Common questions#

How long do searches stay on my report?

It depends on the agency. Experian and Equifax: usually 1 year. TransUnion: usually 2 years. That applies to both hard and soft searches. A debt collection enquiry can remain for up to 6 years across all agencies.

What types of search will I see?

A hard search, where a lender ran a full credit check as part of an application. Or a soft search — checks by landlords or employers, quotes for credit products, comparison website use, your own report checks, or existing lenders reviewing your status.

The key things to remember#

  • Tenant checks are soft searches showing public information only.
  • Your consent is legally required, and they cannot charge you for the check.
  • Risk appetites vary — adverse information doesn't rule you out with every landlord.
  • Electoral Roll status, CCJs and insolvencies are what landlords look at.
  • CCJs stay six years from issue; insolvencies six years from discharge.
  • Errors must be amended within one month once accepted, but expect several weeks overall.
  • Rent reporting programmes can now put your rental payments on your file.
  • Landlords generally want income at least three times the annual rent.
  • Searches stay 1 year at Experian and Equifax, 2 at TransUnion.