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Landlord Reference Letter
To whom it may concern:
I am writing at the request of , who rented the property at from me from to . I am the owner of the property.
The monthly rent was . Rent payment record: .
You can reach me at to confirm any of this.
Sincerely,
What a good reference letter says
A future landlord reading your letter wants the same facts you would want: who the tenant is, where and when they rented, what they paid, whether they paid on time, how they left the unit, and whether you would rent to them again. Everything else is padding.
| Part | What to include | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tenancy facts | The address, the move-in and move-out dates, and the monthly rent | Lets the reader check it against the application |
| Payment record | Whether rent was paid in full and on time | Often the first thing a reader checks |
| Move-out | Whether proper notice was given and the condition of the unit | Signals how the tenancy ended |
| Would you rent again | A plain yes or no | Tells the reader how the tenancy ended overall |
| How to reach you | A phone number or email to confirm | A letter with no contact is hard to trust |
Keep it factual
- Stick to what you can back up with your rent ledger and move-out records.
- Leave out personal details unrelated to the tenancy, such as family, health, religion or background.
- Do not overstate. If rent was late several times, say so plainly or leave the payment line out; this letter lets you do either.
- Answer the same way every time a prospective landlord calls, so the letter and your phone answers match.
Receiving a reference letter as a landlord
Treat a letter as a lead, not proof. Call the number on it, confirm the dates and rent against the rental application, and compare it with the tenant screening report. See tenant screening services compared and the rental application template.
Frequently asked questions
What should a landlord reference letter include?
The tenant's name, the rental address, move-in and move-out dates, the monthly rent, whether rent was paid on time, whether proper notice was given, the condition of the unit, whether you would rent to them again, and how to reach you.
Who writes a landlord reference letter?
The current or previous landlord or property manager, usually at the tenant's request, to give to a prospective landlord.
How long should a landlord reference letter be?
One page. A few short paragraphs covering the tenancy facts, payment record, move-out and whether you would rent again are enough.