Suppose you want to move into an apartment but have a bad credit score, no credit history, or no permanent job. In that case, you may get disappointed and feel sorry for yourself, or you can try using a reference letter to try to win over your potential landlord. Even if you qualify for the apartment on the basis of credit score and income, having good references can increase your chances of getting the apartment you want.
As a tenant, it’s important to know who to approach for a recommendation letter and what the letter should include.
What is a Reference Letter for an Apartment?
A reference letter for an apartment is a formally written letter from a previous or current landlord, friend or co-worker to the potential landlord. The goal of the letter is to provide some nice words about the prospective tenant. The letter may vouch for the tenant’s character or attest to their financial stability. The reference letter may even attest to the tenant’s reliability when it comes to paying his or her bills on time.
How to Write a Recommendation Letter for a Previous Tenant
Here are ten steps for writing a reference letter:
- First, put the date at the top.
- Second, write the tenant’s information.
- Third, provide the landlord’s name and address.
- Fourth, write, “To whom it may concern” or the landlord’s name if you know it.
- Confirm the address of the rental property as well as the duration of occupancy.
- State whether the tenant paid the rent in time and, if there were any issues, how they were resolved.
- Share how the tenant took care of the property. Include whether he or she damaged anything and, if they did, how they reacted to the damage.
- Talk about how neighborly the tenant was (or wasn’t).
- Summarize the landlord-tenant relationship in a few words.
- Provide landlord’s contact information in case they have any questions or would like additional information.
Who are Good Rental References?
Landlords receive several rental applications, so it can be easy for your application to get lost in the shuffle unless it stands out. While you can choose anybody for a personal reference letter, there are better choices than others for completing this task. Good reference choices include:
- Previous Landlords: Who better to convince your future landlord that you’re a model tenant than your current or previous landlord?
- Property Managers: If you happen to live in an apartment building, chances are you will be dealing with a property manager instead of a landlord. Property managers’ words carry as much weight as a landlord’s when it comes to reference letters if not more since management companies have more stringent rules than most landlords.
- Supervisors: Your boss or supervisor can vouch for your reliability.
Who are Bad Reference Choices?
- Your Friends: While there is no legal restriction, recommendation letters from friends are considered biased.
- Family Members: A similar notion goes about your family members; their opinion is generally considered biased. Using a family member can also create the impression that you cannot get a good reference..
Personal Reference Letter Sample for Apartment From a Landlord
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Details]
[Your Current Address]
[City, State]
[Landlord’s Name ]
[Landlord’s Address]
[City, State]
Re: Recommendation letter for [Tenant’s Name]
To whom it may concern,
I’m writing to say a few words about [Tenant’s Name]. I am [Tenant’s Name]’s previous landlord and have known [him/her] for the past [time frame]. I find absolutely no reason to doubt [his/her] credibility as a potential tenant at your house.
At this moment, I acknowledge the fact that [Tenant’s Name] stayed at my property located at [address] from [date] to [date]. [Tenant’s Name] was never late on rent and complied with all the terms and conditions included in the lease. I’ve always admired how clean [he/she] kept the property. [He/She] left the property in excellent condition; as such I refunded [him/her] their full security deposit. I also never received any neighbor complaints about the tenant while living on the property.
I take full ownership of my words and write this recommendation letter for [Tenant’s Name] out of pure respect that [he/she] earned as my tenant. I reiterate that [he/she] is a credible, honest, and trust-worthy person.
Based on my experience with [him/her] as a landlord, I earnestly believe that [Tenants’ Name] will turn out to be a good and responsible tenant. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or if you would like additional information. I can be reached at [phone and/or email address].
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Signature]
The Bottom Line
- A landlord reference letter should only include facts and not personal feelings.
- A landlord should refrain from revealing any personal information about the tenant.
- Individuals used as references should make themselves available in case future landlords want to contact them with additional questions.
- The letter should end with a simple endorsement.
