Tenant referencing is becoming a more prominent part of the lettings process in England and Wales as landlords confront a rise in consumer debt judgments and tighter constraints on advance rent payments.
Nearly 1.02 million new consumer County Court Judgements were registered in 2025, up 11.6% from the previous year, according to figures cited in a report by Property Wire.
For landlords and letting agents, the increase reinforces the value of reviewing prospective tenants’ credit histories, income and affordability before a tenancy begins. Referencing can help identify financial pressures that may affect a renter’s ability to sustain payments, though a CCJ alone does not determine an applicant’s suitability.
The issue has gained added relevance as restrictions on advance rent payments reduce landlords’ scope to seek larger sums upfront. That places more focus on pre-tenancy due diligence, alongside clear affordability assessments and proportionate decisions on rental risk.
