Tenant Application and Reference Pack
An application should help you understand whether a proposed tenancy is workable. This free tenant application pack brings the form, reference requests and a completed example together, so the same questions and checks can be used fairly for each applicant.
Free Word pack with blank forms and a separate fictional worked example.
An application records a proposal, not a decision.
The completed example in the pack follows Alex Example’s application for Example Flat A. Its details are fictional.
The proposed tenancy
- Advertised monthly rent
- £1,200
- Desired move date
- 1 December 2026
- Proposed adults
- 2
These details describe the application. They do not reserve the property or confirm that a tenancy has been offered.
The information still needs review
- Stated monthly employment income
- £2,800
The amount is information supplied in the fictional application. Check relevant evidence and references consistently. A figure in a form is not an affordability decision or a guarantee.
The pack keeps the application, reference requests and guidance separate, so a request for information is not mistaken for an accepted tenancy.
Use a consistent application before making your decision.
Landlords and letting agents assessing an application for an ordinary residential tenancy in England. The pack records information for review. It does not approve a tenant or replace the checks that apply to the property.
Keep the application and reference requests together.
The ZIP contains separate editable Word documents for the tenant application, employer reference request and previous landlord reference request. A fictional completed application and a short guide show how the documents fit together.
The reference requests help you ask about a relevant fact and record the response. A reply is something to assess alongside the application, rather than a guarantee that rent will always be paid.
Start with the information you need for this letting.
Set the advertised rent and your relevant, lawful criteria before comparing applications. Ask each applicant for information that is necessary for the letting, explain how it will be used and keep access to it limited.
Request references at the appropriate stage and explain who you will contact. Treat the application, any holding deposit, the right to rent check where required and the eventual tenancy agreement as separate steps.
Frequently asked questions
Does a completed application create a tenancy?
It records an application. It should not be used as a tenancy agreement or described as an offer that the landlord has already accepted. Keep any later offer and agreed terms clear.
Can I reject someone because they have children or receive benefits?
In England, the rental discrimination rules prohibit treating applicants less favourably because they have children or receive benefits. Assess affordability and relevant circumstances fairly instead of applying a blanket ban.
Should I collect identity documents from everyone at the first enquiry?
Collect only what you need at that stage. An initial enquiry does not usually need a full bundle of identity or financial documents. Explain the purpose, use a suitable secure route and follow an appropriate retention policy.
Does the form complete a right to rent check?
No. Right to rent is an England requirement with its own current procedure. Follow the government guidance and apply checks consistently. The application form is not evidence that the check has been completed.
Use relevant checks and the same fair process.
An application is not a complete privacy notice or a right to rent check. Explain how you use the information, collect only what is necessary and follow the current process for the property. In England, do not invite rental bids above the advertised rent or apply blanket exclusions because an applicant has children or receives benefits.
Guidance checked on 29 October 2026.
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