Landlord Reference Letter Template

A Landlord Reference Letter is a document written by a property owner, detailing their experience with their former tenant. 

Usually, the former tenant requests a letter from their former landlord because they are applying to rent a new property, and it can help them prove they are a trustworthy renter. 

Typically, the letter is written by a former landlord that had a positive experience with their former tenant. 

The tenant may be experiencing an unfavorable credit situation, for example. 

A letter from a former landlord can help prove they have consistently paid rent on time and did not cause any problems for you as the landlord. 

There are certain situations when a landlord may ask you for a Reference Letter to judge an applicant. 

You can write either a positive or negative letter about your former renter.

LawDistrict offers a Landlord Reference Letter template, as well as information and templates of hundreds of other legal documents.  

Use our template to create your letter If you have received a Landlord Reference Letter request.

To assist you in understanding what should be included in your document, below we provide 2sample Landlord Reference Letters.

As a former landlord, you may have had both positive and negative experiences with your previous renters. 

Whether you receive a request from a former tenant or a landlord, review what your letter should look like with the following examples. 

Positive Landlord Recommendation Letter Sample

If you had a good experience with your former tenant, your letter should reflect that. 

It will be essential to include the reasons the tenancy was so positive. 

Have a look at the example below. 

To whom it may concern:

This letter of reference is on behalf of [Tenant Name] at [Property Address] from [start date] to [end date]. They had a [Type of Pet] living with them named [Pet Name] during this time.

[Tenant Name] was timely in their rent payments. They did not violate any terms of the lease, and they left the rental unit in clean condition upon moving out. We refunded their security deposit in full.

I would be happy to rent to [Tenant Name] again. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Sincerely,

[Your Signature]

[Your Printed Name]

[Street Address]

[City, State, Zip Code]

Negative Landlord Recommendation Letter Sample

When a property owner is reviewing rental applications, that person may look to you, the potential tenant’s former landlord, as a reference.

Perhaps your experience with your former renter was negative. 

If that’s the case, have a look at the sample below to know how to format a negative Landlord Reference Letter.

[Date of letter]

To whom it may concern:

I’m providing this reference letter on behalf of [name], a former tenant of my property at [address] from [start date] to [end date].

[Tenant Name] was responsible for their rent payments at first, but then fell behind on two months’ payments. I eventually received them, but I had to send late notices on both occasions. I received no complaints from neighbors, and no other lease terms were violated before they moved out.

However, [Tenant Name] did not leave the apartment in good condition. There was food and food-related trash left in each room, as well as in the unplugged refrigerator. I also found two large holes in the living room wall.

Because of these issues, I would be hesitant to rent to this tenant again. Please contact me if you have any further questions.

Sincerely,

[Your Signature]

[Your Printed Name]

[Street Address]

[City, State, Zip Code]

As part of the rental application process for a new apartment, a former tenant may request a Landlord Recommendation Letter from their former landlord. 

If you can give them a positive reference, they will have the opportunity to stand out from the other applicants.

A positive recommendation tells the new landlord that the tenant paid the rent on time and respected the home and property where they lived. 

The letter may be required by the new landlord. It’s also possible that your former tenant may just ask for one to make a good impression.

Each state has its own landlord-tenant laws that determine what is required to conduct a tenant screening and what to include in a rental application. 

To write a Reference Letter, it’s essential to include the correct information and to be as accurate as possible. 

Remember to use the correct delivery as well. Write your letter with a professional yet friendly tone. 

Use the following guidelines below to write an effective Landlord Reference Letter. 

• Be Professional — When writing about the former tenant, include only the most relevant details. Only discuss the renter’s actions during the tenancy.

• Be as Accurate as Possible — Explain accurately and in detail if they followed the terms and conditions of the lease agreement and If they kept the property well maintained 

• Use a Template — Using a template ensures you have the correct outline. You will not miss any essential information in your Landlord Reference Letter. 

• Proofread — Go over your letter once or twice before sending it. You may realize you’d like to add another detail, or you added information about the tenant that was not accurate. 

Use LawDistrict’s template to make creating your letter a stress-free process. 

There are key components you cannot forget to add to your letter. 

There are also pieces of information you should not include in your document, such as accidentally showing bias against an applicant.

Fair Housing laws prohibit any discrimination against an applicant based on their race, religion, color, national origin, familial status, sex, or disability. 

If you’re asking yourself, “what should a Landlord Recommendation Letter include?”, we have collected all the pieces of information you should and should not add. 

Review the dos and don'ts of Landlord Recommendation Letters below. 

To provide further assistance, we have included a sample of a Landlord Reference Letter below. 

Review the following sample for a clear idea of what to include and how to structure your letter. 

For landlords, renting out your property can be a hassle, so it’s normal that you’d always like to choose the correct applicant. 

Apart from a Recommendation Letter, some documents can help you in similar situations. 

These documents include: 

• Rental Application

• Lease Agreement

Using these documents correctly can help you select the correct tenant every time.