The wrong tenant is now expensive to remove
With Section 21 gone, a tenant who stops paying can take months and real money to move on. Getting the decision right at the start matters more than it ever has.
Automated referencing misses the real risk
A pass/fail and a rent-to-income multiple don't tell you whether someone can actually afford the rent. We read the numbers the way a lender would.
A human read you can act on
You get a clear grade and a recommendation, in plain English, from someone who assesses credit risk for a living. Not a black-box score.
Tenant Risk Report
£79A qualified credit risk analyst reviews your applicant's income, affordability and references, then gives you a clear risk grade and a plain-English recommendation.
- Affordability assessment against the actual rent (not a crude rent-to-income multiple)
- Income quality check: payslips, employment type, contract stability
- Review of the references and documents you already hold
- Clear risk grade (low / medium / high) with the reasons behind it
- A written recommendation: accept, accept with conditions, or decline
In-depth Tenant + Guarantor Review
£149Everything in the standard report, plus a full financial profile of the applicant and a proper assessment of the guarantor, who is usually barely checked.
- Everything in the standard Tenant Risk Report
- Full financial profile: bank statement review, spending and commitments
- Guarantor affordability and suitability assessment
- Right to Rent and ID document sense-check
- Suggested tenancy conditions to reduce your risk (e.g. rent in advance, guarantor deed)
What we actually look at
A score tells you what already happened. It doesn’t tell you what’s likely to happen next, once your tenant is in and the rent is due every month. Here’s the ground a credit risk analyst covers before putting a grade on an applicant.
Affordability, done properly
Not a rent-to-income multiple. We look at what actually lands in their account each month against the rent and their other commitments, so you know whether the rent leaves them room or stretches them to breaking point.
How solid the income really is
A permanent salary and a three-month contract can show the same number and carry very different risk. We look at how stable the income is, how long it has run, and how likely it is to still be there in a year.
The self-employed picture
Self-employed income puts a lot of landlords off tenants who would have been fine. We read the accounts and the bank statements and work out what the applicant can genuinely sustain, instead of guessing from a headline figure.
References, read for what they're worth
A glowing landlord reference from a mate reads differently to a real one. We weigh the references you already hold and tell you which parts to lean on and which to take with a pinch of salt.
The guarantor, in the in-depth report
A guarantor is only as good as their own finances, and they're usually barely checked. We assess theirs the same way we assess the tenant's, so you're relying on real backing, not just a name on a form.
The things that are easy to miss
Gaps in the history, a run of recent moves, income that doesn't quite add up. When you're keen to fill a void it's easy to skim past these. Reading them is our job, not yours.
How it works
Create your free account
Sign up in under a minute, no card needed.
Order your report
Tell us about the applicant and the tenancy, then pay the one-off fee.
Send us the documents
We email you a secure request for payslips, references and anything else we need.
Get your report back
A clear risk grade and written recommendation land in your inbox within a couple of working days.
What this is, and isn’t
This is an independent affordability and risk assessment: an expert reads the income, references and documents you hold and tells you what the real risk is. It is not a credit-reference-agency search, and it doesn’t make the decision for you. Want a credit-backed check too? Our Referencing product runs one through a regulated agency, and the two work well together.
Questions, answered
Who actually reviews my applicant?
A qualified credit risk analyst who assesses affordability and default risk for a living. You get an expert human read, not an automated pass/fail.
How is this different from a normal tenant reference?
A standard reference is a pass/fail plus a crude rent-to-income multiple. This is a proper affordability and risk assessment: we read the income the way a lender would, weigh the references you hold, and tell you what the real risk is. Many landlords buy this alongside a credit-backed reference, not instead of one.
Do you run a credit check?
No. This is an independent affordability and risk assessment based on the documents and references you provide. If you also want a credit-backed search through a regulated agency, our separate Referencing product does exactly that, and you can use both together.
How much is it?
£79 for the standard Tenant Risk Report, or £149 for the in-depth version that also gives a full financial profile and a proper assessment of the guarantor. One-off, no VAT, no subscription.
What documents do you need from me?
Whatever you have: payslips, bank statements, an employment contract or reference, a previous landlord reference, ID. The more you can send, the sharper the read. We email you a secure request once you order, and we work with what you've got rather than sending you on a paperwork chase.
Can you assess a self-employed applicant?
Yes, and it's one of the most common reasons landlords come to us. Self-employed income puts a lot of people off tenants who would have been perfectly fine. We read the accounts and bank statements and tell you what they can realistically sustain, instead of you having to guess.
What about a student, or someone on benefits?
Both are lettable, they just need reading properly. For a student we look at the guarantor and any funding behind them; for someone on benefits or mixed income we look at what's stable and what the rent actually leaves them. A blanket 'no' costs you good tenants, so we give you the real picture instead.
How long does the report take?
Usually a couple of working days from the point we have your documents. If you're up against a deadline, tell us when you order and we'll do our best to turn it round quicker.
What does the risk grade actually mean?
Low, medium or high, with the reasons written out plainly, plus a recommendation: accept, accept with conditions such as a guarantor or rent in advance, or decline. It's meant to be acted on, not filed away.
Is it worth it if they've already passed referencing?
Often, yes. A pass just means they cleared a threshold. It doesn't tell you how much headroom they have, or what to do if it's tight. If you're letting for a year or more to someone you now can't easily remove, a second, expert opinion is cheap insurance.
What areas do you cover?
Everywhere in England. This is a remote, document-based service, so where your property is makes no difference.
Does this decide who I let to?
No. The final decision is always yours. We give you a clear, evidenced view of the risk so you can make it with your eyes open.
Do I need a LetCompliance account?
Yes. Ordering and payment happen from your free account, so your report and applicant details stay in one place. Signing up is free and takes a minute.
Already have a tenant falling behind? See Arrears Recovery — we contact them and agree a payment plan on your behalf.
Let with confidence, not a gut feeling
Create your free LetCompliance account, order your Tenant Risk Report, and get an expert read on your applicant within a couple of working days, from £79.
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