Can any letting agents give me some advice?

[Kendodd]

I have a house available to let. I have an agent who has been useless and so put an ad on Gumtree and have a very interested prospective tenant. I know have have some background checks to do, could you please tell me how I do these?

I know I need references but how do I do the financial/credit checks?

Thanks in advance.

The website landlord zone us your friend . It has all the docs you need including contracts, inventories etc which worked well for us. We ended up letting it ourselves as two lots if agents were rubbish!

I don't bother with credit checks. I get 3 months bank statements instead. Tells you way more than a credit check. People can be up to their neck in debt but still pass a credit check. A bamk statement will show you income and outgoings as well as any over draft etc.

Thanks, great advice.

looking at bank statements wont show you if the person has run up loads of debts and has CCJs. Experian do them for about £15.