July 29, 2026

Tenant screening: How do lettings agents find and screen tenants?

One of the most important benefits of using a professional lettings agent is that they will find and screen tenants for you. This is a time-consuming, difficult task that landlords can hand over entirely – but how do the agents do it?

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How lettings agents find tenants for landlords

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Finding tenants is somewhere between a science and an art form. There is a list of actions agents will take on the landlord’s behalf for every property. These can include:

Creating a property portal listing – Rightmove, Zoopla and other portals if relevant
Marketing the property on their own website
Hosting viewings or open days for local renters
Putting an advert in their shop window if they have a physical location

Then there are the actions agents take which are unique to your property and really make the adverts sing, such as:

Arranging professional photography to help your property stand out
3D tours and floor plans to help people visualise themselves living there
Using local knowledge to appeal to the right tenant groups – for example, families or young professionals
Judging the perfect rent level to maximise your income and minimise void periods based on long experience in the local market
Going directly to their list of tenants waiting for a new home through email marketing
Social media marketing to their engaged followers

Half of these are a lot of work for any landlord to take on. The other half are not possible at all. A lettings agent will do both types of tasks as part of their standard service, so you don’t have to lift a finger.

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Vetting tenants

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Once all that work has been done to find tenants, they need to be vetted. These checks come in two forms. First, the legal requirement:

Right to Rent check to determine whether a potential tenant is legally allowed to rent property in the UK

Second, the vetting questions landlords should be asking:

References from previous landlords to confirm details of past tenancies
References from employers to confirm work details and employment history
Income and affordability check to confirm the potential tenant can afford the rent comfortably
Credit check (with permission from tenant) to see if they have a history of defaulting on obligations, or even bankruptcy

Together, these checks require a lot of back-and-forth administration, but are key to determining whether the potential tenant is likely to be a reliable steward of your property. It’s the important second step after finding the tenant, and it can make all the difference when it comes to getting the right person for your property.

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Doing a time-consuming, stressful task so you don’t have to

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Finding and screening tenants is one of the most difficult, time-consuming tasks landlords have to do. It’s mandatory, and it takes a lot of work. However, the reality is that most landlords give the task to a professional lettings agent who can do it faster and to a higher standard.

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Lettings agents have contacts, processes and access to tools that most landlords don’t, taking the hassle out of the process. Learn more about how we can help you by contacting our team today!

Arrange a call with our team today.

Contact us today regarding all property management and lettings enquires.

0161 388 7848

contact@northbankresidential.com

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