Why Tenant References Are Often Unreliable

Many landlords rely on references to confirm whether an applicant will be a good tenant. Unfortunately, references are one of the weakest parts of the tenant selection process. That is not because landlords are careless. It is because references are structurally flawed.

Why references are biased by default

Former landlords often:

• Want a problem tenant to move on
• Avoid legal risk
• Give minimal or overly positive feedback

Employers may only confirm employment, not behaviour.

What references don’t tell you

References rarely reveal:

• Payment issues
• Disputes
• Property damage
• Misrepresentation during application

Silence is not the same as reassurance.

Why landlords still use references

References feel familiar and human. When under time pressure, they provide a sense of comfort even if they do not reduce risk.

A better way to think about references

References should be one small input, not a decision driver. They work best when combined with:

• Document consistency checks
• Behavioural risk signals
• Objective verification

How Verified by Weevva helps

Verified by Weevva reduces over-reliance on references by providing structured, rental-specific verification that highlights inconsistencies and risk signals before a decision is made.