Meeting a potential tenant at their current home?

Meeting a potential tenant at their current home?

9:47 AM, 29th April 2025, About 2 weeks ago 11

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Hello, my current tenant at my last and only let property is leaving to buy a property and for various reasons I can’t sell.

When she was talking to a friend, she learned that her friend’s daughter is looking to move to the village to be close to her family.

My tenant showed her the house and she’s very interested.

I normally use a letting agent’s find a tenant service.

I’d like to meet this potential tenant in her current home to see how they have kept it, however when (quite a while ago) I previously suggested doing this, the letting agent told me I could not ask to do this.

Does anyone know of a reason why I couldn’t ask this? And do you think this is a reasonable request?

Thank you,

Kevin


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Freda Blogs

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10:36 AM, 29th April 2025, About 2 weeks ago

I have done this a couple of times in the past where there were specific aspects of the tenancy/tenants that I wanted to get a view on. Neither party had any issue with it, and in both cases it gave me the confidence to proceed with the tenancy so it was helpful.

If you’re not using the letting agent, they’re not there to tell you what to do or not to do (and I’m not sure they’re correct anyway about not ‘being able’ to ask to see tenants’ current accommodation). These days with the pending RRB security provisions and landlords being required to hand over valuable properties for seemingly indefinite periods, LLs should do as much due diligence as we can to satisfy ourselves regarding prospective tenants.

Stuart Rothwell

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11:11 AM, 29th April 2025, About 2 weeks ago

I don't find it an unreasonable request and the prospective tenant is free to say no. (Which would probably tell you all you need to know!)

Chris @ Possession Friend

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11:17 AM, 29th April 2025, About 2 weeks ago

Its a very useful strategy that I'd recommend and have used it myself.
Its only a request by you to visit them.

Potential tenant can refuse, as can the landlord choose which tenant they prefer to rent to.

Gromit

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11:21 AM, 29th April 2025, About 2 weeks ago

As it'll be prearranged if the prospective tenant has any nouse they'd have cleaned & tidied beforehand. If they haven't then that's another reason not to let to them.

Chris @ Possession Friend

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11:41 AM, 29th April 2025, About 2 weeks ago

When I suggest a visit to a potential tenants current address, some landlords ' shy away from that' for whatever reason.
An alternative, 'less confrontational - if that's how some perceive it' method is to Look at the car the tenants turn up in, go out to meet them when they arrive - depart.
Is the car untidy, crisp - sweet wrappers all over the floor etc. because if the car is like a 'tip' then their rental property is probably the same.
Drive past their current address. Are there rusty bikes piled up in the garden, etc. etc.
You can tell a lot from the outside appearance of a property alone.

Darren Peters

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11:45 AM, 29th April 2025, About 2 weeks ago

Have an informal chat with the prospective tenant somewhere and do a referencing check for less than £50 and you are as safe as you can be.

Dylan Morris

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12:18 PM, 29th April 2025, About 2 weeks ago

How about flying a drone over the tenant’s current home and have a look at the rear garden to see if it’s well cared for. This isn’t illegal by the way.

John Bentley

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15:39 PM, 29th April 2025, About 2 weeks ago

The agent probably doesn't want you to realise you can do it yourself. They want their %

Paddy O'Dawes

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20:45 PM, 29th April 2025, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Dylan Morris at 29/04/2025 - 12:18
As long as you don't get caught? You are right in regards to flying a drone but flying them with the intent of "spying" can come with problems. Especially if you are posting with your name in clear on the Internet and ever get caught doing it 😆

Peter Collard

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8:54 AM, 30th April 2025, About 2 weeks ago

If the tenant is intending long term then you're going to have to refurb afterwards so tidiness etc doesn't really matter. I would worry most about the financial side.

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