Landlords are increasingly prioritising tenant referencing, according to new research from Leaders. This shift comes after 996,261 new consumer County Court Judgments (CCJs) were recorded in England and Wales during 2025, marking an 11.8% rise compared to 2024.
The findings from Leaders' Summer 2026 Lettings Report, based on responses from 717 landlords, indicate that 45.2% of landlords believe referencing has gained importance since new restrictions on advance rent were introduced. The Renters' Rights Act, effective from 1 May, limits landlords and agents to requiring no more than one month's rent between signing and starting a tenancy for most new monthly-paid tenancies in England.
When deciding on an applicant, 40.6% of landlords identified employment status and income as the most crucial factor, while 38.8% selected the referencing report provided by their letting agent. Despite the increased focus, 82% of surveyed tenants reported always passing referencing without issues.
Allison Thompson, chief lettings officer at Leaders, stated that referencing has become the most important decision for landlords before a tenancy begins, especially with advance rent no longer available. She added that while the volume of CCJs is rising, most tenants do pass thorough referencing, which protects both landlords' income and tenants' affordability.