Landlords across England and Wales are placing a greater emphasis on tenant referencing, according to new research. This shift follows restrictions on advance rent payments and a significant increase in County Court Judgements (CCJs).
Data from Leaders shows that nearly half of landlords surveyed believe tenant referencing has become more important since the ban on advance rent payments. Registry Trust figures reveal that almost 1.02 million new consumer CCJs were registered in England and Wales in 2025, marking an 11.6% annual rise and the highest yearly total since 2019.
The removal of Section 21 no-fault evictions and the restriction of advance rent to one month under the Renters’ Rights Act mean landlords can no longer rely on financial buffers after a tenancy begins. This makes pre-tenancy checks the primary mechanism for managing risk.
The Summer 2026 Lettings Report from Leaders indicates that 41.7% of landlords rely on their letting agent to manage the referencing process. Among landlords taking a more active role, 37.4% state referencing has become significantly more important, with an additional 7.8% noting it is slightly more important.
When deciding on a tenant application, employment status and income are the most important factors for 40.6% of landlords, followed by the referencing report provided by their letting agent at 38.8%. Despite increased scrutiny, 82% of tenants surveyed report always passing referencing without issues.