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Free Rental Reference Letter Template for Landlords
No pressure, but there’s a lot on the line for your old tenant when you write their rental reference letter. Landlords rely...
No pressure, but there’s a lot on the line for your old tenant when you write their rental reference letter. Landlords rely on these honest and detailed evaluations to screen applicants and carefully select their next tenants. What you write could make or break their housing prospects.
To make things easier, we’ve included a copy-and-paste rental reference letter template, free for all TurboTenant readers to use. We’ve also included a sample letter and seven tips to help you reward a tenant who has paid on time, respected the lease, and taken care of your property.
So, whether you’re helping an upstanding renter secure their next place or simply closing the door on an old tenancy, a thoughtful rental reference letter will help keep the rental process running smoothly (and earn you some landlord karma in the process).
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What is a rental reference letter?
Much like an employment reference, a rental reference letter allows landlords to share honest feedback about a former tenant. These letters often cover how a renter handled rent payments, cared for the property, adhered to lease terms, and communicated with the landlord.
Rental reference letters carry serious weight because former landlords hold information that rental applications simply can’t reveal. If you’ve ever rented out a property, you understand how much of your sanity rides on finding tenants who pay rent like clockwork, get along with their neighbors, and don’t kick holes in the walls.
A well-written rental reference letter, typically just a page or so in length, is vital to helping your fellow landlord make a confident, experience-based decision.
Use the template below to create yours in just a few minutes.
Free Rental Reference Letter Template (Copy & Paste)
[Your Name]
[Your Title or Role]
[Your Property or Company Name]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Date]
To Whom It May Concern,
I’m providing a reference on behalf of my former tenant, [Tenant’s Full Name], who rented a unit from me at [Rental Property Address] from [Lease Start Date] to [Lease End Date]. Throughout the lease term, [Tenant’s First Name] proved to be a reliable and respectful tenant.
During the lease term, [Tenant’s First Name]:
(Include those that apply. Feel free to add more of your own.)
- Paid rent on time and in full every month
- Respected quiet hours and shared spaces
- Took good care of the property and kept it clean
- Followed all lease terms without issue
- Responded promptly to notices or requests
- Gave proper notice before moving out
- Caused no property damage beyond normal wear and tear
- Built positive relationships with neighbors and the community
Based on my experience, I would rent to [Tenant’s First Name] again without hesitation. [He/She/They] respected the property as if it were [his/her/their] own and handled [his/her/their] responsibilities as a tenant professionally.
If you need further information, feel free to contact me using the details provided at the top of this letter.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
Sample Landlord Rental Reference Letter
Larry Landlord
Founder, President, CEO
Larry’s Residential Rentals
(555) 123-4567
[email protected]
June 11, 2025
To Whom It May Concern,
I’m providing a reference on behalf of my former tenant, Nate Colburn, who rented a unit from me at 456 Elm Street, Unit 3B, Fort Collins, CO 80521, from June 1, 2022, to May 31, 2025. Throughout the lease term, Nate proved to be a reliable and respectful tenant.
Nate paid rent in full and on time each month, followed all lease terms, reported maintenance issues promptly, and kept the property in good condition. I received no complaints from neighbors, and Nate provided proper notice before moving out. Upon move-out, the unit required only standard cleaning, with zero damage beyond normal wear and tear.
Based on my experience, I would rent to Nate again without hesitation. He respected the property as if it were his own and handled his responsibilities as a tenant professionally.
If you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me using the details provided at the top of this letter.
Sincerely,
Larry Landlord
Tips for Writing a Landlord Rental Reference Letter
To make your rental reference count, follow these practical tips as you draft your letter:
Confirm the Tenant’s Identity and Past Lease Duration
Start by including the tenant’s full name and the address of the rental unit where they lived. Mention the lease start and end dates to show how long they resided in your rental and when. A clear timeline will help future landlords understand the timeframe of your reference.
Talk About Rent Payment History
Rent payments are the backbone of any rental arrangement. With that in mind, let future landlords know if you were able to collect rent from a tenant on time, if they were ever late, and how quickly they caught up if they fell behind.
If your past tenant never had trouble paying rent, it’ll be music to their future landlord’s ears.
Describe the Condition of the Unit Upon Move-Out
Tenants who leave a mess behind create headaches, incur extra costs, and potentially delay the next renter’s move-in. But when someone moves out and leaves the place clean and sparkling, their effort deserves some serious recognition (and a shout-out in your letter).
Address Lease Compliance
Did your former tenant follow the rental contract as agreed?
If they followed the rules about guests, pets, quiet hours, and maintenance, highlight their reliability in your letter. Tenants who honor their lease and protect your property make your day-to-day much easier. Go ahead. Give them the gold star they worked so hard for.
Avoid Including Personal Details About the Tenant
Including details like age, race, marital status, religion, or disability could violate fair housing laws and create unnecessary legal risks. Stick to relevant facts only, and refrain from sharing any details that don’t relate directly to the tenant’s rental behavior.
The last thing you want is to create a legal kerfuffle over an unnecessary comment, especially one that is in writing.
Recommend the Tenant to The Landlord
If your tenant paid on time, followed the lease, kept the place clean, and treated their neighbors with respect, give them their flowers. Say, in no uncertain terms, that you would rent to them again and encourage their potential next landlord to do the same.
Let them know, without a doubt, that this tenant is one worth handing the keys to.
Provide Contact Info and an Invitation to Reach Out
Some landlords might want to follow up with a few questions or double-check a detail or two. To make it easy for them, leave them your phone number and email, and let them know they’re welcome to reach out anytime for more info, clarification, or a quick chat about the tenant.
Nail Your Landlord Reference Letter with TurboTenant
Writing a strong rental reference letter is extremely important but doesn’t have to be complicated. By using our template above to deliver honest feedback, you can show respect for the rental process and express gratitude to your former tenant for upholding their end of the bargain.
Speaking of the rental process, consider streamlining yours with TurboTenant. Used by over 750,000 landlords, our all-in-one landlord software will help you market rentals, send applications, screen tenants, and collect rent, all for free.
Sign up for a free TurboTenant account today to automate your workflow and support great tenants from application to move-out.
FAQ: Rental References
What is a rental reference?
A rental reference is a letter from a former landlord or property manager that sums up a tenant’s behavior during their stay. Landlords use references to gather information about a tenant’s payment habits, respectfulness, communication skills, and whether they consistently follow lease terms.
Who should you use as a rental reference?
Former landlords or property managers are your best bet, especially if you paid rent on time and respected the lease terms. If you don’t have much rental history (or your landlord won’t give you a reference letter), an employer or roommate can step in to write you one instead. While not as ideal as a letter from a former landlord, these alternate references still hold weight.
What types of questions do landlords ask rental references?
Landlords will typically ask if an ex-tenant paid rent on time, caused any damage, followed the lease, and respected their neighbors. Some will also inquire about move-in and move-out dates, rent amounts, or how well the tenant communicated during their stay.
Can you get denied for a bad reference?
A negative reference can torpedo your chances of landing a rental, especially if it mentions late payments, property damage, or broken lease terms. If a potential reference feels shaky or uncertain, simply don’t pursue it. Instead, focus on strengthening the rest of your application or finding someone else to give you a positive reference.
