Apply the same test to every applicant, with a scorecard, reference request letters and, for lets in England, a Right to Rent checklist. The pack is a set of Excel and Word templates you keep and reuse for each let.
Right to Rent and Renters' Rights Act material in this pack is England only. The scorecard and letters can be used anywhere in the UK, and this page says where the rules differ. This is not legal advice.
What is in the pack
- An Excel scorecard that asks the same questions and scores every applicant the same way.
- Word templates: employer, previous landlord and guarantor reference requests.
- A Right to Rent checklist for lets in England.
- A screening note: what you may and may not ask.
- Google Sheets: import the .xlsx; most features work. Filled and blank copies of the scorecard are included.
- A ten-minute quick start.
The scorecard
You type the rent, the applicant's total income and the income multiple you use. Total income includes any benefit income, counted in the same way as wages. The income multiple is your own figure, not a legal minimum, and the sheet does not suggest one.
You then score your criteria, such as payment history and how the last tenancy was left, from 1 to 5. You set the weights, and they must add up to 100%. The same questions and scoring apply to everyone.
There are no boxes for children, for benefits as a reason to refuse, or for any protected characteristic. In England, refusing families with children or people who receive benefits has been unlawful since 1 May 2026 (gov.uk rental discrimination guidance), and the pack is built so those filters are never used.
Right to Rent in England
In England, every adult who will live in the property must have a Right to Rent check, whether or not they are named on the tenancy (gov.uk). The checklist in the pack is a pass or fail gate, not a score. It follows List A and List B in the Home Office guidance, and the code of practice that came into force on 1 October 2026 (landlord's guide to right to rent checks).
The quick start reminds you to keep copies for the tenancy plus at least one year. Right to Rent checks do not apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, so the gate is not used for lets there. For a walk-through of the check itself, read our Right to Rent checklist for landlords in England.
Reference request letters
The pack includes ready-to-edit letters for an employer, a previous landlord and a guarantor. Send the same letters to every applicant you reference, and keep the replies with your decision notes.
You must not charge the applicant for referencing. In England, the Tenant Fees Act 2019 only allows permitted payments. In Scotland, charging for credit checks is an illegal premium (mygov.scot).
Deposit and holding deposit caps
The scorecard looks up deposit rules from verified research for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland:
- England: tenancy deposit of up to five weeks' rent where annual rent is under £50,000 (six weeks at £50,000 or more), and a holding deposit of up to one week's rent.
- Scotland: tenancy deposit of up to two months' rent.
- Northern Ireland: tenancy deposit of up to one month's rent (Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022).
No numeric cap is wired for Wales, because the research did not confirm one. Check the official guidance for your nation before you take any money.
What you may and may not ask
The screening note sets out what you can ask for, such as identity, address history, income and references, and what you should not ask about or filter on. It points to the gov.uk rental discrimination guidance for England. For a step-by-step version from advert to move-in, read our tenant screening checklist.
Who it is for, and who it is not for
It is for self-managing UK landlords who want a consistent, written screening process they can reuse, especially for lets in England.
It is not a credit reference agency and it does not run credit checks. It is not a Right to Rent checking service and it does not verify documents for you. It is not legal advice.
FAQ
What do I need for a Right to Rent check?
In England, check every adult occupier using original documents from the Home Office lists, the Home Office online service with a share code, or a registered digital verification provider. The gov.uk landlord's guide sets out each method.
Is tenant referencing a legal requirement?
Right to Rent checks are a legal requirement in England. A wider reference, such as an employer or previous landlord reference, is your own choice, and you must not charge the applicant for it.
What can landlords ask tenants?
You can ask for identity, contact details, address history, income including benefits, and references. Do not ask about or filter on protected characteristics, children or receiving benefits.
Can landlords refuse tenants on benefits or with children?
Not for that reason. In England, discrimination against families with children or benefit claimants has been unlawful since 1 May 2026. You can still assess affordability, counting all income in the same way.
Does Right to Rent apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
No. Right to Rent checks apply to lets in England only.
Can I charge the applicant for referencing?
No. Referencing fees are banned in England under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, and in Scotland they count as an illegal premium.
Buy the pack
The Tenant Screening pack is £12.99. Buy on Payhip
It is also part of the Landlord Starter Kit, with the yield calculator and the area comparison template. For lets in England you already have, our Renters' Rights Act deadlines tracker is coming soon.
Sold by Shane Stanford trading as Ashlar Ledger. This is not legal advice. Rules checked against official sources on 10 November 2026. Back to home
Ashlar Ledger: figures you can build on.