How to Find Tenants Without a Letting Agent UK

Finding tenants without a letting agent is easier than most landlords think — and it can save you a month's rent or more in tenant-finding fees. With the right advertising strategy, a well-prepared listing, and a thorough referencing process, you can find reliable tenants directly and keep more of your rental income.

This guide covers every step of the tenant-finding process: where to advertise, how to create a listing that attracts quality applicants, how to conduct safe and effective viewings, and how to reference tenants properly. Whether this is your first property or your tenth, the approach is the same.

Where to Advertise Your Rental Property

The biggest advantage letting agents offer is access to Rightmove and Zoopla, the two dominant property portals in the UK. However, several services now allow landlords to list on these portals directly at a fraction of the cost of a letting agent.

Preparing Your Listing

Your listing is your first impression. A well-prepared listing attracts more enquiries, attracts better-quality tenants, and fills your property faster. Here is how to get it right:

Photography

• Clean and declutter every room before photographing
• Shoot in landscape orientation with natural daylight (open all curtains and blinds)
• Include every room, plus the exterior, garden, and any parking
• Aim for 10–15 high-quality photos — more is better than fewer
• Consider a wide-angle lens or smartphone attachment for small rooms
• Add a floor plan if possible — listings with floor plans receive significantly more enquiries

Writing the Description

Lead with the key selling points: number of bedrooms, location highlights (proximity to station, schools, shops), any recent renovations, and included features (parking, garden, storage). Be honest about the property — misleading descriptions waste everyone's time and erode trust.

• Property type, size, and number of bedrooms/bathrooms clearly stated
• Rent amount, deposit, and available date included
• Location highlights and transport links mentioned
• Bills included/excluded clearly stated
• Pet policy stated (note: blanket pet bans may be challenged under the Renters' Rights Act)
• EPC rating mentioned
• Any restrictions (e.g., no smoking, no DSS — be careful with the latter, as blanket bans may be discriminatory) addressed
• Contact method and viewing availability included

Setting the Right Price

Price your property competitively by researching comparable lets in the same area on Rightmove and SpareRoom. Overpricing leads to extended void periods that cost more than the modest rent reduction needed to attract tenants quickly. Latch provides rental market data to help you set a competitive price based on real comparable evidence.

Conducting Viewings Safely

Viewings are your opportunity to assess potential tenants in person, and their opportunity to assess the property. Safety and efficiency are both important.

• Schedule viewings in blocks (e.g., one afternoon with 20-minute slots) to save time
• Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return
• If you are uncomfortable viewing alone, bring a partner, friend, or fellow landlord
• Meet at the property, not at a separate location
• Prepare a printed property information sheet with key details, rent, and deposit requirements
• Ask open-ended questions: why they are moving, how long they plan to stay, their employment situation

Receiving and Assessing Applications

After viewings, interested tenants should submit a formal application. Collect the following information from each applicant:

• Full legal name and date of birth
• Current address and how long they have lived there
• Employment details (employer, job title, salary, length of employment)
• Previous landlord contact details
• Number of proposed occupants
• Reason for moving
• Desired move-in date
• Whether they have pets
• Permission to run a credit check

The Referencing Process

Referencing is the most critical step in tenant selection. A proper reference check covers credit history, employment verification, income affordability, and previous tenancy conduct. Never skip referencing, no matter how good a tenant seems in person.

You can reference tenants yourself (contacting employers and previous landlords directly) or use a referencing service. Popular services include OpenRent Rent Now (from £20), Rightmove's referencing partner, and standalone providers. Latch integrates referencing into the tenant onboarding workflow so you can run checks and review results without leaving the platform.

What a Good Reference Includes

Choosing the Best Tenant

Once references come back, compare applicants objectively. The best tenant is the one who passes all reference checks, can comfortably afford the rent, has a stable employment history, and received a positive reference from their previous landlord.

If your preferred tenant does not pass referencing, consider asking for a guarantor rather than rejecting outright — a guarantor with strong references and sufficient income reduces your risk while still allowing the tenant to secure the property.

How Latch Streamlines Tenant Finding

Latch simplifies every stage of the tenant-finding process for self-managing landlords: