By Alfie Linstead, Marketing Manager at Watsons Property
How to Find the Right Tenant for Your Rental Property
In Part 2 of The Landlord Series, we looked at preparing a property for letting, from presentation and repairs to compliance, marketing readiness and deciding what support may be needed.
Once the property is ready to go to market, the next step is one of the most important parts of the letting process: finding the right tenant.
This guide explains how to find the right tenant for your rental property, including marketing, viewings, applicant suitability, tenant referencing and tenancy setup.
For landlords, this is not just about finding someone quickly. It is about making sure the property is marketed clearly, enquiries are handled properly, applicants are assessed carefully and the tenancy begins with the right expectations on both sides.
Finding the right tenant is not one single decision. It is the result of a clear, fair and well-managed process.
How to find the right tenant: key steps for landlords
Finding the right tenant is easier when the process is clear from the beginning. Before accepting an application, landlords should think about:
- how the property is marketed
- whether the rent is realistic for the current market
- how enquiries and viewings will be handled
- whether applicants understand the property and tenancy expectations
- how affordability and referencing will be checked
- whether a guarantor may be needed
- how the tenancy will be set up
- how communication, maintenance and property management will be handled once the tenancy begins
The aim is not simply to find a tenant quickly. It is to find a suitable tenant through a fair, consistent and well-managed process.
Price the property realistically
Setting the right rent is an important part of finding the right tenant.
For landlords, it can be tempting to focus on the highest possible monthly figure. Rent matters, of course, but it needs to be considered alongside demand, condition, location, presentation, competition and the type of tenant the property is likely to attract.
The highest possible asking rent is not always the strongest strategy if it slows the process down or creates the wrong kind of interest.
A property that is priced too high may sit on the market for longer, lose momentum or attract enquiries from tenants whose expectations do not match the property. A property that is priced too low may generate high enquiry levels but still not produce the most suitable applications.
The aim is to find a realistic rent that reflects the property and the current market.
This is where local knowledge can be particularly useful. Tenant demand can vary by area, property type, condition, size, transport links, schools, parking, outdoor space and wider market conditions.
A realistic rent helps the property enter the market with confidence, rather than needing to be adjusted after interest has already cooled.
It also supports a more structured tenant-finding process. When the rent is right, the marketing is clearer, enquiries are more relevant and applicants are more likely to understand what the property offers from the beginning.
Make viewings useful, not just busy
A busy viewing schedule is not always the same as a strong one.
Viewings should help both sides understand whether the property is the right fit. For tenants, that means seeing the property clearly, asking practical questions and understanding what would be expected if they applied. For landlords, it means making sure interest is handled properly and that time is focused on suitable applicants.
Before arranging viewings, it is worth considering whether prospective tenants have the right basic information.
For example:
- Do they understand the rent and deposit requirements?
- Do they know when the property is available?
- Do they understand what is included?
- Have they seen enough information to know whether the property is likely to suit them?
- Are there any practical details they need to know before viewing?
- Is the viewing being arranged at a sensible stage in their search?
This does not mean making the process difficult. It means making it useful.
Good viewings should feel organised. The property should be ready to show, key details should be available, and questions should be answered clearly. That includes practical points such as parking, appliances, heating, outdoor space, bills where relevant, move-in timings and how maintenance would be handled.
The viewing is also often the first real experience a prospective tenant has of how the property and tenancy may be managed. A clear, professional process can help build confidence early on.
For landlords managing viewings themselves, this can take time. Enquiries need to be answered, appointments arranged, access managed and follow-up handled properly. For landlords who are busy, live away from the property or are unsure how to manage applicant interest, support from a lettings team can make this stage much easier to organise.
Think about suitability, not just speed
Finding a tenant quickly can be helpful, particularly if a property is empty or a previous tenancy has ended. But speed should not be the only measure of success.
The strongest application is not always just the fastest one received.
Finding the right tenant should be a fair, consistent and evidence-led process. Landlords need to consider whether an applicant is suitable for the property, whether the tenancy is affordable, whether the move-in timing works and whether expectations are clear on both sides.
This is not about making assumptions. It is about having a proper process.
A suitable tenant is more likely to understand the property, meet the financial requirements, communicate clearly and enter the tenancy with realistic expectations. That can make a significant difference once the tenancy begins.
Landlords should think carefully about:
- whether the applicant can afford the rent
- whether their move-in date works with the property’s availability
- whether the property suits their practical needs
- whether the application information is complete
- whether referencing supports the application
- whether any guarantor requirements are needed
- whether expectations around the tenancy have been clearly explained
This stage needs to be handled fairly and consistently. A professional process helps make sure applicants are treated properly and that decisions are based on relevant information rather than guesswork.
For landlords, that structure can provide reassurance. It helps reduce uncertainty and creates a clearer route from enquiry to application, referencing and tenancy setup.
Referencing is there for a reason
Referencing is not just an administrative step. It is one of the key ways landlords can make a more informed decision before a tenancy begins.
A proper referencing process can help check important details such as affordability, employment or income, previous rental history where relevant, identification and Right to Rent requirements where applicable.
Referencing cannot guarantee that every tenancy will be problem-free. No process can do that. But it can help landlords make decisions with more confidence and ensure important questions are answered before move-in.
Depending on the circumstances, referencing may include:
- affordability checks
- employment or income checks
- landlord references where applicable
- credit information
- identification checks
- Right to Rent checks
- guarantor checks, if required
- confirmation of key applicant details
The purpose is to reduce uncertainty.
It also creates a record of the process followed. That matters because tenant finding should be organised, consistent and properly documented. Clear records can help avoid confusion and make sure decisions are based on the information available at the time.
For landlords, referencing can be one of the more difficult parts of the process to manage alone, particularly if they are unfamiliar with what should be checked or how different pieces of information should be understood.
This is where a lettings team can provide practical support, helping landlords move from interest and application through to referencing and tenancy setup in a more structured way.
Set expectations before the tenancy begins
A good tenancy is easier to manage when expectations are clear from the start.
Once an applicant has been accepted, there are still important details to agree, explain and record before the tenancy begins. This is where the process moves from tenant finding into tenancy setup.
Landlords should make sure tenants understand:
- when rent is due
- how maintenance should be reported
- who to contact with questions
- what is included with the property
- how appliances, heating or meters work
- what access arrangements apply
- how inspections will be handled
- what is expected around looking after the property
- any relevant information about bins, parking, gardens or shared areas
Many tenancy issues do not start with one major problem. They build through unclear expectations, delayed communication or uncertainty about who is responsible for what.
The start of a tenancy is where landlords have the best opportunity to set the tone for communication, care and responsibility.
This is also where property management starts to become more visible. It is one thing to find a tenant. It is another to make sure the tenancy begins properly, communication is clear and the landlord knows how ongoing responsibilities will be handled.
Good tenant finding should not stop when an application is accepted. It should carry through into a clear, organised move-in process.
How Watsons can help landlords find the right tenant
For landlords, finding the right tenant can take time, organisation and a clear process.
Watsons can support landlords with the practical steps involved, from preparing the property for market and advising on presentation, through to marketing, viewings, tenant applications, referencing and tenancy setup.
That support can be particularly useful for landlords who are letting for the first time, returning to the market after a break, managing a property from a distance or deciding whether fully managed support would make the process easier.
A lettings team can help by:
- advising on how the property should be presented
- supporting realistic rental pricing
- marketing the property clearly
- handling tenant enquiries
- arranging and managing viewings
- supporting applications and referencing
- helping set up the tenancy properly
- advising on ongoing property management
- supporting communication once the tenancy begins
For some landlords, tenant finding is the main area where support is needed. For others, it is the start of a wider management relationship, where ongoing communication, maintenance, inspections and tenancy responsibilities are handled by a professional team.
The important thing is understanding what level of support is right for the landlord, the property and the tenancy.
Setting the tenancy up properly
Finding the right tenant is not about one single moment or one quick decision.
It is the result of a clear process: marketing the property properly, handling enquiries carefully, assessing applications consistently, completing appropriate checks and setting expectations before the tenancy begins.
For landlords, that process can make a real difference. It can reduce avoidable uncertainty, support better communication and help the tenancy begin on stronger ground.
It also creates a natural link to what happens next.
Once a tenant is in place, the focus shifts from finding and setting up the tenancy to managing it well. That includes communication, repairs, maintenance, inspections, record keeping and making sure the landlord’s responsibilities continue to be handled properly.
That is what we will look at in the next article in The Landlord Series: what good property management includes.
Find out more about lettings with Watsons
The next article in this series will look at what good property management includes, including communication, maintenance, inspections and the practical support that can help landlords manage a tenancy more confidently.
If you are preparing to let a property and would like clear, practical guidance, Watsons can support you with lettings, tenant finding and property management.
Watsons is currently offering 3 months’ free property management on new fully managed landlord instructions.
Speak to our lettings team to find out how we can help.
Contact Us
For further information on the current property market and ongoing legislation changes, or to speak with one of our experts, please email the following:
- Lettings: letting@watsons-property.co.uk
- Valuation & Survey Team: survey@watsons-property.co.uk
- Property Management:management@watsons-property.co.uk
Or call us on 0333 220 1234
