The Moving Journal / Practical notes
How landlords choose tenants: prepare clear information
A viewing is a chance for both sides to decide whether a tenancy is suitable. Clear, accurate information is more useful than trying to guess which personal details will impress a landlord.
Ask about the property and the process.
Find out how applications are assessed, what information is requested and who is handling the tenancy. Prepare the documents you are legitimately asked to supply, check them for accuracy and use a secure method to share them. Avoid sending sensitive records to an unverified contact.
Ask practical questions about the move date, included contents, repairs and how the property will be handed over. If anything important is agreed during a viewing, request a written record. A clean-looking room does not answer questions about maintenance or the agreement.
Keep the conversation relevant and fair.
Landlords and agents must follow the rules that apply to private renting; personal preference is not a substitute for lawful, consistent decision-making. England’s private-renting framework changed from May 2026. Read the current GOV.UK overview for tenants rather than relying on an old application checklist.
Be factual about intended occupants, timing and any requirement that affects the home. Ask how the decision and next steps will be communicated. Do not offer an unrequested payment simply to speed up an unclear process.
Check the handover rather than assuming it.
Once a tenancy is agreed, arrange the inventory and record the condition before unpacking. Raise discrepancies promptly and retain the correspondence. If cleaning is needed before moving in, agree whether it is being arranged by the owner or is a service you are choosing yourself.
The London tenancy guide provides a practical document checklist. Owners preparing a property can read the new-tenant preparation guide and discuss handover cleaning as a separate task.