8 tenant mistakes on rental application forms and how to prevent them

When applying for a rental property, it's easy for tenants to make simple mistakes that can delay or even jeopardise their chances of securing a home – without even realising they’re doing so. From incomplete information to missing the right documents, these errors can slow down the referencing process and frustrate everyone involved.

To help you streamline your referencing process and avoid unnecessary setbacks, we’ve outlined the eight most common mistakes made on rental application forms and how to stop them from happening. After all, a little extra attention upfront can make all the difference.

8 most common rental application mistakes

Every landlord and letting agent dreams of finding the perfect tenant – someone who treats the property with care, pays rent on time, and is easy to work with. But what should you really be looking for when searching for that ideal tenant? In this guide, we’ll cover the key qualities to keep an eye out for and share a handy tenant referencing checklist to help you make sure your gut feeling is backed up with the right checks.

1. Incomplete information
   This one’s a no-brainer: A reliable tenant is one who pays their rent on time, every time. 
   
   How to prevent it:
   Make sure your applicants know every field needs to be filled out. Digital application platforms (like Vouch’s) use mandatory fields to stop people from submitting their applications if they’ve missed anything. Providing a checklist with their tenancy application can also help guide tenants through the process.
   
   
2. Incorrect income details
   Applicants often misunderstand what income details are required from them when applying for a property. They might only state their base salary, leave out bonuses or other income streams, or accidentally misreport their earnings.
   
   How to prevent it:
   

   Clarify what counts as income, including base salary, bonuses, benefits, and freelance earnings. Ask for proof, such as payslips or bank statements, to verify the figures. It’s also worth letting tenants know their monthly income should typically be 2.5 to 3 times the rent before they start their application, to make sure nobody’s time is wasted.

3. Providing unverifiable references
   Another common mistake made on rental application forms? Submitting unverifiable references. This could be because the applicant doesn’t have the correct details for previous landlords or employers, or they’ve listed personal friends when a formal referee is required.
   
   How to prevent it:
   Make sure tenants know what type of referees they need to provide and that, if a reference can’t be contacted, it could delay their application. Encourage them to notify their referees ahead of time, so they’re ready to respond the moment they receive the reference request.
   
   
4. Failing to disclose adverse credit history
   Some tenants won't disclose credit issues, such as unpaid debts, CCJs (County Court Judgements), or past bankruptcies because they’re worried about how they could impact their application.
   
   How to prevent it:
   Encourage applicants to be upfront about any credit problems. Make sure they know being honest and providing an explanation for past issues can ease a landlord’s concerns, and is more likely to help them secure the property than being dishonest.
   
   
5. Not listing all occupants
   Sometimes tenants won’t mention all the occupants who will be living in the property on their tenancy application, whether it’s partners, children, or other family members.
   
   How to prevent it:
   Make it clear to applicants that they must list everyone who will live in the property, including children, and any omissions could cause problems with right to rent checks and legally prevent letting agents and landlords from renting the property.
   
   
6. Incorrect right to rent documentation
   

   Right to rent legislation is complex, and many applicants don’t understand what documents they’re required to provide – particularly if they’re from overseas.

   How to prevent it:
   Provide clear guidance on which right to rent documents are required and make sure they understand that, without the proper documentation, letting agents and landlords won’t be able to rent to them.
   
   
7. Incorrect contact information
   

   Simple manual errors such as entering an incorrect phone number, email address, or old address can cause communication breakdowns during the referencing process.

   How to prevent it:
   

   Ask applicants to double-check their contact information before submitting  anything. Putting an automated application system in place that sends a confirmation email or text can help verify that the details they’ve submitted are correct.

8. Unexplained employment gaps
   

   Tenants may leave gaps in their employment history unexplained, either because they feel embarrassed or simply don't realise an explanation is needed.

   How to prevent it:
   

   Encourage tenants to explain any gaps in employment, whether they were freelancing, studying, travelling, or on parental leave. Make sure they know unexplained gaps can make landlords uneasy, but a clear and simple explanation can relieve any concerns.

   Ready to streamline your tenant referencing process? Try Vouch today for faster, more accurate applications and fewer delays.