Top 5 reasons your tenant referencing is slowing down

Tenant referencing should be smooth and efficient, but it drags on all too often. Every extra day means frustrated tenants, unhappy landlords, and costly void periods. In fact, agents lose an average of £970 per property due to delays, according to Tenantviews.

So what is really slowing things down? Here are the top five culprits:

1. Lack of automation

If your provider still relies on manual ID checks and income validation, expect bottlenecks. Without tools like Open Banking, referencing teams are stuck handling paperwork by hand, a process that is both slow and prone to error.

2. Manual chasing of references

Endless calls and emails to tenants, employers, and landlords can eat up hours. The longer it takes to get a response, the longer the referencing takes. Automated reminders keep everyone moving and save your team valuable time.

3. Poor communication

Silence kills momentum. When agents do not know what stage the application is at, tenants lose confidence and motivation. Clear, regular updates keep all parties engaged and avoid unnecessary stalling.

4. No transparency or escalation 

If you cannot see what is happening behind the scenes or have no way to escalate a stuck case, referencing can grind to a halt. Good providers give you visibility across every step, along with a clear escalation route when issues crop up.

5. High abandonment or failure rates

A clunky application form or confusing instructions can push tenants to drop out altogether. Even worse, it could lead to unnecessary failures. The result is more delays, more admin, and potentially losing the tenancy completely.

The fix? Choose a provider that blends tech with simplicity

The quickest referencing comes from providers that cut out manual processes and keep things moving with automation. Smart tools reduce admin for agents and speed up checks for tenants.

That is exactly what Vouch Core delivers. With automated reminders, Open Banking checks, and a transparent dashboard, Core takes the hassle out of referencing and gives agents the control you want with the efficiency you need.

Faster referencing means smoother move-ins and fewer costly void periods, all without extra admin.

Speak to a member of our team today