A tenant application can arrive as a tidy form or a long, rambling email. Either way, the goal is the same: separate the signal from the noise and decide whether the tenancy is likely to work. Here's a simple way to read one.
1. Start with affordability
Compare income to the rent first. If the numbers don't work, little else matters. Our affordability guide covers income multiples and what counts as income.
2. Check stability
Look at employment type, time in role, and whether the income picture is consistent. Stable, predictable income is usually more reassuring than a high but uncertain figure.
3. Read the history and references
Rental history and previous landlord references add context the numbers can't. Note anything you'd want to verify — and remember Right to Rent is a separate legal step (see our Right to Rent guide).
4. Notice what's missing
Gaps are not automatically red flags, but they are prompts. If the deposit source, an employer reference, or recent payslips are missing, that's your next question rather than your conclusion.
5. Keep it fair and explainable
Apply the same standard to everyone, focus on affordability and stability rather than protected characteristics, and keep your reasoning clear. This is exactly what LetLogic is built to support — it turns the application into an explainable risk read and suggests the follow-up questions to ask. See an example report.