Why a reference helps
A new landlord wants to know how a tenancy went: how long you stayed, what the rent was, whether it was paid on time and whether you left properly. A short, signed reference from your current or last landlord answers that in one page. If you have never rented before, a reference from someone you lived with or a guarantor arrangement are common substitutes.
How to use it
- 1
Add your name and the address
Fill in your full name and the address of the home you rented. Leave the rest for your landlord. - 2
Send it to your landlord or agent
Print it or save it as a PDF and email it, or use the request letter, which explains what you need and by when. - 3
They fill it in and sign
Every question has a “Prefer not to say” option, so they can answer what they are comfortable with. - 4
Give it to the new landlord
Upload the signed reference where you were asked for it, or keep it with your other rental documents.
What a fair reference leaves out
This form asks only about the tenancy. It has no questions about court cases or evictions, and nothing about family, health, age, religion, nationality or other personal characteristics. Those questions can be unlawful, they say nothing about how someone pays rent, and New York bars refusing someone because of a past landlord-tenant case.
Want the previous landlord to know exactly what you need? Send the reference request letter with this form.