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Landlord reference request letter

A polite letter asking your previous landlord for a reference, with your permission to share details of the tenancy and a reply-by date.

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Template is informational. Review it, and get legal advice if you need it.

Fill it in online

What you type stays in this browser tab and is never sent to Roofy. Print it, or save it as a PDF, when you're done.

When to send it

Send this letter when a new landlord or agent asks for a reference from your current or previous landlord. It explains what you need, gives your permission to share details of the tenancy, and sets a reply-by date, so the request doesn't sit in an inbox.

  1. 1

    Fill it in and print or save a PDF

    Add the home you rented, roughly when, and who asked for the reference.
  2. 2

    Attach the reference form

    Send it with the one-page landlord reference letter, so your landlord only has to tick answers and sign.
  3. 3

    Give a realistic deadline

    A few working days is fair. Tell the new landlord when you asked, in case the reply is slow.
  4. 4

    Follow up once

    If there is no reply, a short reminder usually works. If your landlord never replies, offer rent receipts or bank statements showing rent paid.

The reference form is here: landlord reference letter. It leaves out questions about court cases and personal characteristics on purpose.

Fact-checked October 24, 2026

A courtesy letter, not a legal form. It names the tenancy-only questions in the landlord reference template and records the tenant’s permission to share them.

Sources

  1. Real Property Law § 227-f: Prohibiting denial of housing based on prior landlord-tenant actions · New York State Senate (accessed October 24, 2026)

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change; confirm with the agency or a professional before you act.