The National Landlords Association (NLA) is reminding landlords to carry out background checks on potential tenants before letting their properties.

The association advises all landlords to carry out checks to confirm a tenant’s identity, and to ensure that there is no apparent reason why they could not keep up with the rent.

A recent survey by the NLA revealed that nearly three-quarters of landlords who sought possession of their property had experienced rent arrears.

Through the necessary searches, their survey found that approximately one in twenty tenants processed by the NLA referencing service had one or more County Court Judgments (CCJ) against them at an undisclosed previous address during the first half of 2011.

David Salusbury, Chairman, NLA, said: “Getting a proper background check done on all tenants before they move into a property is one of the most important things a landlord can do before handing over the keys.

“It is vital landlords find out basic information about their prospective tenant to help avoid rent arrears or other problems further down the track. This gives the landlord peace of mind that their properties are in good hands and will hopefully mark the start of a satisfactory and hassle-free tenancy.”