Landlord Reference Letter
The reference a new landlord trusts most is the last landlord's, and it's a short letter with a fixed set of facts: address and dates, rent and whether it was paid on time, the condition of the unit, notice given, the deposit returned — and one sentence saying you'd rent to them again. The three letters here are that letter from a landlord writing to another landlord, from a property manager, and from a private owner. Printed in full below; free in Word and Google Docs.
Landlord to landlord, property manager, private owner.
Same facts in each — dates, rent, payment, condition, notice, deposit — in the voice of the person writing it.
A landlord reference letter for a former tenant, in full.
[Month Day, Year]
[Landlord / Property Manager Name]
[Property or Company Name]
[Property Address]
[City, State ZIP]
To Whom It May Concern,
I am the property manager for [Property or Company Name], and I am writing to provide a rental reference for [Full Name], who was a tenant at [address or unit] from [move-in date] to [move-out date] under a [lease term] lease at [$X] per month.
During the tenancy, [First Name] paid rent [on time every month / on time with one exception in [month], which was resolved within [days]]. [He/She/They] kept the unit in [good / excellent] condition, gave proper notice before moving out, and the unit was returned [with the security deposit refunded in full / with only normal wear]. We received no complaints from neighbors and [he/she/they] complied with all lease terms, including [pets, parking, or other relevant terms].
[First Name] communicated promptly about maintenance requests and was easy to reach. [One specific, if you have it — reported a leak early enough to prevent damage, coordinated an inspection without difficulty.]
I would rent to [First Name] again without hesitation and am glad to recommend [him/her/them] to any landlord. Please contact me at [phone number or email] if you need verification of any of the details above.
Sincerely,
Jordan A. Bennett
What a landlord reference letter should include.
A landlord reading a reference is verifying an application. Give them the facts on the form, in order:
- Address and dates. Unit, move-in, move-out, lease term. Vague dates read as a letter written for a friend.
- Rent and the payment record. The monthly amount and ’paid on time every month’ — or the one exception and how it was resolved. Honesty here is what makes the rest believable.
- Condition, notice, deposit. Kept in good condition, proper notice given, deposit returned in full — three sentences.
- Would you rent to them again? The line every landlord looks for. If yes, say it plainly and give a phone number.
Writing for an applicant rather than as their landlord? The rental reference page has the personal, employer, and co-op letters. A tenant who needs to prove utility payment history can use the utility reference letter.
From download to signed letter.
- Download the version that matches you — landlord, property manager, or private owner — and open it in Word or Google Docs.
- Fill the brackets from your records: dates, rent, payment history, deposit. Don’t guess; the new landlord may verify.
- Sign it with a phone number, and give it to the tenant or send it to the requesting landlord directly.
Landlord reference FAQ
What is a landlord reference letter?
What should a landlord reference letter include?
Can a landlord refuse to write a reference letter?
Can a landlord reference letter be negative?
Is there a landlord reference letter template in Word?
How long should a landlord reference letter be?
Landlord reference letter sample & templates · Updated September 2026