How to Write a Rental Reference Letter (Templates & Samples)

To write a rental reference letter, always include these must-have details: if you paid rent on time, how you kept up the property, and what makes you a reliable tenant. A rental reference letter speaks to your character and reliability as a renter, and ideally should come from either a current or previous landlord, property manager, colleague, or roommate.

Rental reference letters are a standard part of most apartment applications, so it’s important to have one written by someone who can vouch for your strengths as a tenant. Whether you want to draft your own reference letter or use one of our templates, we cover everything you need to know so you can get it right.

How to Write a Rental Reference Letter (Templates + Samples)

What Is a Rental Reference Letter?

A rental reference letter is a recommendation written on your behalf, usually by a landlord, and sent to a potential landlord or property manager. It highlights your qualities as a tenant and helps you make a strong first impression. While landlords are the most common source, references can also come from roommates, colleagues, or supervisors who can speak to your reliability, responsibility, and character.

Who Should You Select as Your Rental Reference?

The right reference can make or break your application. Aim for someone who can speak directly to your reliability. Good references include:

Who Shouldn’t Be Your Rental Reference?

Even well-meaning references can hurt your chances if they’re not the right fit. Avoid asking for a reference letter from:

• Your best friend. They may know you well, but landlords want impartiality, not personal bias.
• Family members. Your mom will always say you're great, but landlords might see red flags and assume you can't find another rental reference.
• Unreliable contacts. If you’re unsure whether someone will give a strong recommendation, it’s better to skip them.

You can ask more than one person to provide a renters reference letter. Just make sure they're a credible choice.

How Do You Write a Rental Reference Letter?

If you’re asking someone to write a rental reference letter for you, make it easy by sharing a sample or template they can customize. A good rental reference letter is clear, concise, and focused on facts. Here’s how to approach it:

1. Line up your references early

Have your letters ready before you start your apartment search, especially during the peak rental season. The faster you can submit a complete application, the better your chances.

2. Keep it short and relevant

A rental reference letter isn’t a plea to offer you a lease. Instead, it’s to the point, straightforward, and sticks to relevant information about your reliability as a tenant.

3. Know what you can and can’t say

If you’re an employer providing a reference letter, you can’t disclose personal information such as your employee’s salary. However, you can confirm stable income or long-term employment. Always check company rules before writing this letter.

4. Be honest

Always tell the truth and be ready to support your claims with evidence if needed. Even the smallest lie could backfire and destroy your chances of securing an apartment. Don’t assume or mention unnecessary details in a rental reference letter. Stick to the facts and what you know.

5. Keep it professional

Keep it neutral, not emotional. A letter that’s overly glowing without facts can raise red flags. Aim for a balanced, professional tone.

6. Keep it structured

Your rental reference letter needs structure to avoid too little or too much detail.

• Your name and contact information
• Addressee or “to whom it may concern”
• Greeting
• Introduction
• Body of the letter
• Conclusion
• Sign-off
• Signature

Beyond the basics, here are other things to keep in mind when writing a great rental reference letter:

Offer a phone call instead

Not everyone will spend their free time tailoring a renters reference letter for you. However, they might be happier to have a quick phone chat with a potential landlord.

If you have bad credit, use strong references

Most landlords will double check your credit score or ask for a copy of your credit report. However, if you have a bad credit score, make sure you have good references who can explain your situation, and talk up your financial responsibility and accountability.

Template: Rental Reference Letter from an Employer or Supervisor

[Your Name]

[Company name]

[Your phone number]

[Your email address] (optional)

[Your Current Address]

[City, State, Zip Code]

[Landlord’s Name Or Apartment Company’s Name] (optional)

[Landlord’s Address] (optional)

[City, State, Zip Code] (optional)

Re: Rental reference letter for [lessee’s name]

Dear [Landlord’s name/Property Manager’s name/Apartment Manager’s name] or To whom it may concern,

I am writing to you concerning [Lessee’s Name] and [his/her] credibility as a potential tenant at your rental property. I am [title/position] at [company name] where [lessee’s name] is currently employed, and act as [his/her] supervisor.

[Lessee’s name] has been employed with [Company name] for the past [Time Frame], and I have known [him/her] for [Time Frame]. I am writing to confirm that [Lessee’s name] is in good standing with [Company Name], and has a stable job and income. Consequently, [Lessee’s name]'s earnings are sufficient to provide for [his/her] needs.

It is without hesitation that I write this letter of recommendation for [Lessee’s Name]. [He/She] continuously demonstrates responsibility and accountability and performs required tasks on time. [He/She] is trustworthy and honest. [Optional: Add an example]. Additionally, [Lessee’s Name] hasn’t been involved in any conflicts and demonstrates a high level of emotional intelligence.

Finally, I believe the above qualities will make [Lessee’s name] a good, responsible tenant.

If you have any questions regarding my recommendation, please don’t hesitate to contact me via [Phone and/or Email].

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Signature]

Sample Rental Reference Letter from an Employer or Supervisor

Leslie Smith

Apartment List

(000) 000-0000

creative_producer@apartmentlist.com

475 Brannan St

San Francisco, CA 94107

Apple Hill Apartments

1 Apple Hill

San Francisco, CA 94104

Re: Rental reference letter for Anne Williams,

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to you with regard to Anne Williams and her credibility as a potential tenant at your rental property. I am a Creative Producer at Apartment List, where Anne is currently employed, and I act as her direct supervisor.

Anne Williams has been employed with Apartment List for the past three years, and I have known her for two and a half years. I am writing to confirm that Anne is in good standing with Apartment List and has a stable job and income. Anne’s income is sufficient to provide for her needs.

It is without hesitation that I write this recommendation letter for Anne. She continuously demonstrates accountability and responsibility and performs required tasks on time. Furthermore, Anne is honest and trustworthy. In addition to that, she handles contractor budgets on our teams and always pays their commissions on time. Additionally, Anne hasn’t been involved in any conflicts. To my knowledge, she is a team player and demonstrates a high level of emotional intelligence.

To sum up, I believe all of these aforementioned qualities will make Anne a good, responsible tenant.

If you have any questions regarding Anne’s employment or my recommendation, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email.

Sincerely,

Leslie Smith

Template: Rental Reference Letter from a Colleague

[Your name]

[Company name]

[Your phone number]

[Your email address] (optional)

[Your Current Address]

[City, State, Zip Code]

[Landlord’s Name Or Apartment Company’s Name] (optional)

[Landlord’s Address] (optional)

[City, State, Zip Code] (optional)

Re: Rental reference letter for [lessee’s name]

Dear [Landlord’s name/Property Manager’s name/Apartment Manager’s name] or To whom it may concern,

I am writing to you with regard to [Lessee’s Name] and [his/her] credibility as a potential tenant at your rental property. I am [title/position] at [company name] where [lessee’s name] is currently employed, and am [his/her] colleague.

[Lessee’s name] has been employed with [Company name] for the past [Time Frame] and I have known [him/her] for [Time Frame]. I am writing to confirm that [Lessee’s name] is in good standing with [Company Name] and [his/her] colleagues.

It is without hesitation that I write this recommendation letter for [Lessee’s Name]. [He/She] continuously demonstrates responsibility and accountability, and performs required tasks on time. [He/She] is trustworthy and honest and possesses high levels of integrity and emotional intelligence. [Optional: Add an example]. Additionally, [Lessee’s Name] hasn’t been involved in any conflicts and is friendly and cooperative.

Finally, I believe the above-mentioned qualities will make [Lessee’s name] a responsible tenant and a good neighbor.

If you have any questions regarding my recommendation, please don’t hesitate to contact me via [Phone and/or Email].

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Signature]

Sample Rental Reference Letter from a Colleague

Angela Smith

angela_smith@apartmentlist.com

475 Brannan St

San Francisco, CA 94107

Underhill Luxury Apartments

1 Underhill Ct

San Francisco, CA 94101

Re: Rental reference letter for Mary James

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to you with regard to Mary James and her credibility as a potential tenant at your rental property. I am a Content Specialist at Apartment List where Mary is currently employed and am her colleague and teammate.

Mary has been employed with Apartment List for the past two years, and I have known her for one year. I am writing to confirm that Mary James is in good standing with Apartment List and her coworkers.

It is without hesitation that I write this recommendation letter for Mary James. She continuously demonstrates responsibility and accountability and performs required tasks on time. She is helpful, trustworthy, and honest and possesses high levels of integrity and emotional intelligence. Additionally, Mary is a great teammate who always meets deadlines and helps others do so too. She is easygoing and friendly. She hasn’t been involved in any conflicts to the best of my knowledge.

Finally, I believe the aforementioned qualities will make Mary a responsible and reliable tenant.

If you have any questions regarding my recommendation, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email.

Sincerely,

Angela Smith

Template: Rental Reference Letter from a Current or Former Roommate

[Your name]

[Your phone number]

[Your email address] (optional)

[Your Current Address]

[City, State, Zip Code]

[Landlord’s Name Or Apartment Company’s Name] (optional)

[Landlord’s Address] (optional)

[City, State, Zip Code] (optional)

Re: Rental reference letter for [lessee’s name]

Dear [Landlord’s name/Property Manager’s name/Apartment Manager’s name] or To whom it may concern,

I am writing to you with regard to [Lessee’s Name] and [his/her] credibility as a potential tenant at your rental property. I am [Lessee’s Name]’s [current/former] roommate and have known [him/her] for the past [Time Frame].

This letter intends to confirm that [Lessee’s name] is in good standing with [his/her] roommates and is a good tenant. To my knowledge, [Lessee’s name] has always paid her rent on time and performed household chores assigned to [him/her]. Furthermore, [he/she] followed community rules and kept the rental property clean and in good condition.

Without hesitation, I write this recommendation letter for [Lessee’s Name]. [He/She] continuously demonstrates responsibility and accountability. [He/She] is trustworthy and honest and possesses high levels of integrity and emotional intelligence. [Optional: Add an example]. Additionally, [Lessee’s Name] hasn’t been involved in any conflicts with other roommates and is friendly and cooperative.

Finally, I believe that the above-mentioned qualities will make [Lessee’s name] a responsible tenant and a good neighbor.

If you have any questions regarding my recommendation, please don’t hesitate to contact me via [Phone and/or Email].

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Signature]

Sample Rental Reference Letter from a Roommate

Stephen Lee

(000) 000-0000

steven_lee@email.com

1 Cherry Blossom Ct

San Francisco CA

John Smith

2 Blueberry Ave

San Francisco, CA 94103

Re: Rental reference letter for Emily Tran

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am writing to you with regard to Emily Tran and her credibility as a potential tenant at your rental property. I am Emily’s current roommate and have known her for the past three years.

This letter intends to confirm that Emily Tran is in good standing with her roommates and is a great tenant. Emily always makes her rental payments on time, performs household chores assigned to her, follows household rules, and keeps our rental unit clean and tidy.

It is without hesitation that I write this recommendation letter for Emily. She continuously demonstrates responsibility and accountability. Additionally, she is trustworthy and honest and possesses high levels of integrity and emotional intelligence. In fact, if any conflicts arise among other roommates, she always acts as a peacemaker. Emily is easygoing and friendly.

Finally, I believe that the aforementioned qualities make Emily a responsible tenant, a good roommate, and a good neighbor.

If you have any questions regarding my recommendation, please feel free to contact me via email provided above.

Sincerely,

Stephen Lee

Template: Rental Reference Letter from a Landlord or Property Manager

[Your name]

[Your phone number]

[Your email address] (optional)

[Your Current Address]

[City, State, Zip Code]

[Landlord’s Name Or Apartment Company’s Name] (optional)

[Landlord’s Address] (optional)

[City, State, Zip Code] (optional)

Re: Rental reference letter for [lessee’s name]

Dear [Landlord’s name/Property Manager’s name/Apartment Manager’s name] or To whom it may concern,

I am writing to you with regard to [Lessee’s Name] and [his/her] credibility as a potential tenant at your rental property. I am [Lessee’s Name]’s [current/former][landlord/property manager] and have known [him/her] for the past [Time Frame].

I confirm that [Lessee’s name] resided at [Address] from [Date] to [Date]. During this rental period, [Lessee’s Name] has always paid rent on time. Furthermore, [he/she] complied with all rules and regulations outlined in the lease and always kept the property clean and in good condition. We [refunded/are going to refund][his/her]security deposit in full.

It is without hesitation that I write this recommendation letter for [Lessee’s Name]. [He/She] continuously demonstrates responsibility and accountability. [He/She] is a trustworthy and honest tenant and possesses high levels of integrity and emotional intelligence. Additionally, there were no complaints from [other tenants and/or neighbors].

Finally, I believe that the above-mentioned qualities will make [Lessee’s name] a responsible tenant and a good neighbor.

If you have any questions regarding my recommendation, please feel free to contact me via [Phone and/or Email].

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Signature]

Sample Landlord Reference Letter

Jeffrey Andrews

(000) 000-0000

landlordjeff@apartmentlist.com

475 Brannan St

San Francisco, CA 94107

John Smith

1 Forest Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

Re: Rental reference letter for Jane Taylor,

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am writing to you regarding Jane Taylor and her credibility as a prospective tenant at your rental property. I am Jane’s former landlord.

During this rental period, Jane always complied with all rules and terms outlined in the lease agreement. She also made rental payments on time without any delays. Jane always kept the property clean and tidy and her unit in good condition. I refunded her security deposit in full.

It is without hesitation that I recommend Jane Taylor as a tenant for your rental property. She was always friendly, conscious of other tenants, and continuously demonstrated responsibility and trustworthiness. Additionally, there were no known complaints about Jane from other tenants.

In conclusion, I believe that the above-mentioned facts qualify her as a good tenant and neighbor.

If you have any questions about her tenancy, please feel free to call me at (000) 000-0000.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Andrews

Looking for a New Apartment?

A solid rental reference letter gets you one step closer to landing your perfect place. Remember: find references early, ask the right people, and make it simple for them to highlight your strengths. Don’t forget to return the favor and provide references for employees and colleagues when they may need help.

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FAQs About How to Write a Reference Letter

What makes a great rental reference letter?

A great rental reference letter comes from someone who knows you as a responsible tenant or employee. It should include specific examples of your reliability, like paying rent on time or keeping the property in good condition. Clear, honest details carry more weight than generic praise.

What makes you stand out to a landlord?

Consistency and responsibility. Landlords look for tenants who pay on time, care for the property, and communicate well. A strong letter that shows you’ve done those things before makes your application stronger.

How do you get past a bad landlord reference?

If you know a landlord won’t vouch for you, ask someone else—a past roommate, employer, or property manager—who can speak positively about your character. You can also include context in your application to explain the situation without being defensive.

Do you always need a rental reference letter?

Not every landlord asks for one, but many do—especially in competitive markets. Having one ready shows you’re prepared and gives your application an edge.

How long should a rental reference letter be?

Your letter should be one page, max. A few paragraphs with specific details are enough to show reliability.

How do I choose a reference if I’ve never rented before?

If this is your first apartment, ask for a letter from an employer, professor, or volunteer coordinator. They can vouch for your reliability, financial stability, and respect for commitments.

How far back should references go?

Ideally, your most recent landlord or employer is best. But if you had a great rental history a few years ago, that’s still worth including. Recent, relevant references will always make the strongest case.