{"id":222650,"date":"2026-03-27T13:11:40","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T13:11:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/?p=222650"},"modified":"2026-03-27T18:24:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T18:24:59","slug":"keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\/","title":{"rendered":"Keeping Your Let Compliant: What You Can\u2019t Say, What You Can Ask, and How to Assess Affordability Fairly"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Letting a property in today\u2019s market involves far more than simply finding a tenant and signing a tenancy agreement. Regulatory scrutiny is higher than ever, and landlords must navigate a complex framework of legislation designed to protect tenants from discrimination and ensure fair access to housing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At Hunters, we work closely with landlords to ensure every stage of the lettings process, from marketing through to referencing, is compliant, transparent, and fair. In this guide, we explore what you <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can\u2019t<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> say, what you <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ask, and how to assess affordability responsibly without falling foul of UK law.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Related:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/set-the-right-asking-rent-first-time-pricing-strategies-when-bidding-wars-are-off-the-table\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Set the right asking rent first time: pricing strategies when bidding wars are off the table<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b>The increasing need for compliance in lettings<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The UK lettings landscape is increasingly shaped by the Renters\u2019 Rights Act, which aims to create a fairer and more transparent rental market for tenants.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Non-compliance isn\u2019t just a legal risk, it can also damage your reputation, reduce tenant trust, and lead to costly disputes. With growing tenant awareness and stronger enforcement, landlords must ensure that every interaction, advert, and decision is fully compliant with the latest regulations.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What you can\u2019t say: avoiding discriminatory language<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most common compliance pitfalls occurs at the marketing stage. Property listings and communications must not include wording that could be interpreted as unfair or exclusionary under the Renters\u2019 Rights Act.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This means landlords and agents must take care to ensure that adverts are inclusive and do not restrict access to certain groups without clear, lawful justification.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Examples of language to avoid:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNo DSS\u201d or \u201cNo benefits\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cProfessionals only\u201d where it unfairly excludes other applicants<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIdeal for young couples\u201d or any age-related preference<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNo children\u201d or \u201cNot suitable for families\u201d without a valid reason<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">References to nationality, ethnicity, or religion<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead, focus on the property itself rather than the type of tenant you think should occupy it. For example, describing a property as \u201ca one-bedroom flat with limited storage\u201d is appropriate, whereas suggesting it is \u201conly suitable for a single person\u201d may raise compliance concerns.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clarity is important, but it must always remain neutral, inclusive, and aligned with current legislation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Related: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/pet-friendly-tenancies-how-the-renters-rights-act-2025-changes-the-rules-for-landlords\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pet-friendly tenancies: How the Renters\u2019 Rights Act 2025 changes the rules for landlords<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b>What you can ask: staying within legal boundaries<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While landlords must avoid discrimination, they are still entitled to carry out thorough referencing and due diligence. The key is ensuring that all questions are relevant, proportionate, and applied consistently to every applicant.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can ask for information that helps you assess suitability and risk, provided it does not discriminate unfairly.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Permissible areas of enquiry include:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employment status and income<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Previous landlord references<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit history<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Right to Rent documentation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Number of occupants (for safety and licensing compliance)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, questions about personal circumstances must be handled carefully. For example, asking whether someone is planning to have children, their religious practices, or their medical history would be inappropriate unless directly relevant and justified.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consistency is crucial. All applicants should be assessed using the same criteria and process to ensure fairness and transparency.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The affordability question: getting it right<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Affordability checks are a fundamental part of the lettings process, but they must be carried out fairly and without indirect discrimination.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traditionally, many landlords have used blanket rules such as requiring tenants to earn 2.5 or 3 times the annual rent. While this can be a useful guideline, rigid application can disproportionately affect certain groups, including those receiving benefits or with non-traditional income streams.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A more balanced approach considers the applicant\u2019s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">overall financial position<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, rather than relying solely on income multiples.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Related: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/section-13-notices-explained-timelines-evidence-and-the-most-common-mistakes-that-invalidate-increases\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Section 13 notices explained: Timelines, evidence, and the most common mistakes that invalidate increases<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b>How to assess affordability fairly<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A fair affordability assessment should take a holistic view of the tenant\u2019s financial stability. This includes not just income, but reliability, consistency, and supporting evidence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rather than excluding applicants outright, landlords should consider alternative ways to mitigate risk where affordability is less straightforward.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Best practice approaches include:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reviewing net income after essential outgoings<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accepting a guarantor where appropriate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Considering savings or financial reserves<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking into account stable benefit income<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using professional referencing services<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Importantly, benefit income is legally recognised and should not be dismissed automatically. Recent court rulings have reinforced that blanket bans on tenants receiving benefits are likely to be discriminatory.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At Hunters, we encourage landlords to move away from rigid criteria and towards evidence-based decision-making that reflects the realities of today\u2019s rental market.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Consistency and documentation: your strongest protection<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even when acting in good faith, landlords can face challenges if decisions appear inconsistent or poorly documented. Keeping clear records of your criteria, processes, and decisions is essential.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This includes:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Written referencing criteria applied to all applicants<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Notes explaining decisions (especially where applicants are declined)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Copies of communications and application forms<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This level of transparency not only protects you legally but also demonstrates professionalism and fairness to prospective tenants.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The role of letting agents in ensuring compliance<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Handling compliance independently can be both time-consuming and complex. With regulations continually evolving and best practices changing, it can be challenging for landlords to keep fully up to date.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Working with an experienced letting agent like Hunters provides reassurance that:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your property marketing is compliant and inclusive<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tenant referencing is fair, thorough, and legally sound<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Affordability checks are balanced and evidence-based<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All documentation meets current regulatory standards<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our teams are trained to navigate these requirements while protecting your investment and securing reliable tenants.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Stay compliant, let smarter<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compliance isn\u2019t about restriction, it\u2019s about protecting your investment and ensuring fairness. With the right approach, you can reduce risk and attract the right tenants.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/our-branches\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact your local Hunters branch today.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Letting a property in today\u2019s market involves far more than simply finding a tenant and signing a tenancy agreement. Regulatory scrutiny is higher than ever, and landlords must navigate a complex framework of legislation designed to protect tenants from discrimination and ensure fair access to housing. At Hunters, we work closely with landlords to ensure [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":222655,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2461],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-222650","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-landlord"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Keeping Your Let Compliant: What You Can\u2019t Say, What You Can Ask, and How to Assess Affordability Fairly - Hunters Estate Agents &amp; Letting Agents<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Stay compliant with Hunters: learn what landlords can\u2019t say, what you can ask, and how to assess tenant affordability fairly in the UK lettings market.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Keeping Your Let Compliant: What You Can\u2019t Say, What You Can Ask, and How to Assess Affordability Fairly\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Stay compliant with Hunters: learn what landlords can\u2019t say, what you can ask, and how to assess tenant affordability fairly in the UK lettings market.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Hunters Estate Agents &amp; Letting Agents\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-03-27T13:11:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-27T18:24:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HUN-RRA.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1412\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"836\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Abishek.Festus@nurtur.tech\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Abishek.Festus@nurtur.tech\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/guides\\\/landlord\\\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/guides\\\/landlord\\\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Abishek.Festus@nurtur.tech\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b5070cee9e167df19b22ba1f5f5b797b\"},\"headline\":\"Keeping Your Let Compliant: What You Can\u2019t Say, What You Can Ask, and How to Assess Affordability Fairly\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-27T13:11:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-27T18:24:59+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/guides\\\/landlord\\\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":966,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/guides\\\/landlord\\\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/HUN-RRA.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Landlord\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/guides\\\/landlord\\\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/guides\\\/landlord\\\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\\\/\",\"name\":\"Keeping Your Let Compliant: What You Can\u2019t Say, What You Can Ask, and How to Assess Affordability Fairly - Hunters Estate Agents &amp; Letting Agents\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/guides\\\/landlord\\\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/guides\\\/landlord\\\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/HUN-RRA.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-27T13:11:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-27T18:24:59+00:00\",\"description\":\"Stay compliant with Hunters: learn what landlords can\u2019t say, what you can ask, and how to assess tenant affordability fairly in the UK lettings market.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/guides\\\/landlord\\\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/guides\\\/landlord\\\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/guides\\\/landlord\\\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/HUN-RRA.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/HUN-RRA.jpg\",\"width\":1412,\"height\":836,\"caption\":\"Landlord reviewing tenant application documents with letting agent\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/guides\\\/landlord\\\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Landlord\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/guides\\\/category\\\/landlord\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Keeping Your Let Compliant: What You Can\u2019t Say, What You Can Ask, and How to Assess Affordability Fairly\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Hunters Estate Agents &amp; Letting Agents\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Hunters Estate Agents &amp; Letting Agents\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/Hunters-512x512pix.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/Hunters-512x512pix.png\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1920,\"caption\":\"Hunters Estate Agents &amp; Letting Agents\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hunters.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b5070cee9e167df19b22ba1f5f5b797b\",\"name\":\"Abishek.Festus@nurtur.tech\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/0606bf87f76bba29c4e58db37aad06034056d6bff880cf226333880d6ac8f2df?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/0606bf87f76bba29c4e58db37aad06034056d6bff880cf226333880d6ac8f2df?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/0606bf87f76bba29c4e58db37aad06034056d6bff880cf226333880d6ac8f2df?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Abishek.Festus@nurtur.tech\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Keeping Your Let Compliant: What You Can\u2019t Say, What You Can Ask, and How to Assess Affordability Fairly - Hunters Estate Agents &amp; Letting Agents","description":"Stay compliant with Hunters: learn what landlords can\u2019t say, what you can ask, and how to assess tenant affordability fairly in the UK lettings market.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Keeping Your Let Compliant: What You Can\u2019t Say, What You Can Ask, and How to Assess Affordability Fairly","og_description":"Stay compliant with Hunters: learn what landlords can\u2019t say, what you can ask, and how to assess tenant affordability fairly in the UK lettings market.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\/","og_site_name":"Hunters Estate Agents &amp; Letting Agents","article_published_time":"2026-03-27T13:11:40+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-03-27T18:24:59+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1412,"height":836,"url":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HUN-RRA.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Abishek.Festus@nurtur.tech","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Abishek.Festus@nurtur.tech","Estimated reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\/"},"author":{"name":"Abishek.Festus@nurtur.tech","@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b5070cee9e167df19b22ba1f5f5b797b"},"headline":"Keeping Your Let Compliant: What You Can\u2019t Say, What You Can Ask, and How to Assess Affordability Fairly","datePublished":"2026-03-27T13:11:40+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-27T18:24:59+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\/"},"wordCount":966,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HUN-RRA.jpg","articleSection":["Landlord"],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\/","url":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\/","name":"Keeping Your Let Compliant: What You Can\u2019t Say, What You Can Ask, and How to Assess Affordability Fairly - Hunters Estate Agents &amp; Letting Agents","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HUN-RRA.jpg","datePublished":"2026-03-27T13:11:40+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-27T18:24:59+00:00","description":"Stay compliant with Hunters: learn what landlords can\u2019t say, what you can ask, and how to assess tenant affordability fairly in the UK lettings market.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HUN-RRA.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HUN-RRA.jpg","width":1412,"height":836,"caption":"Landlord reviewing tenant application documents with letting agent"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/landlord\/keeping-your-let-compliant-what-you-cant-say-what-you-can-ask-and-how-to-assess-affordability-fairly\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Landlord","item":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/guides\/category\/landlord\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Keeping Your Let Compliant: What You Can\u2019t Say, What You Can Ask, and How to Assess Affordability Fairly"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/","name":"Hunters Estate Agents &amp; Letting Agents","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/#organization","name":"Hunters Estate Agents &amp; Letting Agents","url":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Hunters-512x512pix.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Hunters-512x512pix.png","width":1920,"height":1920,"caption":"Hunters Estate Agents &amp; Letting Agents"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b5070cee9e167df19b22ba1f5f5b797b","name":"Abishek.Festus@nurtur.tech","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0606bf87f76bba29c4e58db37aad06034056d6bff880cf226333880d6ac8f2df?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0606bf87f76bba29c4e58db37aad06034056d6bff880cf226333880d6ac8f2df?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0606bf87f76bba29c4e58db37aad06034056d6bff880cf226333880d6ac8f2df?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Abishek.Festus@nurtur.tech"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222650","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=222650"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222650\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/222655"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=222650"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=222650"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hunters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=222650"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}