Whether you try and find a tenant yourself or decide to use a letting agent, it's important to have some form of vetting procedure in place, even if this is simply a case of obtaining a reference from their previous landlord and current employer. You can additionally get a credit report which may give you an indication as to whether the prospective tenant will be able to pay rent on time. You'll also want to know if they're good at paying bills on time or if they've ever been evicted. However, bear in mind that even 'good' tenants can become problematic as a result of changing circumstances. Also, remember that it's illegal for landlords to discriminate against tenants on the basis of gender, sexuality, race, disability, age or religion or belief. For more information, read Picking a tenant and Picking a tenant in Scotland.