Do I have to ask potential tenant recommendation letter from current landlord?

[Kevin Kim]

Hi,

We have found a really good potential tenant. He has already submitted an application through Zillow, and we have the contact number of his current home manager.

Please let me know if it's still a good idea to ask the potential tenant for a recommendation letter from their current landlord, or if calling the manager would suffice.

By the way, what should we do if the tenant has simply provided a friend’s number, and the friend pretends to be the landlord or property manager, or if he just make fake letter? Are there a way to check? 

Thank you. 

[Bill B.]

I don’t think many/any landlords would write such a letter. 

Does the tenant’s driver’s license address match the supposed previous rental?

If so then go to your county website and look up the property tax records. It will show the owner and the address the property taxes are mailed to. Does that name match the name the tenant gave you? Look up the address on Zillow and make sure it was a rental during the period they say they rented. Maybe even enter a submission from Zillow asking for contact info.