Written references are the key to choosing a reliable tenant, says the chief of a London-based organisation which promotes the interests of landlords.

A recent survey by the National Landlords Association found that half of all owners have at some point in the past been left in the lurch by a runaway tenant.

Although four out of ten of the victims said it had happened to them in the past year, encouragingly an equal number questioned said it had been more than two years since they were dumped by a rogue.

The association's chairman David Salusbury believes it could be a sign that landlords are wising up.

"Despite the fact that the majority of tenancies end satisfactorily for both parties, the findings of our survey show that all landlords face the risk of a tenant abandoning a property at some point in time," he observes.

To minimise the risk, he advises owners to ask for a written reference from the prospective tenant's current employer. "This confirms that the prospective tenant is indeed a full-time employee with the firm and gives the landlord an additional contact should the tenant leave before the tenancy is up. Tenants are much less likely to abandon a property if a landlord has a record of their place of work and next of kin."

He suggests that the incoming tenant's previous landlord if there is one should also be contacted. He points out: "Landlords usually also take a one month deposit at the start of a tenancy which can go part way to covering any lost rent or damages. However from October next year deposits will have to be placed in an authorised tenancy deposit scheme in line with new regulations."

David Salusbury advises tenants who find themselves in a financial fix to come clean. "Occasionally a tenant may lose their job or encounter financial difficulties," he concedes. "I'd encourage people who find themselves in that position to seek professional help and speak to their landlord.

"It may be that a mutually safisfactory solution can be found. Upping sticks and abandoning a rented property is not the way out."

Mr Salusbury believes the time has come for landlords' interests to be given greater consideration. "Certain areas within the private rented sector do present a higher risk than others," he says. "At a time when government is focusing on improving the rights of tenants it is important they also ensure that the rights of the landlord are equally protected."