Confidence in tenant checks?

Hi guys,

I've only recently started entertaining the thought of letting my property and hoping to get some honest help from unbiased sources!

The letting agents I've been speaking to use a variety of different tenant reference agents and I have no idea about the ins and outs of what actually happens in these checks.

The prospective tenant seems okay - say's he is a working professional and has been in employment with his current employer for just over 4 years. He has also been renting a property close to mine for the last 4 years. His checks came up ok, but I want to be certain my first let goes smoothly and have several reservations (probably just paranoia mind!)

My first question would be WRT employment history. How is this actually verified? Prospective client works for a very small ad and marketing agency that I've never heard of and they have no HR department. All he provided was an email address and telephone number. I am wondering therefore how the check is verified by the agency (MARAS)? How does it prove he is in employment? How does he prove he is at the employer he says he is?

Any help appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Z