UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018: Primary data protection legislation governing how personal information can be shared and processed in reference letters. Requires consent for sharing personal data and maintaining data minimization principles.

Defamation Act 2013: Ensures that any statements made in the reference letter are truthful and not libelous, protecting both the referee and the subject from potential legal issues.

Equality Act 2010: Ensures the reference letter avoids any discriminatory statements or bias based on protected characteristics such as age, gender, race, religion, or disability.

Housing Act 1988 (as amended): While not directly governing reference letters, provides context for rental relationships and helps in understanding what information would be relevant to include.

Housing Act 2004: Provides additional context for modern housing relationships and standards, informing the type of information that might be relevant in a reference letter.

Misrepresentation Act 1967: Ensures all statements made in the reference letter are truthful and accurate, preventing potential liability for false or misleading information.