Tenant referencing in Barking and Dagenham
For landlords and letting agents letting in Barking and Dagenham and Barking: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Barking and Dagenham
Much of the borough is the Becontree Estate, the huge interwar council estate of small brick terraced houses, a large share of which were sold under right to buy and are now let privately. Barking town centre and Barking Riverside have added thousands of new-build flats, while older estates such as Gascoigne are being rebuilt. Private renting grew faster here between 2011 and 2021 than across England, and the council licenses most private lets in its designated areas.
The income a tenant needs in Barking and Dagenham
We check that a tenant’s yearly income is at least 30 times their monthly share of the rent, and that a guarantor earns at least 3 times the yearly rent they guarantee, with enough disposable income left each month to pay it. At Barking and Dagenham’s average rent:
Income comes from the most reliable source: the salary the employer confirms, then payslips, then what was declared, checked against three months of bank statements.
| Monthly rent | Tenant needs a year | Guarantor needs a year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average home, one tenant | £1,693 | £50,790 | £60,948 |
| Shared by two | £847 each | £25,395 each | £30,474 |
| Shared by three | £564 each | £16,930 each | £20,316 |
Landlord licensing in Barking and Dagenham
Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers most privately rented homes in three designated areas of the borough, from 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2030 (it replaced the earlier scheme that ended in 2024). Check the council's designation maps for a particular street.
HMOs: Borough-wide additional HMO licensing for smaller HMOs (three or four people in two or more households), launched on 9 January 2025 for five years.
Fee: About £950 for a selective licence, paid in two parts (£650 on application and £300 on grant, per the council's fee table; another council page shows £470 + £430, so check the current fees).
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Barking and Dagenham Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Barking and Dagenham
- Add the tenancyThe property, the rent, the move-in date and the applicant. Their link is emailed at once.
- They apply on their phoneFive years of addresses, work, 3 months of bank statements, payslips and ID, in about 10 minutes.
- We contact the refereesTheir employer, current and previous landlord, by email, automatically.
- You get the reportEvery check, the income from every source, and how we reached the outcome.
Where people rent in Barking and Dagenham
Barking
IG11Victorian and Edwardian terraces around the town centre, with a growing number of new-build flat blocks near the station.
Barking Riverside
IG11A large new-build district of flats and town houses on former industrial land beside the Thames.
Becontree
RM8, RM9, RM10Part of the interwar Becontree Estate, built as council cottages in short terraces, many since bought under right to buy and now let privately.
Dagenham
RM9, RM10Mostly interwar Becontree Estate terraces and semis, with some post-war council blocks.
Chadwell Heath
RM6Interwar terraced and semi-detached houses along with some newer flats near the station.
Gascoigne
IG11A post-war council estate being rebuilt in phases as new mixed-tenure flat blocks.
Thames View
IG11A 1950s-60s council estate of low-rise houses and flats near the river.
Marks Gate
RM6A post-war council estate of houses and maisonettes on the borough's northern edge.
Rush Green
RM7Interwar terraced and semi-detached houses on the border with Havering.
Postcode districts: IG11, RM6, RM8, RM9, RM10, RM7
Tenant referencing in Barking and Dagenham: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Barking and Dagenham?
£14.99 per applicant with Rentwick, the same for tenants and guarantors, paid by the landlord or agent. Tenants in England can’t be charged for referencing.
What income do tenants need to rent in Barking and Dagenham?
At Barking and Dagenham’s average private rent of £1,693 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £50,790 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £60,948 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Barking and Dagenham?
Selective licensing covers most privately rented homes in three designated areas of the borough, from 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2030 (it replaced the earlier scheme that ended in 2024). Check the council's designation maps for a particular street. Borough-wide additional HMO licensing for smaller HMOs (three or four people in two or more households), launched on 9 January 2025 for five years. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Barking and Dagenham Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Barking and Dagenham?
The applicant applies on their phone in about 10 minutes. We email their employer and landlords straight away, so most references are back within a few working days, depending on how quickly the referees reply.
What does the reference check?
Three months of bank statements, payslips, income from every source, the employer, current and previous landlords, five years of addresses and a credit check, with AI comparing every document with the application.
For tenants: Private tenants with disrepair or unsafe conditions can report them to Barking and Dagenham Council's private sector housing team, which also runs the borough's property licensing schemes.