Tenant referencing in Barnet
For landlords and letting agents letting in Barnet and Hendon: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Barnet
Barnet is London's most populous borough and largely suburban, with interwar semis and Edwardian houses across Finchley, Hendon and Mill Hill, many now split into flats. Colindale and West Hendon have seen some of London's largest new-build regeneration, with tall blocks of flats replacing estates and airfield land. About a third of households rent privately, and the council licenses all HMOs borough-wide.
The income a tenant needs in Barnet
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 Barnet’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 | £1,953 | £58,590 | £70,308 |
| Shared by two | £977 each | £29,295 each | £35,154 |
| Shared by three | £651 each | £19,530 each | £23,436 |
Landlord licensing in Barnet
Selective licensing: None in force: the council says it has no selective licensing scheme running. A consultation on selective licensing in ten wards (including Burnt Oak, Colindale North and South, Cricklewood, Golders Green, Hendon and West Hendon) ran from 15 June to 15 September 2026; no decision had been published at the time of checking.
HMOs: Borough-wide additional HMO licensing, from 27 October 2022 to 27 October 2027.
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Barnet Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Barnet
- 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 Barnet
Finchley
N3, N12Edwardian and 1930s semi-detached houses, many split into flats, plus mansion blocks along the main roads.
Hendon
NW4Interwar semis and terraces, with purpose-built flats and student lets near the university.
Golders Green
NW11Edwardian houses and mansion flats, many converted into flats.
Hampstead Garden Suburb
NW11Arts and Crafts houses and cottages in a conservation area with strict rules on alterations.
Colindale
NW9Large new-build blocks of flats on former RAF and hospital sites, alongside regenerated estates such as Grahame Park.
Burnt Oak
HA8The interwar Watling Estate of council-built cottages, many now owned and let privately.
Mill Hill
NW7Suburban detached and semi-detached houses with some newer developments.
West Hendon
NW9A council estate being replaced by new-build towers beside the Welsh Harp reservoir.
Chipping Barnet
EN5Victorian and interwar houses around the High Barnet town centre.
Friern Barnet
N11Interwar terraces and flats, including the converted former Friern Hospital buildings.
Postcode districts: N2, N3, N11, N12, N14, N20, NW4, NW7, NW9, NW11, EN4, EN5, HA8
Tenant referencing in Barnet: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Barnet?
£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 Barnet?
At Barnet’s average private rent of £1,953 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £58,590 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £70,308 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Barnet?
None in force: the council says it has no selective licensing scheme running. A consultation on selective licensing in ten wards (including Burnt Oak, Colindale North and South, Cricklewood, Golders Green, Hendon and West Hendon) ran from 15 June to 15 September 2026; no decision had been published at the time of checking. Borough-wide additional HMO licensing, from 27 October 2022 to 27 October 2027. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Barnet Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Barnet?
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 can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions to Barnet Council's private sector housing team, which also enforces HMO licensing.