Tenant referencing in Bexley
For landlords and letting agents letting in Bexley and Bexleyheath: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Bexley
Bexley is one of London's most owner-occupied boroughs, with rows of 1930s semis and terraces across Bexleyheath, Welling and Sidcup. Private renting is the lowest in London, but it rose over the decade to 2021, especially in the older terraced streets of Erith and Belvedere, where the council has a selective licensing scheme. Thamesmead and Abbey Wood have large post-war estates and new building around the Elizabeth line.
The income a tenant needs in Bexley
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 Bexley’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 | £1,528 | £45,840 | £55,008 |
| Shared by two | £764 each | £22,920 each | £27,504 |
| Shared by three | £509 each | £15,280 each | £18,336 |
Landlord licensing in Bexley
Selective licensing: Selective licensing applies only in Belvedere ward, from 13 January 2025 to 12 January 2030.
HMOs: None: the council does not run an additional HMO licensing scheme. Larger HMOs (five or more people in two or more households) need a mandatory HMO licence.
Fee: £830 for a selective licence (£350 + £480, Bexley fee table, 2026).
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Bexley Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Bexley
- 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 Bexley
Bexleyheath
DA6, DA7Mostly 1930s semi-detached and terraced houses, with flats near the Broadway.
Sidcup
DA14, DA15Interwar semis and terraces with some Victorian villas and post-war flats.
Welling
DA16Interwar terraced and semi-detached houses along and off the high street.
Erith
DA8Victorian and Edwardian terraces with newer riverside flats and some post-war council blocks.
Belvedere
DA17Victorian and Edwardian terraces, many let privately, in the only ward with selective licensing.
Thamesmead
SE28, SE2A 1960s-70s planned town of concrete blocks, maisonettes and later houses, now partly being redeveloped.
Crayford
DA1Interwar and post-war houses with newer flat developments near the town centre.
Bexley Village
DA5Older cottages and larger detached and semi-detached houses around the old village centre.
Abbey Wood
SE2Post-war houses and maisonettes with new-build flats near the Elizabeth line station.
Postcode districts: DA1, DA5, DA6, DA7, DA8, DA14, DA15, DA16, DA17, DA18, SE2, SE28
Tenant referencing in Bexley: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Bexley?
£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 Bexley?
At Bexley’s average private rent of £1,528 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £45,840 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £55,008 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Bexley?
Selective licensing applies only in Belvedere ward, from 13 January 2025 to 12 January 2030. None: the council does not run an additional HMO licensing scheme. Larger HMOs (five or more people in two or more households) need a mandatory HMO licence. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Bexley Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Bexley?
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: Bexley Council's private sector housing team deals with complaints about disrepair, damp and unsafe conditions in privately rented homes, and runs the Belvedere licensing scheme.