Tenant referencing in Birmingham
For landlords and letting agents letting in Birmingham: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Birmingham
Birmingham has one of the largest private rented sectors in England, with more than one in five households renting privately. The inner wards are dominated by Victorian terraces, many let as family homes or shared houses, while the city centre and Digbeth have seen large numbers of new apartment blocks. Selly Oak and the areas around the universities have a concentration of student HMOs. Every HMO in the city now needs a licence, and most rented homes in 25 wards need a selective licence.
The income a tenant needs in Birmingham
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 Birmingham’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 | £1,086 | £32,580 | £39,096 |
| Shared by two | £543 each | £16,290 each | £19,548 |
| Shared by three | £362 each | £10,860 each | £13,032 |
Landlord licensing in Birmingham
Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers 25 of the city's 69 wards: most privately rented homes in those wards need a licence. The scheme started on 5 June 2023 and runs until 4 June 2028.
HMOs: Additional HMO licensing covers every ward in the city: smaller HMOs with 3 or 4 occupants need a licence. In force from 5 June 2023 until 4 June 2028. Larger HMOs need a mandatory licence as everywhere in England.
Fee: £700 for a selective licence, paid in two parts (council page)
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Birmingham City Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Birmingham
- 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 Birmingham
City centre and Jewellery Quarter
B1, B3, B18Apartment blocks and converted warehouses and factories, many let to young professionals.
Selly Oak
B29Victorian and Edwardian terraces, many let as student shared houses for the University of Birmingham.
Edgbaston
B15, B16Large Georgian and Victorian villas, many divided into flats, alongside purpose-built blocks.
Harborne
B17Victorian and inter-war terraces and semis, with flats above the High Street shops.
Moseley and Kings Heath
B13, B14Victorian and Edwardian terraces and large houses, a number converted into flats.
Small Heath and Sparkhill
B10, B11Dense Victorian terraced streets, many privately rented.
Erdington
B23, B24Inter-war semis, Victorian terraces and some converted houses and HMOs.
Northfield and Longbridge
B31Inter-war and post-war semis and terraces, with new-build homes on the former car works site at Longbridge.
Sutton Coldfield
B72, B73, B74, B75, B76Mainly owner-occupied suburban semis and detached houses, with flats near the town centre.
Digbeth and Highgate
B5, B12Former industrial land being redeveloped with new apartment blocks.
Postcode districts: B1, B5, B6, B10, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, B16, B17, B18, B20, B23, B24, B29, B30, B31, B72, B73, B75, B76
Tenant referencing in Birmingham: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Birmingham?
£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 Birmingham?
At Birmingham’s average private rent of £1,086 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £32,580 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £39,096 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Birmingham?
Selective licensing covers 25 of the city's 69 wards: most privately rented homes in those wards need a licence. The scheme started on 5 June 2023 and runs until 4 June 2028. Additional HMO licensing covers every ward in the city: smaller HMOs with 3 or 4 occupants need a licence. In force from 5 June 2023 until 4 June 2028. Larger HMOs need a mandatory licence as everywhere in England. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Birmingham City Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Birmingham?
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 payment history from the bank statements, with AI comparing every document with the application.
For tenants: Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to Birmingham City Council's private rented services team, which also runs the city's licensing schemes.