Tenant referencing in Blackburn with Darwen
For landlords and letting agents letting in Blackburn with Darwen and Blackburn: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Blackburn with Darwen
Blackburn with Darwen's housing is dominated by Victorian terraced houses built for the cotton mills, many of them cheap to buy and let privately. Inner areas such as Mill Hill, Ewood and Audley have the highest share of private renting and older homes in poorer condition, which is why the council has used and proposed selective licensing there. Darwen has stone terraces climbing the valley sides, while the western suburbs and the moorland villages of North Turton are mostly owner-occupied. The council estimates that around one in five homes in the borough is privately rented.
The income a tenant needs in Blackburn with Darwen
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 Blackburn with Darwen’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 | £699 | £20,970 | £25,164 |
| Shared by two | £350 each | £10,485 each | £12,582 |
| Shared by three | £233 each | £6,990 each | £8,388 |
Landlord licensing in Blackburn with Darwen
Selective licensing: Not confirmed. The council has run selective licensing in parts of Blackburn before; a new scheme for the Hollins Bank area (mainly Ewood and Mill Hill & Moorgate wards), consulted on from May to July 2024, was put on hold in 2025. Check with the council whether any area is designated now.
HMOs: National mandatory HMO licensing applies (five or more people from two or more households).
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council before letting.
Referencing a tenant in Blackburn with Darwen
- 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 Blackburn with Darwen
Blackburn town centre
BB1, BB2Victorian terraces and flats over shops, with some newer apartment blocks.
Mill Hill and Ewood
BB2Long rows of Victorian two-up two-down terraced houses, many privately rented.
Audley and Queen's Park
BB1Dense Victorian terraced streets east of the centre.
Wensley Fold and Higher Croft
BB2Terraced streets and post-war council-built estates.
Livesey and Feniscowles
BB2Mainly owner-occupied semis and detached houses on the western edge of Blackburn.
Darwen
BB3A mill town of stone and brick Victorian terraces on the hillsides, with post-war and newer estates.
Lammack and Beardwood
BB1, BB2Suburban semis and larger detached houses in the north-west of Blackburn.
Edgworth and North Turton
BL7Moorland villages with stone cottages, farmhouses and some modern homes.
Postcode districts: BB1, BB2, BB3, BB6, BL7
Tenant referencing in Blackburn with Darwen: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Blackburn with Darwen?
£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 Blackburn with Darwen?
At Blackburn with Darwen’s average private rent of £699 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £20,970 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £25,164 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Blackburn with Darwen?
Not confirmed. The council has run selective licensing in parts of Blackburn before; a new scheme for the Hollins Bank area (mainly Ewood and Mill Hill & Moorgate wards), consulted on from May to July 2024, was put on hold in 2025. Check with the council whether any area is designated now. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Blackburn with Darwen?
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: Tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to Blackburn with Darwen Council's private sector housing team.