Tenant referencing in Blackpool
For landlords and letting agents letting in Blackpool: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Blackpool
Blackpool's private rented sector is large and concentrated in the inner wards, where many former guest houses and Victorian terraces have been converted into small flats and bedsits. These areas, such as Claremont, Talbot and South Shore, have some of the poorest-condition housing in England and a high turnover of tenants, which is why the council has used selective licensing there. Away from the seafront, Bispham, Marton and Layton have more owner-occupied semis and bungalows. Seafront flats are exposed to wind and salt air.
The income a tenant needs in Blackpool
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 Blackpool’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 | £700 | £21,000 | £25,200 |
| Shared by two | £350 each | £10,500 each | £12,600 |
| Shared by three | £233 each | £7,000 each | £8,400 |
Landlord licensing in Blackpool
Selective licensing: Selective licensing in eight inner wards (Bloomfield, Brunswick, Claremont, Talbot, Tyldesley, Victoria, Warbreck and Waterloo) from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2030. The council has also published a public notice for a Central area selective licensing designation: check its page for the dates.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme in force (earlier schemes ran in South Shore, Claremont and Central from 2012); national mandatory HMO licensing applies.
Fee: £772 for a selective licence on a home let to one household, with discounts (for example £200 off where the home meets the Blackpool Standard) (council fee page, 2025)
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Blackpool Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Blackpool
- 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 Blackpool
Central Blackpool and Talbot
FY1Former guest houses and large Victorian terraces, many converted into small flats and bedsits.
South Shore
FY4Terraces and former holiday guest houses near the Pleasure Beach, with many flats let privately.
North Shore
FY1, FY2Large Victorian and Edwardian houses and former hotels, many split into flats.
Bispham
FY2Inter-war and post-war semis and bungalows, with seafront flats.
Layton
FY3Terraced streets and inter-war semis inland from the centre.
Marton
FY3, FY4Suburban semis, bungalows and newer estates.
Claremont
FY1Dense terraced streets and converted houses north of the town centre.
Mereside
FY4A post-war estate of council-built houses and low-rise flats.
Postcode districts: FY1, FY2, FY3, FY4
Tenant referencing in Blackpool: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Blackpool?
£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 Blackpool?
At Blackpool’s average private rent of £700 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £21,000 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £25,200 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Blackpool?
Selective licensing in eight inner wards (Bloomfield, Brunswick, Claremont, Talbot, Tyldesley, Victoria, Warbreck and Waterloo) from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2030. The council has also published a public notice for a Central area selective licensing designation: check its page for the dates. No additional HMO licensing scheme in force (earlier schemes ran in South Shore, Claremont and Central from 2012); national mandatory HMO licensing applies. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Blackpool Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Blackpool?
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 Blackpool Council's housing enforcement team, which also runs its licensing scheme.