Tenant referencing in Braintree
For landlords and letting agents letting in Braintree: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Braintree
Braintree district is mostly owner-occupied, with about one in seven households renting privately. The rented stock is mainly terraced and semi-detached houses in Braintree, Witham and Halstead, plus flats in the town centres and newer estates. Witham and Braintree draw London and Chelmsford commuters, and large new estates continue to be built around both towns. The rural north of the district has many period and listed cottages, some off the gas network.
The income a tenant needs in Braintree
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 Braintree’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 | £1,217 | £36,510 | £43,812 |
| Shared by two | £609 each | £18,255 each | £21,906 |
| Shared by three | £406 each | £12,170 each | £14,604 |
Landlord licensing in Braintree
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme is listed on the council's site; only mandatory HMO licensing applies.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme is listed; mandatory licensing applies to HMOs with five or more people forming more than one household.
Fee: For an HMO licence the council lists a £595 application fee plus a £445 issue fee for a new licence (renewal £550), 2026/27.
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Braintree District Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Braintree
- 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 Braintree
Braintree town
CM7Victorian and Edwardian terraces near the centre, large post-war estates and new-build estates on the edges.
Great Notley
CM77A planned village of 1990s and 2000s detached and semi-detached houses.
Witham
CM8Former London overspill estates of the 1960s and 70s, older terraces in the town centre and new estates around the station.
Halstead
CO9Period cottages and terraces on the hilly town centre streets, with post-war and modern estates around them.
Coggeshall
CO6A historic small town with many listed timber-framed and brick houses and some modern infill.
Silver End
CM8A 1920s model village with flat-roofed Modernist houses, many of them listed, alongside later homes.
Hatfield Peverel
CM3A commuter village of older cottages, post-war semis and newer estates near the railway.
Sible Hedingham
CO9A large rural village of period cottages, council-built houses and bungalows.
Postcode districts: CM7, CM77, CM8, CO9, CO6, CO10, CM3
Tenant referencing in Braintree: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Braintree?
£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 Braintree?
At Braintree’s average private rent of £1,217 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £36,510 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £43,812 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Braintree?
No selective licensing scheme is listed on the council's site; only mandatory HMO licensing applies. No additional HMO licensing scheme is listed; mandatory licensing applies to HMOs with five or more people forming more than one household. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Braintree District Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Braintree?
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 to Braintree District Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect and take enforcement action against landlords.