Tenant referencing in Brighton and Hove
For landlords and letting agents letting in Brighton and Hove and Brighton: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Brighton and Hove
Brighton and Hove has one of the largest private rented sectors outside London, with about a third of households renting privately in 2021. Much of the stock is Regency and Victorian houses converted into flats, alongside small terraces in Hanover and North Laine. Two universities create a large student market, concentrated around Moulsecoomb, Bevendean and the Lewes Road, with many shared houses. Selective and additional licensing schemes cover large parts of the city, so landlords should check a property's licence status.
The income a tenant needs in Brighton and Hove
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 Brighton and Hove’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 | £1,808 | £54,240 | £65,088 |
| Shared by two | £904 each | £27,120 each | £32,544 |
| Shared by three | £603 each | £18,080 each | £21,696 |
Landlord licensing in Brighton and Hove
Selective licensing: Selective licensing has applied since 2 September 2024 (to 1 September 2029) in four wards: Kemptown, Moulsecoomb & Bevendean, Queen's Park, and Whitehawk & Brighton Marina. A further 13 areas were approved to be phased in, with Regency and Central Hove designated from 20 October 2026, but the council says that expansion is paused while a legal challenge is reviewed: check with the council before letting there.
HMOs: Citywide additional HMO licensing from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2029 for HMOs of two or more storeys with three or four unrelated occupiers (single-storey flats with three or four sharers come under the selective scheme); larger HMOs need a mandatory licence.
Fee: £740 for a standard selective licence (£518 on application, £222 on approval), £590–£665 with discounts, £840 if late (council fees page).
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Brighton & Hove City Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Brighton and Hove
- 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 Brighton and Hove
Kemptown
BN2Regency terraces and squares split into flats, with smaller Victorian terraces behind.
North Laine
BN1Small Victorian terraced cottages and flats above shops close to the station.
Hove
BN3Regency and Victorian villas and terraces converted into flats, with mansion blocks along the seafront.
Moulsecoomb and Bevendean
BN2Inter-war and post-war council-built estates, many now shared student houses near the universities.
Hanover
BN2Steep streets of small Victorian terraced houses, many let to sharers.
Preston Park and Fiveways
BN1Larger Victorian and Edwardian terraced and semi-detached family houses.
Whitehawk
BN2Council-built estates of houses and blocks of flats in the valley east of the city centre.
Portslade
BN41Victorian terraces near the harbour and inter-war and post-war semis on the hillside.
Postcode districts: BN1, BN2, BN3, BN41, BN51
Tenant referencing in Brighton and Hove: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Brighton and Hove?
£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 Brighton and Hove?
At Brighton and Hove’s average private rent of £1,808 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £54,240 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £65,088 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Brighton and Hove?
Selective licensing has applied since 2 September 2024 (to 1 September 2029) in four wards: Kemptown, Moulsecoomb & Bevendean, Queen's Park, and Whitehawk & Brighton Marina. A further 13 areas were approved to be phased in, with Regency and Central Hove designated from 20 October 2026, but the council says that expansion is paused while a legal challenge is reviewed: check with the council before letting there. Citywide additional HMO licensing from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2029 for HMOs of two or more storeys with three or four unrelated occupiers (single-storey flats with three or four sharers come under the selective scheme); larger HMOs need a mandatory licence. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Brighton & Hove City Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Brighton and Hove?
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 homes to Brighton & Hove City Council's private sector housing team, which enforces housing standards and the licensing schemes.