Tenant referencing in Cambridge
For landlords and letting agents letting in Cambridge: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Cambridge
Cambridge has one of the highest shares of private renting in the East of England, driven by its universities, research campuses and hospital. Victorian terraces in Romsey, Petersfield and Chesterton are widely let as shared houses and flats, while the north of the city has post-war estates. Large new-build districts at Trumpington, Clay Farm, Eddington and around the station have added many modern flats. Rents and prices are among the highest outside London.
The income a tenant needs in Cambridge
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 Cambridge’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 | £1,805 | £54,150 | £64,980 |
| Shared by two | £903 each | £27,075 each | £32,490 |
| Shared by three | £602 each | £18,050 each | £21,660 |
Landlord licensing in Cambridge
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme. A council feasibility study concluded selective licensing was not an appropriate tool for Cambridge at that time.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme. Larger HMOs (five or more people from more than one household) need a mandatory licence, as everywhere in England; the city has several hundred licensed HMOs.
Fee: £1,133 for a mandatory HMO licence, or £1,000 when renewing at least eight weeks before the current licence expires (applications from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027)
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Cambridge City Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Cambridge
- 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 Cambridge
Mill Road and Romsey
CB1Long streets of Victorian terraced houses, many let to students and young professionals.
Petersfield
CB1Victorian and Edwardian terraces close to the station and the centre, with new apartment blocks around CB1.
Chesterton
CB4A mix of Victorian terraces near the river, inter-war semis and newer flats.
Arbury and King's Hedges
CB4Post-war estates of former council houses and low-rise flats in the north of the city.
Cherry Hinton
CB1Inter-war and post-war semi-detached houses around an old village core.
Newnham
CB3Large Victorian and Edwardian houses and villas near the colleges and the Backs.
Trumpington and Clay Farm
CB2A village core with large new-build estates of houses and apartment blocks near the Biomedical Campus.
Eddington
CB3A new university-led district of modern flats and houses on the north-west edge of the city.
Postcode districts: CB1, CB2, CB3, CB4, CB5
Tenant referencing in Cambridge: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Cambridge?
£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 Cambridge?
At Cambridge’s average private rent of £1,805 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £54,150 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £64,980 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Cambridge?
No selective licensing scheme. A council feasibility study concluded selective licensing was not an appropriate tool for Cambridge at that time. No additional HMO licensing scheme. Larger HMOs (five or more people from more than one household) need a mandatory licence, as everywhere in England; the city has several hundred licensed HMOs. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Cambridge City Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Cambridge?
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 with disrepair, damp or safety problems in a privately rented home can contact Cambridge City Council's residential environmental health team, which also licenses larger HMOs.