Tenant referencing in Camden
For landlords and letting agents letting in Camden and Camden Town: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Camden
Camden has a large private rented sector made up mostly of flats: Georgian and Victorian terraces and villas in Hampstead, Belsize Park and Bloomsbury have been divided up, and West Hampstead has many red-brick mansion blocks. Around a third of homes are council or housing association, in estates across Kentish Town, Gospel Oak and Somers Town. Student lets and shared houses are common near the universities, and the council licenses every HMO in the borough.
The income a tenant needs in Camden
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 Camden’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 | £2,819 | £84,570 | £101,484 |
| Shared by two | £1,410 each | £42,285 each | £50,742 |
| Shared by three | £940 each | £28,190 each | £33,828 |
Landlord licensing in Camden
Selective licensing: None in force: Camden licenses HMOs only. In early 2025 the council said a selective scheme could follow after more data and a consultation, but none had been confirmed at the time of checking.
HMOs: Borough-wide additional HMO licensing for homes with three or more people in two or more households, renewed from 8 December 2025 to December 2030 (it replaced the 2020-2025 scheme).
Fee: About £1,570 for an HMO licence, paid in two parts (£1,318 on application + £252 on grant, Camden's 2025 fee table).
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Camden Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Camden
- 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 Camden
Kentish Town
NW5Victorian terraces split into flats, alongside large council estates.
Camden Town
NW1Victorian terraces and flats above shops, with council estates and new-build blocks near the canal.
Hampstead
NW3Georgian and Victorian houses, mansion blocks and large houses converted into flats.
Belsize Park
NW3Large Victorian stucco villas, most divided into flats.
West Hampstead
NW6Red-brick Victorian and Edwardian mansion blocks and terraces converted into flats.
Kilburn
NW6Victorian terraces split into flats and post-war council estates on the Camden side of Kilburn High Road.
Gospel Oak
NW5Post-war council estates with some Victorian terraces near Hampstead Heath.
Bloomsbury
WC1Georgian terraces converted into flats, mansion blocks and many student halls.
Somers Town
NW1Council estates from the 1900s to the 1970s between Euston and St Pancras, with new-build flats.
King's Cross
N1C, WC1New-build flats in the King's Cross redevelopment beside older terraces and estates.
Postcode districts: NW1, NW3, NW5, NW6, N6, N7, N19, WC1, WC2, N1C
Tenant referencing in Camden: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Camden?
£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 Camden?
At Camden’s average private rent of £2,819 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £84,570 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £101,484 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Camden?
None in force: Camden licenses HMOs only. In early 2025 the council said a selective scheme could follow after more data and a consultation, but none had been confirmed at the time of checking. Borough-wide additional HMO licensing for homes with three or more people in two or more households, renewed from 8 December 2025 to December 2030 (it replaced the 2020-2025 scheme). (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Camden Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Camden?
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 payment history from the bank statements, with AI comparing every document with the application.
For tenants: Camden Council's private sector housing team investigates disrepair, damp and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and enforces HMO licensing.