Tenant referencing in Cheltenham
For landlords and letting agents letting in Cheltenham: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Cheltenham
Cheltenham is known for its Regency architecture: large stucco terraces and villas in Montpellier, Pittville and the Suffolks, many of them listed and split into flats. Victorian terraces around St Paul's and the Tewkesbury Road area are let to students and young professionals, while the west of the town has post-war estates. New building has added apartment blocks in the centre and family estates on the edges. GCHQ, the University of Gloucestershire and the racecourse all add demand for lets.
The income a tenant needs in Cheltenham
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 Cheltenham’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 | £1,240 | £37,200 | £44,640 |
| Shared by two | £620 each | £18,600 each | £22,320 |
| Shared by three | £413 each | £12,400 each | £14,880 |
Landlord licensing in Cheltenham
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme: none is listed on the council’s private housing pages.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme is listed: the council’s HMO page describes national mandatory HMO licensing (five or more people from two or more households). An Article 4 direction in St Paul’s means converting a house to an HMO there needs planning permission.
Fee: £400 (part 1) plus £570 (part 2) for a standard HMO licence, with extra charges for larger HMOs
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Cheltenham Borough Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Cheltenham
- 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 Cheltenham
Montpellier
GL50Regency terraces and villas, many converted into flats, with flats over shops.
The Suffolks
GL50Regency and Victorian terraces and town houses near the centre, often let as flats.
Pittville
GL52Large Regency and Victorian villas, many split into flats, around Pittville Park.
St Paul's
GL50Victorian terraces near the University of Gloucestershire's Francis Close Hall campus, many let to students.
Leckhampton
GL53Victorian and Edwardian houses, inter-war semis and newer homes below Leckhampton Hill.
Charlton Kings
GL53Mainly inter-war and post-war semis and detached houses, with older cottages.
Hesters Way
GL51Post-war estates of former council houses and low-rise flats in the west of the town.
Up Hatherley
GL51Mainly 1970s–90s estates of houses and bungalows.
Postcode districts: GL50, GL51, GL52, GL53, GL54
Tenant referencing in Cheltenham: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Cheltenham?
£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 Cheltenham?
At Cheltenham’s average private rent of £1,240 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £37,200 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £44,640 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Cheltenham?
No selective licensing scheme: none is listed on the council’s private housing pages. No additional HMO licensing scheme is listed: the council’s HMO page describes national mandatory HMO licensing (five or more people from two or more households). An Article 4 direction in St Paul’s means converting a house to an HMO there needs planning permission. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Cheltenham Borough Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Cheltenham?
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 Cheltenham Borough Council's private sector housing team.