Tenant referencing in Cherwell
For landlords and letting agents letting in Cherwell and Banbury: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Cherwell
Cherwell's two towns, Banbury and Bicester, have grown fast, with large new-build estates on their edges and garden town development around Bicester. Banbury has Victorian terraces in Grimsbury and post-war estates to the west, while Kidlington provides suburban homes close to Oxford. The north of the district has villages of honey-coloured ironstone cottages, many listed. Heyford Park, on a former RAF base, includes former service housing and new homes.
The income a tenant needs in Cherwell
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 Cherwell’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 | £1,304 | £39,120 | £46,944 |
| Shared by two | £652 each | £19,560 each | £23,472 |
| Shared by three | £435 each | £13,040 each | £15,648 |
Landlord licensing in Cherwell
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme: the council’s 2024 HMO licensing policy report says it does not run additional or selective licensing.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme; only national mandatory HMO licensing applies (five or more people from two or more households).
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Cherwell District Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Cherwell
- 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 Cherwell
Banbury town centre
OX16Victorian terraces, flats over shops and modern apartment blocks near the canal and station.
Grimsbury
OX16Victorian and Edwardian terraces east of the railway, many privately let.
Banbury Ruscote and Neithrop
OX16Large post-war estates of former council houses in the west of the town.
Bicester
OX26A market town with older terraces in the centre and large new-build estates, including Kingsmere and Elmsbrook.
Kidlington
OX5A large village suburb north of Oxford with mainly post-war houses and bungalows.
Heyford Park
OX25A former RAF base being turned into a new settlement, with converted base housing and new homes.
Bodicote and Adderbury
OX15, OX17Villages of ironstone cottages with later estates.
Deddington
OX15A market village of ironstone houses and cottages.
Postcode districts: OX15, OX16, OX17, OX25, OX26, OX27, OX5
Tenant referencing in Cherwell: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Cherwell?
£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 Cherwell?
At Cherwell’s average private rent of £1,304 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £39,120 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £46,944 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Cherwell?
No selective licensing scheme: the council’s 2024 HMO licensing policy report says it does not run additional or selective licensing. No additional HMO licensing scheme; only national mandatory HMO licensing applies (five or more people from two or more households). (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Cherwell District Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Cherwell?
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 Cherwell District Council's private sector housing team.