Tenant referencing in Cheshire West and Chester
For landlords and letting agents letting in Cheshire West and Chester and Chester: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Cheshire West and Chester
The borough mixes the historic city of Chester with the industrial towns of Ellesmere Port, Northwich and Winsford and a large rural area. Chester's private rented sector is busy, with University of Chester students and young professionals renting Victorian terraces in Hoole, Boughton and Garden Quarter, plus HMOs and city-centre flats. Ellesmere Port and Winsford have large post-war estates, with former council homes now often let privately. Rural lets include farm cottages and sandstone village houses across the Cheshire Plain.
The income a tenant needs in Cheshire West and Chester
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 Cheshire West and Chester’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 | £991 | £29,730 | £35,676 |
| Shared by two | £496 each | £14,865 each | £17,838 |
| Shared by three | £330 each | £9,910 each | £11,892 |
Landlord licensing in Cheshire West and Chester
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme is listed on the council's website.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing: only mandatory licensing of HMOs with five or more unrelated people sharing. Accredited landlords get 10% off the HMO licence fee.
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Cheshire West and Chester Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Cheshire West and Chester
- 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 Cheshire West and Chester
Chester city centre
CH1Georgian and Victorian townhouses, many split into flats, with modern apartment blocks along the river and canal.
Hoole
CH2Victorian and Edwardian terraces, popular with young professionals and students.
Handbridge and Curzon Park
CH4Victorian terraces and larger period villas just south of the River Dee.
Ellesmere Port
CH65, CH66Post-war council-built estates, inter-war semis and newer estates near the motorway.
Northwich
CW8, CW9Victorian terraces and black-and-white revival buildings in the centre, with post-war and modern estates around it.
Winsford
CW7Mainly 1960s and 1970s overspill estates with newer housing on the edges.
Frodsham
WA6Period cottages and townhouses along the main street, with semis and detached homes on the hillside.
Neston and Parkgate
CH64Older cottages and seafront houses in Parkgate, with suburban semis and detached homes in Neston.
Tarporley
CW6A village of brick and sandstone cottages and larger detached homes surrounded by farmland.
Postcode districts: CH1, CH2, CH3, CH4, CH64, CH65, CH66, CW6, CW7, CW8, CW9, WA6, WA7
Tenant referencing in Cheshire West and Chester: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Cheshire West and Chester?
£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 Cheshire West and Chester?
At Cheshire West and Chester’s average private rent of £991 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £29,730 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £35,676 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Cheshire West and Chester?
No selective licensing scheme is listed on the council's website. No additional HMO licensing: only mandatory licensing of HMOs with five or more unrelated people sharing. Accredited landlords get 10% off the HMO licence fee. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Cheshire West and Chester Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Cheshire West and Chester?
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 contact the council's Private Rented Sector Service about disrepair, unsafe conditions or a landlord who won't carry out repairs.