Tenant referencing in City of London
For landlords and letting agents letting in City of London: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in City of London
The City of London has very few homes (around 8,600 residents in 2021), and almost all are flats. Nearly half of households (48.3%) rented privately in 2021, the highest share in England, many in flats on the Barbican and other estates let by leaseholders. The Corporation owns the Golden Lane, Middlesex Street and Mansell Street estates, and there are newer apartment blocks around Aldgate and Farringdon. The ONS does not publish average rents for the City because too few lets are recorded.
Landlord licensing in City of London
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
HMOs: No additional licensing scheme; only mandatory HMO licensing applies (five or more people from two or more households).
Fee: Mandatory HMO licence: £600 on application, then a grant fee by number of lettings, from £450 (up to 5) to £1,050 (20 or more).
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with City of London Corporation before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in City of London
- 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 City of London
Barbican
EC2Concrete flats in the Barbican Estate’s towers and terrace blocks, mostly leasehold with many let privately.
Golden Lane
EC1The post-war Golden Lane Estate of listed low- and mid-rise flats, owned by the Corporation, with some leaseholders letting.
Smithfield and Farringdon
EC1Flats in converted warehouses and offices, and new apartment blocks.
Fleet Street and Temple
EC4A small number of flats above offices and in converted historic buildings.
Aldgate
EC3New-build apartment towers and some older flats around Aldgate.
Portsoken
E1The Middlesex Street and Mansell Street estates of council flats on the City’s eastern edge.
Postcode districts: EC1, EC2, EC3, EC4
Tenant referencing in City of London: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in City of London?
£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.
Do landlords need a licence to let in City of London?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional licensing scheme; only mandatory HMO licensing applies (five or more people from two or more households). (as checked in October 2026; confirm with City of London Corporation before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in City of London?
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: The City of London Corporation’s environmental health and housing services can deal with disrepair and hazards in privately rented homes in the Square Mile.