Tenant referencing in Cornwall
For landlords and letting agents letting in Cornwall and Truro: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Cornwall
Cornwall's housing ranges from granite and slate cottages in fishing villages to Victorian mining-town terraces and large post-war and modern estates around Truro, St Austell, Bodmin and Camborne. Holiday lets and second homes are a big part of the market in coastal towns such as St Ives, Padstow and Newquay, which squeezes long-term private renting. Falmouth and Penryn have many student lets for Falmouth University. Many rural homes are off the gas grid, with oil, LPG or electric heating, and solid-walled stone houses are prone to damp.
The income a tenant needs in Cornwall
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 Cornwall’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 | £995 | £29,850 | £35,820 |
| Shared by two | £498 each | £14,925 each | £17,910 |
| Shared by three | £332 each | £9,950 each | £11,940 |
Landlord licensing in Cornwall
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme: only mandatory licensing, for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households. The council consulted in 2026 on raising the mandatory HMO licence fees.
Fee: About £1,481 for a new mandatory HMO licence and £1,101 to renew (2026), with higher fees proposed
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Cornwall Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Cornwall
- 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 Cornwall
Truro
TR1A small cathedral city of Georgian townhouses, Victorian terraces and modern estates on the edges.
Falmouth
TR11Harbour town of Victorian terraces and townhouses, with many student lets for Falmouth University.
Newquay
TR7A resort town of guest houses, holiday flats, terraces and modern apartment blocks.
Camborne and Redruth
TR14, TR15Former mining towns with granite and brick terraces and post-war estates.
Penzance
TR18Victorian and Georgian terraces and granite houses around the harbour and seafront.
St Ives
TR26Fishermen's cottages and holiday lets on steep narrow streets.
St Austell
PL25A former china clay town of terraces, post-war estates and newer housing.
Bodmin
PL31A market town of Victorian terraces and large modern estates.
Saltash
PL12A commuter town for Plymouth with terraces and modern estates above the Tamar.
Bude
EX23A seaside town of Victorian houses, bungalows and holiday homes.
Postcode districts: TR1, TR7, TR11, TR14, TR15, TR18, TR26, PL12, PL25, PL26, PL31, PL15, EX23
Tenant referencing in Cornwall: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Cornwall?
£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 Cornwall?
At Cornwall’s average private rent of £995 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £29,850 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £35,820 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Cornwall?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme: only mandatory licensing, for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households. The council consulted in 2026 on raising the mandatory HMO licence fees. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Cornwall Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Cornwall?
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 or unsafe conditions in a private rented home can contact Cornwall Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect and enforce standards.