Tenant referencing in Croydon
For landlords and letting agents letting in Croydon: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Croydon
Croydon's north has dense Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Thornton Heath, Norbury and South Norwood, many divided into flats or let as shared houses. Central Croydon has many new towers and offices converted into flats, while the south of the borough is leafy suburbs of interwar and post-war houses. About a quarter of households rent privately, and from September 2026 the council licenses private lets in 14 wards and all smaller HMOs.
The income a tenant needs in Croydon
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 Croydon’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 | £1,586 | £47,580 | £57,096 |
| Shared by two | £793 each | £23,790 each | £28,548 |
| Shared by three | £529 each | £15,860 each | £19,032 |
Landlord licensing in Croydon
Selective licensing: A new selective licensing scheme came into force on 25 September 2026 for five years, covering 14 of the 28 wards: Addiscombe East, Addiscombe West, Bensham Manor, Broad Green, Fairfield, Norbury & Pollards Hill, Norbury Park, Selhurst, South Croydon, South Norwood, Thornton Heath, Waddon, West Thornton and Woodside. (One earlier council notice gave 1 September 2026; the council's landlord pages use 25 September.)
HMOs: A new borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme for HMOs with three or four people in two or more households came into force on 25 September 2026, for five years.
Fee: £800 for a five-year selective licence (£480 on application + £320 before issue), with discounts for accredited landlords and EPC B or above (Croydon fee page, 2026).
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Croydon Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Croydon
- 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 Croydon
Central Croydon
CR0New-build towers and former office buildings converted into flats around the town centre.
Thornton Heath
CR7Victorian and Edwardian terraces, many split into flats.
South Norwood
SE25Victorian terraces and conversions with some post-war council blocks.
Norbury
SW16Edwardian and interwar terraces, many converted into flats.
Selhurst
SE25Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses close to the railway.
Addiscombe
CR0Victorian and Edwardian houses, many converted into flats, with interwar semis.
Upper Norwood
SE19Large Victorian villas converted into flats and post-war estates.
Purley
CR8Interwar and post-war detached and semi-detached houses, with newer flat blocks.
Coulsdon
CR5Suburban semis and detached houses with some new-build estates.
New Addington
CR0A large post-war council estate of houses and low-rise flats.
Postcode districts: CR0, CR2, CR5, CR7, CR8, SE19, SE25, SW16
Tenant referencing in Croydon: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Croydon?
£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 Croydon?
At Croydon’s average private rent of £1,586 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £47,580 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £57,096 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Croydon?
A new selective licensing scheme came into force on 25 September 2026 for five years, covering 14 of the 28 wards: Addiscombe East, Addiscombe West, Bensham Manor, Broad Green, Fairfield, Norbury & Pollards Hill, Norbury Park, Selhurst, South Croydon, South Norwood, Thornton Heath, Waddon, West Thornton and Woodside. (One earlier council notice gave 1 September 2026; the council's landlord pages use 25 September.) A new borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme for HMOs with three or four people in two or more households came into force on 25 September 2026, for five years. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Croydon Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Croydon?
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: Croydon Council's private sector housing team investigates disrepair and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and runs its landlord licensing schemes.