Tenant referencing in Dartford
For landlords and letting agents letting in Dartford: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Dartford
Dartford is one of the fastest-growing districts in England: its population rose by about a fifth between 2011 and 2021, driven by new estates at Ebbsfleet Valley, Greenhithe and around the town. The older stock is Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Dartford, Swanscombe and Stone, with large post-war estates such as Temple Hill. Good rail links to London make it popular with commuters, so rents are high for Kent and many new-build flats and houses are let privately. Rural villages to the south, such as Longfield and the Darent valley, have mainly family houses and bungalows.
The income a tenant needs in Dartford
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 Dartford’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 | £1,575 | £47,250 | £56,700 |
| Shared by two | £788 each | £23,625 each | £28,350 |
| Shared by three | £525 each | £15,750 each | £18,900 |
Landlord licensing in Dartford
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. Separately, Article 4 directions mean turning a house into a small HMO may need planning permission.
Fee: £905 for a five-year HMO licence and £695 to renew (2025/26)
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Dartford Borough Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Dartford
- 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 Dartford
Dartford town centre
DA1Victorian and Edwardian terraces around the centre, with newer blocks of flats near the station and flats over shops on the high street.
Temple Hill
DA1A large post-war estate of council-built houses and low-rise flats, many now privately owned and let.
Wilmington
DA2Mainly interwar and post-war semi-detached and detached houses on residential roads.
Joydens Wood
DA2, DA5A wooded settlement of bungalows, chalet homes and detached houses that grew from 1930s plots.
Stone and Greenhithe
DA9Older village terraces alongside large modern riverside estates of houses and flats, such as Ingress Park.
Swanscombe
DA10Victorian and Edwardian terraces from the town's cement-works era and post-war council housing.
Ebbsfleet Valley
DA10New-build houses and flats in the Ebbsfleet Garden City developments on former quarry land.
Longfield and New Barn
DA3A commuter village of 20th-century semis, bungalows and detached houses, some on large plots.
Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley
DA4Darent valley villages with older cottages, post-war houses and some new-build infill.
Postcode districts: DA1, DA2, DA3, DA4, DA9, DA10, DA13
Tenant referencing in Dartford: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Dartford?
£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 Dartford?
At Dartford’s average private rent of £1,575 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £47,250 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £56,700 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Dartford?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme: only mandatory licensing, for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households. Separately, Article 4 directions mean turning a house into a small HMO may need planning permission. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Dartford Borough Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Dartford?
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 safety problems in a privately rented home can contact Dartford Borough Council's private sector housing team.