Tenant referencing in Dorset
For landlords and letting agents letting in Dorset and Dorchester: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Dorset
Dorset Council covers the county outside Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: market towns, coast and a large rural area with many thatched, cob and stone cottages, often listed or in conservation areas and off the gas grid. Weymouth has many Georgian and Victorian seafront houses converted to flats, and Portland has its own stone-built housing. Second homes and holiday lets are common on the coast, and there is military housing around Bovington, Blandford and Portland.
The income a tenant needs in Dorset
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 Dorset’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 | £1,056 | £31,680 | £38,016 |
| Shared by two | £528 each | £15,840 each | £19,008 |
| Shared by three | £352 each | £10,560 each | £12,672 |
Landlord licensing in Dorset
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.
Fee: £900 for a new five-year HMO licence and £740 to renew (from April 2026), 10% less for members of a landlord association
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Dorset Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Dorset
- 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 Dorset
Dorchester and Poundbury
DT1Georgian and Victorian town houses in Dorchester, and the Poundbury extension of new traditional-style houses and flats.
Weymouth
DT3, DT4Georgian and Victorian seafront terraces, many split into flats, with inter-war and post-war estates inland.
Portland
DT5Portland stone cottages and terraces, and post-war estates on the island.
Bridport and West Bay
DT6A market town of older brick and stone houses, with harbourside flats at West Bay.
Lyme Regis
DT7Steep streets of period cottages and houses on an unstable coastline.
Sherborne
DT9A historic town of honey-coloured stone houses, many listed.
Blandford Forum
DT11A Georgian market town centre with modern estates around it.
Wimborne Minster and Ferndown
BH21, BH22Period houses in Wimborne and large post-war estates and bungalows around Ferndown.
Swanage and Wareham
BH19, BH20Victorian stone houses and seaside flats in Swanage, and a historic walled town at Wareham.
Postcode districts: DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4, DT5, DT6, DT7, DT8, DT9, DT10, DT11, BH16, BH19, BH20, BH21, BH31, SP7, SP8
Tenant referencing in Dorset: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Dorset?
£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 Dorset?
At Dorset’s average private rent of £1,056 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £31,680 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £38,016 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Dorset?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme: only mandatory licensing, for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Dorset Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Dorset?
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: Private tenants with disrepair or unsafe conditions can contact Dorset Council's housing standards team.