Tenant referencing in Dover
For landlords and letting agents letting in Dover: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Dover
Dover district has the port town of Dover, with steep streets of Victorian terraces and many houses converted to flats, the coastal towns of Deal and Walmer, the medieval town of Sandwich, and former East Kent coalfield villages such as Aylesham. Older housing is common, much of it in conservation areas. Coastal homes face wind and salt exposure, and some housing in Dover sits on steep chalk slopes.
The income a tenant needs in Dover
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 Dover’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 | £1,029 | £30,870 | £37,044 |
| Shared by two | £515 each | £15,435 each | £18,522 |
| Shared by three | £343 each | £10,290 each | £12,348 |
Landlord licensing in Dover
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 sharing facilities.
Fee: £1,298 for a new HMO licence (up to eight habitable rooms) and £995 to renew, as listed on the council site in October 2026
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Dover District Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Dover
- 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 Dover
Dover town centre
CT16, CT17Victorian terraces and flats over shops, with many older houses split into flats.
Tower Hamlets and Maxton
CT17Steep streets of Victorian terraces west of the town centre.
River and Temple Ewell
CT17Villages north of Dover with older cottages and post-war housing.
Deal
CT14Georgian and Victorian houses in a conservation area by the sea, with later estates inland.
Walmer
CT14Victorian villas and terraces with inter-war and post-war homes.
Sandwich
CT13A medieval town with many listed timber-framed and brick houses.
Aylesham
CT3A planned coalfield village with large modern estates added recently.
St Margaret's at Cliffe
CT15A clifftop village of older cottages and detached houses.
Postcode districts: CT13, CT14, CT15, CT16, CT17, CT3
Tenant referencing in Dover: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Dover?
£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 Dover?
At Dover’s average private rent of £1,029 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £30,870 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £37,044 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Dover?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme: only mandatory licensing, for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households sharing facilities. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Dover District Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Dover?
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 Dover District Council's private sector housing team.