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Tenant referencing in Epping Forest

For landlords and letting agents letting in Epping Forest and Loughton: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.

Start referencingSee a sample report

The local market

Renting in Epping Forest

Average private rent£1,808£1,808 a month (ONS, January 2026), up 6.8% on a year earlier Source
Renting privately14.9%14.9% of households rent privately (Census 2021), up from 11.0% in 2011 Source
Average house price£550,000£550,000 (UK HPI, December 2025, provisional), up 2.1% on a year earlier Source
Council tax, Band D£2,277£2,277 average Band D (2026/27), including Essex County Council, police, fire and parish precepts Source

Epping Forest district lies on London's north-east edge, with the forest itself, Green Belt countryside and Central line towns such as Loughton, Buckhurst Hill and Epping. Homes range from Victorian and Edwardian houses near the stations to inter-war semis, large post-war estates such as Debden and Waltham Abbey, and big detached houses in Chigwell. Private lets are mostly flats and terraced and semi-detached houses near the Tube. Many tenants commute into London.

Affordability

The income a tenant needs in Epping Forest

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 Epping Forest’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 rentTenant needs a yearGuarantor needs a year
Average home, one tenant£1,808£54,240£65,088
Shared by two£904 each£27,120 each£32,544
Shared by three£603 each£18,080 each£21,696
Before you let

Landlord licensing in Epping Forest

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: £1,036 for an HMO licence covering five units, plus £41 for each extra unit (council fee page, 2025)

As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Epping Forest District Council before letting. Private renting at the council.

How it works

Referencing a tenant in Epping Forest

  1. Add the tenancyThe property, the rent, the move-in date and the applicant. Their link is emailed at once.
  2. They apply on their phoneFive years of addresses, work, 3 months of bank statements, payslips and ID, in about 10 minutes.
  3. We contact the refereesTheir employer, current and previous landlord, by email, automatically.
  4. You get the reportEvery check, the income from every source, and how we reached the outcome.

For landlordsFor letting agents

Neighbourhoods

Where people rent in Epping Forest

Loughton

IG10

A large town with inter-war semis, post-war estates including Debden, and Victorian houses near the station.

Epping

CM16

A market town with older buildings on the high street, Victorian houses and later suburbs.

Waltham Abbey

EN9

A historic town with old buildings near the abbey and large post-war estates.

Chigwell

IG7

A suburb of large detached houses and inter-war and post-war homes.

Buckhurst Hill

IG9

A suburb of Victorian and Edwardian houses and modern flats near the station.

Ongar

CM5

A small town with older buildings on its high street and later estates.

Theydon Bois

CM16

A village of Victorian and inter-war houses around a large green.

North Weald Bassett

CM16

A village of post-war and modern houses near the old airfield.

Postcode districts: CM16, CM5, EN9, IG7, IG10, CM17, CM18, IG9

Questions

Tenant referencing in Epping Forest: questions

How much does tenant referencing cost in Epping Forest?

£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 Epping Forest?

At Epping Forest’s average private rent of £1,808 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £54,240 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £65,088 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.

Do landlords need a licence to let in Epping Forest?

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 Epping Forest District Council before letting).

How long does a tenant reference take in Epping Forest?

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, damp or safety problems can contact Epping Forest District Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect rented homes and take action against landlords.

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