Tenant referencing in Hackney
For landlords and letting agents letting in Hackney: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Hackney
Hackney has one of the highest shares of social housing in England, with large post-war estates across the borough, and fewer than a quarter of households own their home. The private rented sector, about a third of households in 2021, is mostly Victorian terraces converted into flats, warehouse conversions and new-build blocks in Shoreditch, Dalston and Hackney Wick. Many homes are flat-shares and HMOs let to young sharers. From May 2026 most privately rented homes need a licence from the council.
The income a tenant needs in Hackney
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 Hackney’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 | £2,658 | £79,740 | £95,688 |
| Shared by two | £1,329 each | £39,870 each | £47,844 |
| Shared by three | £886 each | £26,580 each | £31,896 |
Landlord licensing in Hackney
Selective licensing: Selective licensing came into force on 1 May 2026 and runs until 30 April 2031. It covers privately rented homes in 17 of Hackney's 21 wards, about three-quarters of the borough's private rented homes.
HMOs: Additional HMO licensing also started on 1 May 2026, for shared homes with three or more people from two or more households. The consultation described it as borough-wide, while the council's later news release says it covers the four wards left out of selective licensing; check the address with the council.
Fee: £925 for a selective licence and £1,400 for an additional HMO licence, each paid in two parts (2026)
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Hackney Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Hackney
- 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 Hackney
Dalston
E8Victorian terraces split into flats, council estates and newer blocks over shops near the stations.
Stoke Newington
N16Victorian terraced houses, many converted into flats, around Church Street and Clissold Park.
Hackney Central
E8A mix of Victorian terraces, Georgian houses near Mare Street and large post-war council estates.
Clapton
E5Victorian terraces and conversions, with council estates and mansion blocks near the Lea marshes.
Homerton
E9Post-war council estates and Victorian terraces, with newer flats near the station.
Hackney Wick
E9Converted warehouses and new-build flats on former industrial land beside the Olympic Park.
Shoreditch and Hoxton
N1, E2, EC2AWarehouse conversions, new-build towers and large council estates close to the City.
Stamford Hill
N16Large Victorian and Edwardian houses, many shared by large families, and inter-war council blocks.
Haggerston and De Beauvoir
E2, E8, N1Early Victorian villas in De Beauvoir Town, estates and canal-side flats in Haggerston.
Postcode districts: E2, E5, E8, E9, N1, N4, N16, EC2A
Tenant referencing in Hackney: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Hackney?
£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 Hackney?
At Hackney’s average private rent of £2,658 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £79,740 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £95,688 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Hackney?
Selective licensing came into force on 1 May 2026 and runs until 30 April 2031. It covers privately rented homes in 17 of Hackney's 21 wards, about three-quarters of the borough's private rented homes. Additional HMO licensing also started on 1 May 2026, for shared homes with three or more people from two or more households. The consultation described it as borough-wide, while the council's later news release says it covers the four wards left out of selective licensing; check the address with the council. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Hackney Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Hackney?
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 in Hackney can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions to the council's private sector housing team, and check whether their home should be licensed through the council's property licensing service.