Tenant referencing in Havering
For landlords and letting agents letting in Havering and Romford: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Havering
Havering has the highest rate of home ownership in London, and only about one household in six rented privately in 2021, though that share grew over the decade. Most homes are inter-war semis and terraces with gardens, alongside the large post-war Harold Hill estate and flats around Romford town centre. New-build estates at Beam Park and other sites in the south of the borough are adding homes. Since March 2026 the council licenses HMOs borough-wide and runs selective licensing in seven wards.
The income a tenant needs in Havering
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 Havering’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 | £1,564 | £46,920 | £56,304 |
| Shared by two | £782 each | £23,460 each | £28,152 |
| Shared by three | £521 each | £15,640 each | £18,768 |
Landlord licensing in Havering
Selective licensing: Selective licensing started on 18 March 2026 in seven of the borough's 20 wards: Beam Park, Harold Wood, Rainham and Wennington, Rush Green and Crowlands, Squirrels Heath, St Albans, and St Edwards. Licences run for up to five years.
HMOs: Borough-wide additional HMO licensing also started on 18 March 2026, for shared houses and flats with three or four people from two or more households.
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Havering Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Havering
- 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 Havering
Romford
RM1, RM7Inter-war terraces and semis, with flats above shops and new-build blocks around the town centre and station.
Gidea Park
RM2Early 20th-century garden-suburb houses and inter-war semis.
Hornchurch
RM11, RM12Inter-war semi-detached and terraced houses, plus some modern flats near the stations.
Emerson Park
RM11Large detached houses on private and tree-lined roads.
Upminster
RM14Inter-war semis and detached family houses at the end of the District line.
Harold Hill
RM3A large post-war council estate of houses and low-rise flats, many now privately owned or let.
Harold Wood
RM3Inter-war and post-war houses and new-build homes on the former hospital site.
Collier Row
RM5Inter-war and post-war semis and terraces, with some council housing.
Rainham
RM13Post-war houses and new-build estates, including Beam Park, near the Thames marshes.
Elm Park
RM121930s terraces and semis built around the station.
Postcode districts: RM1, RM2, RM3, RM5, RM7, RM11, RM12, RM13, RM14
Tenant referencing in Havering: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Havering?
£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 Havering?
At Havering’s average private rent of £1,564 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £46,920 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £56,304 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Havering?
Selective licensing started on 18 March 2026 in seven of the borough's 20 wards: Beam Park, Harold Wood, Rainham and Wennington, Rush Green and Crowlands, Squirrels Heath, St Albans, and St Edwards. Licences run for up to five years. Borough-wide additional HMO licensing also started on 18 March 2026, for shared houses and flats with three or four people from two or more households. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Havering Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Havering?
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 payment history from the bank statements, with AI comparing every document with the application.
For tenants: Private tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions to Havering Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect and use Housing Act 2004 notices against landlords.