Tenant referencing in Isles of Scilly
For landlords and letting agents letting in Isles of Scilly and Hugh Town: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly have the highest share of private renting outside London, at more than a third of households in 2021, much of it let by the Duchy of Cornwall, which owns most of the land. Homes are mostly granite cottages, terraces and farmhouses, and a large part of the housing is used for holiday lets or staff accommodation for the tourism season, which makes year-round homes scarce. Shared staff housing often needs an HMO licence.
Landlord licensing in Isles of Scilly
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme: national mandatory licensing applies, for homes let to five or more people from two or more households sharing facilities, which on Scilly often includes staff accommodation. The council keeps a public register of licensed HMOs.
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Council of the Isles of Scilly before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Isles of Scilly
- 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 Isles of Scilly
Hugh Town, St Mary's
TR21Granite terraces and cottages, flats above shops and guest houses on the isthmus between two harbours.
Old Town and the rest of St Mary's
TR21Granite cottages, farmhouses, bungalows and some post-war and newer affordable homes.
Tresco
TR24Cottages and holiday lets on an island run as a single estate, with staff housing.
St Martin's
TR25Granite cottages and farmhouses spread along the island, with some holiday lets.
St Agnes
TR22A handful of granite cottages and farms on the most south-westerly inhabited island.
Bryher
TR23Small granite cottages, farms and holiday homes.
Postcode districts: TR21, TR22, TR23, TR24, TR25
Tenant referencing in Isles of Scilly: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Isles of Scilly?
£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.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Isles of Scilly?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme: national mandatory licensing applies, for homes let to five or more people from two or more households sharing facilities, which on Scilly often includes staff accommodation. The council keeps a public register of licensed HMOs. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Council of the Isles of Scilly before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Isles of Scilly?
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 in a private let can contact the Council of the Isles of Scilly's environmental health team, after first reporting the problem to their landlord.