Tenant referencing in Kensington and Chelsea
For landlords and letting agents letting in Kensington and Chelsea and Kensington: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Kensington and Chelsea
Kensington and Chelsea is the most expensive place to rent in the country, and about four in ten households rent privately. Most homes are flats: lateral and duplex flats in stucco terraces, red-brick mansion blocks and mews houses, many with porters, lifts and shared garden squares. North Kensington is different, with large post-war estates and towers, and the borough saw England's biggest rise in social renting between 2011 and 2021. Short and corporate lets and high-value furnished tenancies are common, so many lets come with a lot of contents.
The income a tenant needs in Kensington and Chelsea
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 Kensington and Chelsea’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 | £3,739 | £112,170 | £134,604 |
| Shared by two | £1,870 each | £56,085 each | £67,302 |
| Shared by three | £1,246 each | £37,390 each | £44,868 |
Landlord licensing in Kensington and Chelsea
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme is in force; homes let to a single household do not need a council licence.
HMOs: A borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme came into force on 1 June 2023 and expires on 31 May 2028. It covers most HMOs let to three or more people from two or more households sharing a kitchen, bathroom or toilet that fall outside mandatory licensing.
Fee: About £1,493 for an additional HMO licence (Part A £1,004 on application, Part B £489 once approved, plus £72 for each extra room), with a £200 discount for accredited landlords (council HMO licensing FAQs).
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Kensington and Chelsea
- 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 Kensington and Chelsea
Notting Hill
W11Stucco-fronted Victorian terraces and garden squares, many split into flats, with mews houses behind.
North Kensington
W10Post-war council estates and towers, including Trellick Tower, alongside Victorian terraces.
Kensington
W8Large Victorian houses, mansion blocks and mews cottages around Kensington High Street.
Holland Park
W11, W14Large detached and semi-detached Victorian villas, some divided into lateral flats.
South Kensington
SW7White stucco terraces converted into flats, mansion blocks and mews houses near the museums.
Earl's Court
SW5Tall Victorian terraces divided into many small flats and studios, some let as shared homes.
Chelsea
SW3Georgian and Victorian terraced houses, red-brick mansion blocks and garden squares.
West Brompton and World's End
SW10Victorian terraces and mansion flats beside the World's End council estate.
Postcode districts: W8, W10, W11, W14, SW3, SW5, SW7, SW10
Tenant referencing in Kensington and Chelsea: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Kensington and Chelsea?
£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 Kensington and Chelsea?
At Kensington and Chelsea’s average private rent of £3,739 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £112,170 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £134,604 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Kensington and Chelsea?
No selective licensing scheme is in force; homes let to a single household do not need a council licence. A borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme came into force on 1 June 2023 and expires on 31 May 2028. It covers most HMOs let to three or more people from two or more households sharing a kitchen, bathroom or toilet that fall outside mandatory licensing. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Kensington and Chelsea?
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: The council's environmental health team (private sector housing) can inspect privately rented homes for disrepair and hazards and enforces HMO licensing; contact it through the housing pages of rbkc.gov.uk.