Tenant referencing in Lewisham
For landlords and letting agents letting in Lewisham: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Lewisham
Lewisham has a mix of Victorian terraces and villas, many converted into flats, inter-war cottage estates in Bellingham and Downham, and post-war council blocks in Deptford and New Cross. Social renting is high and more than a quarter of households rented privately at the 2021 Census. Goldsmiths keeps a student market in New Cross, while new towers in Lewisham town centre and along the Deptford riverside have added many rented flats.
The income a tenant needs in Lewisham
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 Lewisham’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 | £1,832 | £54,960 | £65,952 |
| Shared by two | £916 each | £27,480 each | £32,976 |
| Shared by three | £611 each | £18,320 each | £21,984 |
Landlord licensing in Lewisham
Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers most of the borough (three designations, from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2029) for privately rented homes not covered by HMO licensing; Telegraph Hill and parts of Blackheath are not included.
HMOs: Additional HMO licensing covers the whole borough for HMOs let to three or four unrelated people (larger ones need a mandatory licence), from 5 April 2022 until 4 April 2027.
Fee: A selective licence costs £640 for five years: £160 on application and £480 when it is granted, with discounts for accredited landlords and charities taken off the second payment.
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Lewisham Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Lewisham
- 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 Lewisham
Deptford
SE8Post-war council estates, Victorian terraces and new-build blocks along the river.
New Cross
SE14Victorian terraces, many let as shared houses to Goldsmiths students, and council estates.
Brockley
SE4Large Victorian houses in conservation areas, many split into flats.
Lewisham town centre
SE13New-build towers around the station and Lewisham Gateway, with older terraces nearby.
Hither Green and Lee
SE12, SE13Victorian and Edwardian terraced family houses.
Catford
SE6Victorian and inter-war terraces, flats above shops and a regeneration area around the town centre.
Forest Hill and Honor Oak
SE23Victorian villas converted into flats and Edwardian terraces on the hills.
Sydenham
SE26Victorian houses split into flats, inter-war homes and post-war estates.
Bellingham and Downham
SE6, BR1Inter-war cottage-style council estates of terraced houses with gardens.
Postcode districts: SE3, SE4, SE6, SE8, SE12, SE13, SE14, SE23, SE26, BR1
Tenant referencing in Lewisham: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Lewisham?
£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 Lewisham?
At Lewisham’s average private rent of £1,832 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £54,960 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £65,952 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Lewisham?
Selective licensing covers most of the borough (three designations, from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2029) for privately rented homes not covered by HMO licensing; Telegraph Hill and parts of Blackheath are not included. Additional HMO licensing covers the whole borough for HMOs let to three or four unrelated people (larger ones need a mandatory licence), from 5 April 2022 until 4 April 2027. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Lewisham Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Lewisham?
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: Lewisham Council's private sector housing team can inspect privately rented homes for disrepair and hazards; contact it through lewisham.gov.uk.