Tenant referencing in Liverpool
For landlords and letting agents letting in Liverpool: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Liverpool
Liverpool has a large private rented sector, much of it Victorian terraces in inner areas such as Kensington, Anfield, Picton and Wavertree, and Georgian houses split into flats near the universities. The city centre has added thousands of apartments and student rooms in towers and converted warehouses. Most of the city has been under selective licensing since 2022, and the council is planning a scheme to follow it from 2027.
The income a tenant needs in Liverpool
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 Liverpool’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 | £916 | £27,480 | £32,976 |
| Shared by two | £458 each | £13,740 each | £16,488 |
| Shared by three | £305 each | £9,160 each | £10,992 |
Landlord licensing in Liverpool
Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers privately rented homes in 16 wards (around 80% of the city's private rented homes) from April 2022 to March 2027. The council consulted until October 2026 on a scheme to follow it, with options ranging from 26 wards to the whole city.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme: larger HMOs (five or more people from two or more households) need the national mandatory licence.
Fee: Proposed fee for the next scheme £995 per property (£240 on application and £755 on grant)
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Liverpool City Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Liverpool
- 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 Liverpool
City centre and Baltic Triangle
L1, L3Converted warehouses, new apartment towers and large purpose-built student blocks.
Georgian Quarter and Canning
L1, L8Grand Georgian terraces, many split into flats, near the two cathedrals and universities.
Kensington and Fairfield
L6, L7Dense Victorian terraces, many privately rented and some HMOs, with regeneration areas.
Wavertree
L15Victorian and Edwardian terraces, popular with students and young professionals.
Smithdown and Picton
L7, L15Two-up two-down terraces, many let as student houses.
Aigburth and Sefton Park
L17Large Victorian villas converted into flats, and Edwardian terraces.
Anfield and Walton
L4Long rows of Victorian terraces, with regeneration and refurbished homes near the football grounds.
Allerton and Woolton
L18, L25Inter-war semis and detached houses, with older village cottages in Woolton.
Garston and Speke
L19, L24Victorian terraces near the docks and post-war council-built estates in Speke.
Postcode districts: L1, L3, L4, L6, L7, L8, L13, L15, L17, L18, L19, L24, L25
Tenant referencing in Liverpool: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Liverpool?
£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 Liverpool?
At Liverpool’s average private rent of £916 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £27,480 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £32,976 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Liverpool?
Selective licensing covers privately rented homes in 16 wards (around 80% of the city's private rented homes) from April 2022 to March 2027. The council consulted until October 2026 on a scheme to follow it, with options ranging from 26 wards to the whole city. No additional HMO licensing scheme: larger HMOs (five or more people from two or more households) need the national mandatory licence. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Liverpool City Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Liverpool?
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 or safety problems can report them to Liverpool City Council's private sector housing team, which enforces licence conditions and housing standards.