Tenant referencing in Manchester
For landlords and letting agents letting in Manchester: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Manchester
Manchester has one of the largest private rented sectors in the North, with almost a third of households renting from a private landlord. The city centre has thousands of apartments in towers and converted mills, while the south of the city has large numbers of student houses and Victorian conversions around Fallowfield, Withington and Rusholme. Inner areas such as Levenshulme, Longsight and Cheetham are lined with terraces, several of them under selective licensing.
The income a tenant needs in Manchester
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 Manchester’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 | £1,380 | £41,400 | £49,680 |
| Shared by two | £690 each | £20,700 each | £24,840 |
| Shared by three | £460 each | £13,800 each | £16,560 |
Landlord licensing in Manchester
Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers privately rented homes on designated streets in parts of the city, including areas of Cheetham, Crumpsall and Moss Side added from 24 February 2025. Check an address on the council's selective licensing pages.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme: HMOs with five or more people from two or more households need the national mandatory licence, and smaller shared houses need a licence only inside a selective licensing area.
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Manchester City Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Manchester
- 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 Manchester
City centre and Ancoats
M1, M3, M4Converted mills and warehouses, and new apartment towers, mostly let to young professionals.
Fallowfield
M14Edwardian and inter-war semis and terraces, many let as student houses.
Rusholme and Moss Side
M14, M15, M16Victorian terraces and 1970s and later housing estates near the universities, with selective licensing in parts.
Withington and Didsbury
M20Victorian and Edwardian houses, many split into flats, and terraces popular with young professionals.
Chorlton
M21Edwardian terraces and semis, with some flats over shops.
Levenshulme and Longsight
M19, M12, M13Long streets of Victorian terraced houses, many privately rented.
Cheetham Hill and Crumpsall
M8Victorian terraces and large older houses, with designated selective licensing streets.
Gorton and Openshaw
M18, M11Terraced streets and regenerated housing in east Manchester.
Wythenshawe
M22, M23One of the largest inter-war and post-war council-built estates, now partly owner-occupied and privately rented.
Postcode districts: M1, M3, M4, M8, M9, M11, M12, M13, M14, M15, M16, M19, M20, M21, M22, M23, M40
Tenant referencing in Manchester: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Manchester?
£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 Manchester?
At Manchester’s average private rent of £1,380 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £41,400 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £49,680 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Manchester?
Selective licensing covers privately rented homes on designated streets in parts of the city, including areas of Cheetham, Crumpsall and Moss Side added from 24 February 2025. Check an address on the council's selective licensing pages. No additional HMO licensing scheme: HMOs with five or more people from two or more households need the national mandatory licence, and smaller shared houses need a licence only inside a selective licensing area. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Manchester City Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Manchester?
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 concerns can contact Manchester City Council's private rented sector team, and can check whether their landlord has a licence on the council's website.