Tenant referencing in Medway
For landlords and letting agents letting in Medway and Chatham: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Medway
Medway's five towns, Rochester, Strood, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham, have a large stock of Victorian terraces, many of them privately rented, alongside post-war estates and new riverside apartments. About one in five households rent privately, with shared houses near the universities' Medway campus and the town centres. New licensing schemes cover the central wards of Chatham, Gillingham and Strood.
The income a tenant needs in Medway
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 Medway’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 | £1,232 | £36,960 | £44,352 |
| Shared by two | £616 each | £18,480 each | £22,176 |
| Shared by three | £411 each | £12,320 each | £14,784 |
Landlord licensing in Medway
Selective licensing: Selective licensing has been approved for privately rented homes in seven wards: Chatham Central & Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North, Gillingham South, Luton, Strood North & Frindsbury, and Watling. The council's designation notice gave a start of 27 October 2026; a later landlord update gives 4 January 2027 to 3 January 2032, so check the council's page for the date.
HMOs: Additional HMO licensing has been approved for smaller HMOs (three or four people from two or more households) in six wards: Chatham Central & Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North, Gillingham South, Luton and Watling, starting on the same date. Larger HMOs need the national mandatory licence everywhere.
Fee: Proposed at £840 for a selective licence and £1,600 for an additional HMO licence, with discounts for accredited landlords (consultation, 2026)
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Medway Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Medway
- 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 Medway
Chatham
ME4, ME5Victorian terraces on the hills around the town centre, flats over shops and new riverside apartments.
Gillingham
ME7Dense streets of Victorian and Edwardian terraces, many privately rented and some HMOs.
Rochester
ME1Georgian and Victorian houses in the historic high street area, with later terraces and semis.
Strood
ME2Victorian terraces near the river and post-war and new-build estates.
Rainham
ME8Large estates of 1960s and 1970s semis and terraces, mostly owner-occupied.
Walderslade and Lordswood
ME5Estates of 1970s and 1980s houses on the wooded hills south of Chatham.
Chatham Maritime and St Mary's Island
ME4Modern flats and houses on the former dockyard, near the universities' Medway campus.
Hoo Peninsula
ME3Villages of older cottages and post-war houses, with large new-build estates around Hoo St Werburgh.
Postcode districts: ME1, ME2, ME3, ME4, ME5, ME7, ME8
Tenant referencing in Medway: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Medway?
£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 Medway?
At Medway’s average private rent of £1,232 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £36,960 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £44,352 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Medway?
Selective licensing has been approved for privately rented homes in seven wards: Chatham Central & Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North, Gillingham South, Luton, Strood North & Frindsbury, and Watling. The council's designation notice gave a start of 27 October 2026; a later landlord update gives 4 January 2027 to 3 January 2032, so check the council's page for the date. Additional HMO licensing has been approved for smaller HMOs (three or four people from two or more households) in six wards: Chatham Central & Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North, Gillingham South, Luton and Watling, starting on the same date. Larger HMOs need the national mandatory licence everywhere. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Medway Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Medway?
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 Medway Council's private sector housing team, which runs the licensing schemes and can inspect homes.