Tenant referencing in Merton
For landlords and letting agents letting in Merton and Wimbledon: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Merton
Merton divides fairly clearly between Wimbledon, with Victorian and Edwardian houses, conversions and mansion flats, and Mitcham and Morden, with inter-war suburbs and large council estates such as St Helier. Private renting rose to nearly three in ten households by 2021, and rents rose faster than the London average over the year to August 2026. Regeneration of estates such as High Path is adding new flats.
The income a tenant needs in Merton
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 Merton’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 | £2,172 | £65,160 | £78,192 |
| Shared by two | £1,086 each | £32,580 each | £39,096 |
| Shared by three | £724 each | £21,720 each | £26,064 |
Landlord licensing in Merton
Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers four wards, Figge’s Marsh, Graveney, Longthornton and Pollards Hill, for privately rented homes that are not HMOs (designated 19 June 2023, in force from September 2023 for five years).
HMOs: Additional HMO licensing covers HMOs let to three or four people forming two or more households in seven wards: Colliers Wood, Cricket Green, Figge’s Marsh, Graveney, Lavender Fields, Longthornton and Pollards Hill (designated 19 June 2023, in force from September 2023 for five years).
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Merton Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Merton
- 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 Merton
Wimbledon Village
SW19Large Victorian and Edwardian houses and detached homes near the Common.
Wimbledon town centre
SW19Victorian terraces split into flats, mansion blocks and new-build flats near the station.
South Wimbledon
SW19Victorian terraces and the High Path council estate, which is being redeveloped.
Colliers Wood
SW19Victorian and Edwardian terraces and newer blocks of flats near the station.
Merton Park
SW19Late Victorian and Edwardian garden-suburb houses in tree-lined streets.
Raynes Park
SW20Edwardian and inter-war terraced and semi-detached houses.
Morden
SM4Inter-war semi-detached houses and the large St Helier council estate.
Mitcham
CR4Inter-war terraces and semis, post-war estates and older cottages around the town centre.
Pollards Hill
SW16, CR4Post-war estates and 1930s semis on the Croydon side of the borough.
Postcode districts: SW19, SW20, SM4, CR4, SW16
Tenant referencing in Merton: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Merton?
£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 Merton?
At Merton’s average private rent of £2,172 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £65,160 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £78,192 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Merton?
Selective licensing covers four wards, Figge’s Marsh, Graveney, Longthornton and Pollards Hill, for privately rented homes that are not HMOs (designated 19 June 2023, in force from September 2023 for five years). Additional HMO licensing covers HMOs let to three or four people forming two or more households in seven wards: Colliers Wood, Cricket Green, Figge’s Marsh, Graveney, Lavender Fields, Longthornton and Pollards Hill (designated 19 June 2023, in force from September 2023 for five years). (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Merton Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Merton?
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 payment history from the bank statements, with AI comparing every document with the application.
For tenants: Merton Council's environmental health (private sector housing) team can inspect privately rented homes for disrepair and hazards; contact it through merton.gov.uk.