Tenant referencing in New Forest
For landlords and letting agents letting in New Forest and Lymington: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in New Forest
New Forest District wraps around the New Forest National Park, with coastal towns such as Lymington and New Milton, the Waterside towns of Totton, Hythe and Fawley by Southampton Water, and the Avon valley towns of Ringwood and Fordingbridge. Most households own their homes, and about one in seven rent privately, often in Victorian cottages, post-war estate houses and flats. Homes in the national park include older forest cottages, some thatched and some off mains gas.
The income a tenant needs in New Forest
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 New Forest’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 | £1,240 | £37,200 | £44,640 |
| Shared by two | £620 each | £18,600 each | £22,320 |
| Shared by three | £413 each | £12,400 each | £14,880 |
Landlord licensing in New Forest
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme: only the national mandatory licence for HMOs with five or more unrelated people forming two or more households.
Fee: £976 for an HMO licence, paid as £317 on application and £659 before the full licence is issued
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with New Forest District Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in New Forest
- 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 New Forest
Lymington and Pennington
SO41Georgian town houses on the High Street, Victorian cottages near the quay and post-war estates in Pennington.
New Milton and Barton on Sea
BH25Inter-war and post-war bungalows and houses, with retirement flats near the cliff top.
Totton
SO40Victorian terraces near the old centre and large post-war and modern estates on the edge of Southampton.
Hythe and Dibden
SO45Older waterside cottages and post-war and 1970s estates on the Waterside.
Fawley and Holbury
SO45Post-war estates built for refinery workers, with older village cottages.
Ringwood
BH24A market town of Georgian and Victorian houses, with post-war and newer estates.
Fordingbridge
SP6Brick cottages and Victorian houses by the Avon, with post-war estates.
Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst
SO43, SO42Victorian villas, forest cottages and some flats in the national park villages.
Postcode districts: SO40, SO41, SO42, SO43, SO45, BH24, BH25, SP6
Tenant referencing in New Forest: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in New Forest?
£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 New Forest?
At New Forest’s average private rent of £1,240 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £37,200 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £44,640 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in New Forest?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme: only the national mandatory licence for HMOs with five or more unrelated people forming two or more households. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with New Forest District Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in New Forest?
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: Tenants with disrepair or safety concerns can contact New Forest District Council's Private Sector Housing Team, which can inspect homes and take enforcement action.