Tenant referencing in Newham
For landlords and letting agents letting in Newham and Stratford: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Newham
Newham has one of the highest shares of private renting in London, with nearly four in ten households renting from a private landlord in 2021. Much of the private stock is Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses in Forest Gate, Manor Park and East Ham, often let to sharers or large households, while Stratford, the Olympic Park and the Royal Docks have thousands of new-build flats, many of them build-to-rent. Canning Town and Custom House are going through large estate regeneration.
The income a tenant needs in Newham
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 Newham’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 | £1,931 | £57,930 | £69,516 |
| Shared by two | £966 each | £28,965 each | £34,758 |
| Shared by three | £644 each | £19,310 each | £23,172 |
Landlord licensing in Newham
Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers every ward except Royal Victoria and Stratford Olympic Park, from 1 June 2023 for five years, for privately rented homes that do not need an HMO licence.
HMOs: Additional HMO licensing covers every ward except Royal Victoria and Stratford Olympic Park, for homes let to three or more people forming two or more households, from 1 January 2023 until 31 December 2027.
Fee: A selective licence costs £750 (£400 on application, £350 later) and an additional HMO licence £1,250 (£400 and £850), each for up to five years; homes not let before with an EPC of C or better pay less (£400 and £800).
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Newham Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Newham
- 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 Newham
Stratford
E15Victorian terraces, post-war estates and many new tower blocks around the town centre.
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and East Village
E20New-build blocks of flats, many let by build-to-rent landlords.
Forest Gate
E7Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses, many split into flats or let as shared homes.
Manor Park
E12Late Victorian and Edwardian terraces, many extended and let as family or shared homes.
East Ham
E6Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses and flats above shops along the High Street.
Plaistow and West Ham
E13Victorian terraces and post-war council estates.
Canning Town and Custom House
E16Post-war estates being redeveloped with new blocks of flats.
Royal Docks and Silvertown
E16Riverside and dockside new-build flats and towers.
Beckton
E61980s and 1990s houses and low-rise flats built on former docklands and gas works land.
Postcode districts: E6, E7, E12, E13, E15, E16, E20
Tenant referencing in Newham: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Newham?
£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 Newham?
At Newham’s average private rent of £1,931 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £57,930 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £69,516 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Newham?
Selective licensing covers every ward except Royal Victoria and Stratford Olympic Park, from 1 June 2023 for five years, for privately rented homes that do not need an HMO licence. Additional HMO licensing covers every ward except Royal Victoria and Stratford Olympic Park, for homes let to three or more people forming two or more households, from 1 January 2023 until 31 December 2027. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Newham Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Newham?
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: Newham Council's private housing team can inspect privately rented homes for disrepair and hazards and deals with landlord licensing; contact it through newham.gov.uk.