Tenant referencing in North Devon
For landlords and letting agents letting in North Devon and Barnstaple: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in North Devon
North Devon combines the market town of Barnstaple, the Victorian resort of Ilfracombe, surf villages such as Croyde and Woolacombe and a large rural hinterland reaching into Exmoor. Rented homes include converted Victorian guest houses and HMOs in Ilfracombe, terraces and estates in Barnstaple, and rural cottages, while many coastal homes are second homes or holiday lets. The council estimates about 1,100 HMOs in the district.
The income a tenant needs in North Devon
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 North Devon’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 | £845 | £25,350 | £30,420 |
| Shared by two | £423 each | £12,675 each | £15,210 |
| Shared by three | £282 each | £8,450 each | £10,140 |
Landlord licensing in North Devon
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme. The council's Housing Strategy 2025 mentions a feasibility project looking at selective licensing.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme: only the national mandatory licence for HMOs with five or more people in two or more households.
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with North Devon Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in North Devon
- 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 North Devon
Barnstaple
EX31, EX32Victorian terraces and Georgian houses in the centre, large post-war estates and new-build developments on the edges.
Ilfracombe
EX34Victorian guest houses and villas on steep streets, many converted into flats and HMOs.
Braunton
EX33A large village of older cottages, bungalows and post-war houses near the coast.
Croyde and Woolacombe
EX33, EX34Seaside villages of cottages, bungalows and holiday homes, with some flats.
Lynton and Lynmouth
EX35Victorian stone villas and cottages on the Exmoor coast.
South Molton
EX36A market town of Georgian and Victorian houses and post-war estates.
Fremington and Bickington
EX31Villages of post-war and modern estates on the edge of Barnstaple.
Chulmleigh and the rural south
EX18, EX37Cob and stone cottages, farmhouses and barn conversions in small villages.
Postcode districts: EX31, EX32, EX33, EX34, EX35, EX36, EX37
Tenant referencing in North Devon: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in North Devon?
£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 North Devon?
At North Devon’s average private rent of £845 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £25,350 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £30,420 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in North Devon?
No selective licensing scheme. The council's Housing Strategy 2025 mentions a feasibility project looking at selective licensing. No additional HMO licensing scheme: only the national mandatory licence for HMOs with five or more people in two or more households. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with North Devon Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in North Devon?
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 can report poor conditions in a private rented home to North Devon Council's private sector housing team through the council website.