Tenant referencing in Nottingham
For landlords and letting agents letting in Nottingham: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Nottingham
Nottingham has a large private rented sector, with more than a quarter of households renting privately in 2021. Two universities mean many student HMOs, especially in the Victorian terraces of Lenton, Radford and Dunkirk, alongside purpose-built student blocks in the city centre. The Arboretum and Forest Fields have large Victorian houses split into flats and bedsits, while the outer estates such as Aspley, Bilborough and Clifton are mostly inter-war and post-war council-built homes. Most privately rented homes in the city need a selective or HMO licence.
The income a tenant needs in Nottingham
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 Nottingham’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 | £1,015 | £30,450 | £36,540 |
| Shared by two | £508 each | £15,225 each | £18,270 |
| Shared by three | £338 each | £10,150 each | £12,180 |
Landlord licensing in Nottingham
Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers most of the city (about 30,000 privately rented homes in wards including Aspley, Basford, Castle, Meadows, Radford, Sherwood and St Ann's) from 1 December 2023 to 30 November 2028; the council's postcode checker shows whether a home is inside it. It follows a first scheme that ran from 2018 to 2023.
HMOs: Citywide additional HMO licensing since January 2024: HMOs of three or more unrelated people forming two or more households need a licence, as well as the larger HMOs under mandatory licensing.
Fee: £1,607 for a standard additional HMO licence (up to 9 bedrooms, from April 2026), £1,210 for landlords accredited under the Nottingham Rental Standard, paid in two parts
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Nottingham City Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Nottingham
- 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 Nottingham
Lenton
NG7Victorian terraces, most let as student HMOs, between the city and the University of Nottingham.
Radford
NG7Terraced streets and flats, many shared and student lets, plus some estates.
The Arboretum and Forest Fields
NG7Large Victorian houses split into flats and bedsits, and terraced streets.
Sherwood
NG5Victorian and Edwardian terraces and semis around a busy high street.
City centre and Lace Market
NG1Converted lace warehouses, new apartment blocks and purpose-built student housing.
The Meadows
NG2Victorian terraces and 1970s estate housing south of the centre, near the river.
Sneinton
NG2, NG3Victorian terraces, post-war estates and new homes near the city centre.
Beeston Road and Dunkirk
NG7Terraces and semis near the university and QMC, many let to students.
Aspley and Bilborough
NG8Large inter-war and post-war council-built estates.
Clifton
NG11A large post-war council-built estate south of the Trent.
Postcode districts: NG1, NG2, NG3, NG5, NG6, NG7, NG8, NG11
Tenant referencing in Nottingham: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Nottingham?
£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 Nottingham?
At Nottingham’s average private rent of £1,015 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £30,450 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £36,540 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Nottingham?
Selective licensing covers most of the city (about 30,000 privately rented homes in wards including Aspley, Basford, Castle, Meadows, Radford, Sherwood and St Ann's) from 1 December 2023 to 30 November 2028; the council's postcode checker shows whether a home is inside it. It follows a first scheme that ran from 2018 to 2023. Citywide additional HMO licensing since January 2024: HMOs of three or more unrelated people forming two or more households need a licence, as well as the larger HMOs under mandatory licensing. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Nottingham City Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Nottingham?
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 disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes, or a home that should be licensed and isn't, to Nottingham City Council's private sector housing team.