Tenant referencing in Plymouth
For landlords and letting agents letting in Plymouth: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Plymouth
Plymouth's private rented sector is concentrated in the Victorian terraces close to the centre, especially in Mutley, Greenbank and North Hill, where many homes are let to University of Plymouth students. Stonehouse and Stoke have Georgian and Victorian terraces split into flats, and Devonport and Keyham have dockyard-era terraces, with large regeneration schemes in Devonport. The waterfront has converted warehouses and new apartment blocks, while Plymstock, Plympton and Estover are mostly post-war and later suburban estates. Many homes face exposure to wind and rain off the Sound.
The income a tenant needs in Plymouth
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 Plymouth’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 | £1,004 | £30,120 | £36,144 |
| Shared by two | £502 each | £15,060 each | £18,072 |
| Shared by three | £335 each | £10,040 each | £12,048 |
Landlord licensing in Plymouth
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme found; the council's HMO licensing policy says these powers have not been adopted in Plymouth.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme found; national mandatory HMO licensing (five or more people from two or more households) applies.
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Plymouth City Council before letting.
Referencing a tenant in Plymouth
- 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 Plymouth
Mutley and Greenbank
PL4Victorian terraces, many let as student shared houses near the University of Plymouth.
Stonehouse
PL1Georgian and Victorian terraces, many split into flats, and the Royal William Yard conversions.
Barbican and Sutton Harbour
PL1, PL4Old harbourside buildings, converted warehouses and modern apartment blocks.
Mannamead and Peverell
PL3Larger Victorian and Edwardian houses, some split into flats.
Stoke and Devonport
PL1, PL2Victorian terraces near the dockyard and new homes from the Devonport regeneration.
Keyham and Ford
PL2Dense terraced streets built for dockyard workers.
Plymstock
PL9Post-war and newer suburban houses and bungalows east of the Plym.
Plympton
PL7An old market town core surrounded by large 1960s–80s estates.
Derriford and Estover
PL6Post-war and later estates near the hospital and business parks.
Sherford
PL9A new town of new-build houses and flats on the city's eastern edge.
Postcode districts: PL1, PL2, PL3, PL4, PL5, PL6, PL7, PL9
Tenant referencing in Plymouth: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Plymouth?
£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 Plymouth?
At Plymouth’s average private rent of £1,004 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £30,120 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £36,144 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Plymouth?
No selective licensing scheme found; the council's HMO licensing policy says these powers have not been adopted in Plymouth. No additional HMO licensing scheme found; national mandatory HMO licensing (five or more people from two or more households) applies. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Plymouth City Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Plymouth?
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 to Plymouth City Council's private sector housing team.