Tenant referencing in Portsmouth
For landlords and letting agents letting in Portsmouth: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Portsmouth
Portsmouth is England's most densely populated city outside London, built mostly on Portsea Island with rows of Victorian and Edwardian terraces. Southsea and Fratton have a large private rented sector, with many shared houses let to University of Portsmouth students and young workers, and every HMO in the city needs a licence. The city centre has post-war estates, towers and purpose-built student blocks, while Gunwharf Quays has modern waterfront apartments. On the mainland, Cosham, Drayton and Paulsgrove are mostly inter-war and post-war estates.
The income a tenant needs in Portsmouth
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 Portsmouth’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 | £1,368 | £41,040 | £49,248 |
| Shared by two | £684 each | £20,520 each | £24,624 |
| Shared by three | £456 each | £13,680 each | £16,416 |
Landlord licensing in Portsmouth
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
HMOs: Citywide additional HMO licensing from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2028, covering HMOs of three or four people; larger HMOs need a mandatory licence. Planning rules across the city also restrict new HMOs.
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Portsmouth City Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Portsmouth
- 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 Portsmouth
Southsea
PO4, PO5Victorian and Edwardian terraces and large villas, many split into flats or let as student and shared houses.
Fratton
PO1, PO4Dense Victorian terraced streets, many privately rented.
Landport and city centre
PO1Post-war council-built estates and towers, flats over shops and purpose-built student blocks.
Old Portsmouth and Gunwharf
PO1Georgian houses, post-war rebuilds and modern waterfront apartments.
Buckland and Kingston
PO1, PO2Victorian terraces and post-war estates.
North End and Stamshaw
PO2Edwardian and inter-war terraces in the north of the island.
Copnor and Baffins
PO2, PO3Inter-war terraces and semis on the east side of the island.
Milton and Eastney
PO4Edwardian terraces and post-war homes near Langstone Harbour and the seafront.
Cosham and Drayton
PO6Inter-war and post-war semis and estates on the mainland below Portsdown Hill.
Paulsgrove and Wymering
PO6Large post-war council-built estates.
Postcode districts: PO1, PO2, PO3, PO4, PO5, PO6
Tenant referencing in Portsmouth: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Portsmouth?
£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 Portsmouth?
At Portsmouth’s average private rent of £1,368 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £41,040 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £49,248 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Portsmouth?
No selective licensing scheme. Citywide additional HMO licensing from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2028, covering HMOs of three or four people; larger HMOs need a mandatory licence. Planning rules across the city also restrict new HMOs. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Portsmouth City Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Portsmouth?
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 Portsmouth City Council's private sector housing team.