Tenant referencing in Reading
For landlords and letting agents letting in Reading: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Reading
Reading has a large private rented sector, with almost a third of households renting privately in 2021. Victorian terraces close to the centre, in Redlands, Katesgrove, Oxford Road and Battle, are widely let as shared houses to students and young workers, and every HMO in the borough now needs a licence. The town centre has many new apartment blocks and office conversions near the station, while Whitley, Southcote and Tilehurst are mostly inter-war and post-war estates. Selective licensing is planned for Battle, Redlands and Park wards.
The income a tenant needs in Reading
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 Reading’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 | £1,582 | £47,460 | £56,952 |
| Shared by two | £791 each | £23,730 each | £28,476 |
| Shared by three | £527 each | £15,820 each | £18,984 |
Landlord licensing in Reading
Selective licensing: No selective licensing in force yet. The council plans selective licensing of all privately rented homes in Battle ward first, then Redlands and Park wards in phases; its page says the formal designations have not yet been made.
HMOs: Borough-wide additional HMO licensing from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2031, covering HMOs of three or four people and other HMOs outside the mandatory scheme.
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Reading Borough Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Reading
- 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 Reading
Town centre
RG1Converted offices, new apartment towers near the station and flats over shops.
Redlands and the University area
RG1, RG6Victorian and Edwardian terraces and villas, many let as student and shared houses.
Katesgrove
RG1, RG2Dense Victorian terraced streets south of the centre.
Oxford Road and Battle
RG1, RG30Victorian terraces, many privately rented and shared, west of the centre.
Caversham
RG4Victorian and Edwardian houses and inter-war semis north of the Thames.
Earley
RG6Post-war and 1970s estates near the University of Reading's Whiteknights campus.
Whitley
RG2Large inter-war and post-war council-built estates in the south.
Tilehurst
RG30, RG31Inter-war and post-war semis and bungalows on the western hills.
Coley and Southcote
RG1, RG30Victorian terraces near the centre and post-war estates further out.
Postcode districts: RG1, RG2, RG4, RG6, RG30, RG31
Tenant referencing in Reading: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Reading?
£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 Reading?
At Reading’s average private rent of £1,582 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £47,460 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £56,952 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Reading?
No selective licensing in force yet. The council plans selective licensing of all privately rented homes in Battle ward first, then Redlands and Park wards in phases; its page says the formal designations have not yet been made. Borough-wide additional HMO licensing from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2031, covering HMOs of three or four people and other HMOs outside the mandatory scheme. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Reading Borough Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Reading?
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 Reading Borough Council's private sector housing team.