Tenant referencing in Sefton
For landlords and letting agents letting in Sefton and Southport: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Sefton
Sefton stretches along the coast from Bootle on the edge of Liverpool to Southport in the north. In the south, Bootle, Litherland and Seaforth have dense Victorian terraces and post-war estates, and selective licensing applies in part of Bootle. Southport, Waterloo and Crosby have many large Victorian houses converted into flats and shared houses, which is why those areas have additional HMO licensing. Formby, Maghull and Ainsdale are mostly owner-occupied post-war suburbs.
The income a tenant needs in Sefton
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 Sefton’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 | £932 | £27,960 | £33,552 |
| Shared by two | £466 each | £13,980 each | £16,776 |
| Shared by three | £311 each | £9,320 each | £11,184 |
Landlord licensing in Sefton
Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers a defined area of Bootle, re-designated from 1 March 2023 for five years. Check the council's map for the exact streets.
HMOs: Two additional HMO licensing schemes, also from 1 March 2023: central Southport, and parts of Waterloo, Seaforth and Brighton-le-Sands. Larger HMOs anywhere in Sefton need a mandatory licence.
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Sefton Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Sefton
- 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 Sefton
Southport
PR8, PR9Victorian villas and terraces, many converted into flats and HMOs in the centre, with bungalows and semis in the suburbs.
Birkdale
PR8Large Victorian and Edwardian houses near the coast, with terraces around the village centre.
Ainsdale
PR8Inter-war and post-war semis and bungalows near the dunes.
Formby
L37Mainly detached and semi-detached post-war family homes among pine woods.
Crosby
L23Edwardian and inter-war semis and terraces, with flats near the seafront.
Waterloo and Seaforth
L21, L22Victorian terraces and large houses split into flats, near the docks and the beach.
Bootle
L20Dense Victorian terraced streets, many privately let, with post-war council housing and tower blocks.
Litherland
L21Terraces and post-war council-built semis around the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
Netherton
L30Large post-war estates of council-built houses and flats.
Maghull
L31Mainly post-war private estates of semi-detached and detached houses.
Postcode districts: L10, L20, L21, L22, L23, L29, L30, L31, L37, L38, PR8, PR9
Tenant referencing in Sefton: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Sefton?
£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 Sefton?
At Sefton’s average private rent of £932 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £27,960 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £33,552 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Sefton?
Selective licensing covers a defined area of Bootle, re-designated from 1 March 2023 for five years. Check the council's map for the exact streets. Two additional HMO licensing schemes, also from 1 March 2023: central Southport, and parts of Waterloo, Seaforth and Brighton-le-Sands. Larger HMOs anywhere in Sefton need a mandatory licence. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Sefton Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Sefton?
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 with disrepair, damp or safety problems can contact Sefton Council's private sector housing team, which inspects privately rented homes and enforces the licensing schemes.