Tenant referencing in Shropshire
For landlords and letting agents letting in Shropshire and Shrewsbury: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Shropshire
Shropshire is a large rural county with Shrewsbury as its main town and a ring of market towns: Oswestry, Ludlow, Bridgnorth, Market Drayton and Whitchurch. Older homes include timber-framed and Georgian town houses, stone and brick cottages, and farm conversions, many of them listed or in conservation areas. Much of the countryside is off the gas grid. Private renting is a little below the national average, and HMOs are found mainly in Shrewsbury.
The income a tenant needs in Shropshire
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 Shropshire’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 | £823 | £24,690 | £29,628 |
| Shared by two | £412 each | £12,345 each | £14,814 |
| Shared by three | £274 each | £8,230 each | £9,876 |
Landlord licensing in Shropshire
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme (the council's 2026 civil penalty policy notes there are no selective licensing areas).
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme: HMOs with five or more people from two or more households need a mandatory licence, whatever the number of storeys.
Fee: £1,200 for an HMO licence for up to five bedrooms plus £170 for each extra bedroom, valid five years (2024/25 application form)
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Shropshire Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Shropshire
- 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 Shropshire
Shrewsbury
SY1, SY2, SY3The county town, with timber-framed and Georgian houses in the centre, Victorian terraces and large post-war and new-build estates.
Oswestry
SY10, SY11A market town near the Welsh border with Victorian terraces and post-war estates.
Ludlow
SY8A historic market town of Georgian and timber-framed houses, many listed, with newer estates outside the walls.
Bridgnorth
WV15, WV16High Town and Low Town on the River Severn, with sandstone cottages, Georgian houses and later estates.
Market Drayton
TF9A market town with Victorian terraces, canal-side homes and newer estates.
Whitchurch
SY13A small market town of Victorian terraces and semis close to the Cheshire border.
Church Stretton
SY6Victorian and Edwardian villas in the Shropshire Hills, with some post-war houses.
Wem
SY4A small town of brick terraces and semi-detached houses in north Shropshire.
Shifnal
TF11A market town east of Telford with period houses and large new-build estates.
Much Wenlock
TF13A small town of stone and timber-framed cottages in a conservation area.
Postcode districts: SY1, SY2, SY3, SY4, SY5, SY6, SY7, SY8, SY9, SY10, SY11, SY12, SY13, TF9, TF11, TF12, TF13, WV15, WV16
Tenant referencing in Shropshire: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Shropshire?
£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 Shropshire?
At Shropshire’s average private rent of £823 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £24,690 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £29,628 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Shropshire?
No selective licensing scheme (the council's 2026 civil penalty policy notes there are no selective licensing areas). No additional HMO licensing scheme: HMOs with five or more people from two or more households need a mandatory licence, whatever the number of storeys. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Shropshire Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Shropshire?
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 Shropshire Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect homes and take action against landlords.