Tenant referencing in South Cambridgeshire
For landlords and letting agents letting in South Cambridgeshire and Cambourne: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in South Cambridgeshire
South Cambridgeshire is a ring of around a hundred villages around Cambridge, with no large town of its own. Older homes are thatched and timber-framed cottages and Victorian brick terraces in the villages, but much of the recent growth is in new settlements such as Cambourne, Northstowe and the edges of Cambridge. Private renting is below the national average, but rents are high because of demand from the city's universities, hospitals and science parks. The council runs its own lettings service for private landlords.
The income a tenant needs in South Cambridgeshire
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 South Cambridgeshire’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 | £1,407 | £42,210 | £50,652 |
| Shared by two | £704 each | £21,105 each | £25,326 |
| Shared by three | £469 each | £14,070 each | £16,884 |
Landlord licensing in South Cambridgeshire
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme: only HMOs that fall under the national mandatory scheme (five or more people from two or more households) need a licence.
Fee: £869 for a five-year HMO licence for up to five bedrooms plus £35 for each extra bedroom; renewal £528 (2025/26)
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with South Cambridgeshire District Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in South Cambridgeshire
- 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 South Cambridgeshire
Cambourne
CB23A new town begun in the late 1990s, of modern detached, semi-detached and terraced houses and flats.
Northstowe
CB24A new town under construction on a former airfield, with new-build houses and apartments.
Histon and Impington
CB24Large villages north of Cambridge with Victorian cottages, inter-war semis and newer estates.
Sawston
CB22A large village south of Cambridge with terraces, post-war estates and new-build homes near the science parks.
Great Shelford
CB22A commuter village of Victorian and Edwardian villas, inter-war houses and some flats.
Cottenham
CB24A long village with period cottages, post-war houses and recent estates.
Trumpington Meadows
CB2New-build houses and apartments on the southern edge of Cambridge, partly in the district.
Bassingbourn and Melbourn
SG8Villages near Royston with older cottages, post-war houses and former military housing.
Linton
CB21A village of timber-framed and brick cottages with later estates.
Postcode districts: CB2, CB21, CB22, CB23, CB24, CB25, CB10, SG8, PE19, PE27
Tenant referencing in South Cambridgeshire: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in South Cambridgeshire?
£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 South Cambridgeshire?
At South Cambridgeshire’s average private rent of £1,407 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £42,210 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £50,652 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in South Cambridgeshire?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme: only HMOs that fall under the national mandatory scheme (five or more people from two or more households) need a licence. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with South Cambridgeshire District Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in South Cambridgeshire?
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 South Cambridgeshire District Council's environmental health team, which can inspect privately rented homes and take action against landlords.