Tenant referencing in South Ribble
For landlords and letting agents letting in South Ribble and Leyland: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in South Ribble
South Ribble sits just south of Preston and is mostly suburban: Leyland, Penwortham, Bamber Bridge and Lostock Hall are made up of Victorian mill terraces, inter-war and post-war semis and bungalows, and a lot of recent new-build. It is one of the most owner-occupied districts in the North West, and only about one in eight households rented privately in 2021. HMOs are few, and the council now controls new small HMOs through planning.
The income a tenant needs in South Ribble
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 Ribble’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 | £805 | £24,150 | £28,980 |
| Shared by two | £403 each | £12,075 each | £14,490 |
| Shared by three | £268 each | £8,050 each | £9,660 |
Landlord licensing in South Ribble
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme: the council has not designated any area.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme: only HMOs with five or more people from two or more households need a mandatory licence. Since January 2026 a borough-wide Article 4 Direction means turning a house into a small HMO needs planning permission.
Fee: £846 for a five-year HMO licence for up to five occupants (£484 application plus £362 grant), plus £60 for each extra occupant
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with South Ribble Borough Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in South Ribble
- 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 Ribble
Leyland
PR25, PR26The main town, with terraces from its vehicle-making past, large post-war estates and new-build homes.
Penwortham
PR1A suburb of Preston across the Ribble with inter-war and post-war semis and bungalows.
Bamber Bridge
PR5Victorian terraces near the old mills, post-war estates and newer housing near the M6.
Lostock Hall
PR5Terraces and semis, with large new-build estates on former railway and industrial land.
Walton-le-Dale
PR5Older cottages and terraces by the Ribble and Darwen, with post-war houses.
Longton
PR4A village of post-war houses and bungalows with some older cottages.
Hutton and Howick
PR4Villages of detached houses and bungalows west of Penwortham.
Farington and Moss Side
PR25, PR26New-build estates and older terraces between Leyland and Lostock Hall.
Postcode districts: PR1, PR4, PR5, PR25, PR26
Tenant referencing in South Ribble: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in South Ribble?
£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 Ribble?
At South Ribble’s average private rent of £805 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £24,150 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £28,980 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in South Ribble?
No selective licensing scheme: the council has not designated any area. No additional HMO licensing scheme: only HMOs with five or more people from two or more households need a mandatory licence. Since January 2026 a borough-wide Article 4 Direction means turning a house into a small HMO needs planning permission. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with South Ribble Borough Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in South Ribble?
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 Ribble Borough Council's Environmental Health team, which can inspect privately rented homes and take action against landlords.