Tenant referencing in South Staffordshire
For landlords and letting agents letting in South Staffordshire and Codsall: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in South Staffordshire
South Staffordshire is a rural and commuter district wrapped around the west and north of Wolverhampton and the Black Country, mostly Green Belt. Homes are mainly inter-war and post-war semis, bungalows and detached houses in large villages such as Codsall, Perton, Wombourne and Penkridge, with Georgian cottages in Brewood and Kinver. Private renting is among the lowest in England, at about one household in ten. There are no towns of any size, so few shared houses.
The income a tenant needs in South Staffordshire
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 Staffordshire’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 | £945 | £28,350 | £34,020 |
| Shared by two | £473 each | £14,175 each | £17,010 |
| Shared by three | £315 each | £9,450 each | £11,340 |
Landlord licensing in South Staffordshire
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme: HMOs with five or more people in two or more households need a mandatory licence. Smaller HMOs with three or four sharers need no licence but must follow the HMO management and fire safety rules.
Fee: £704 for an HMO licence (council page)
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with South Staffordshire Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in South Staffordshire
- 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 Staffordshire
Codsall and Bilbrook
WV8Commuter villages north-west of Wolverhampton with inter-war and post-war semis, bungalows and newer estates.
Perton
WV6A planned village built from the 1970s on a former airfield, of modern detached and semi-detached houses.
Wombourne
WV5A large village of post-war estates around an older centre and green.
Penkridge
ST19A small market town with older houses near the centre and modern estates.
Cheslyn Hay and Great Wyrley
WS6Former mining villages with terraces, post-war council-built houses and newer estates.
Featherstone
WV10A village of post-war houses and estates near HM Prison Featherstone and the i54 business park.
Kinver
DY7A village under Kinver Edge with period cottages and post-war and newer houses.
Brewood
ST19A small Georgian village of brick houses and cottages by the Shropshire Union Canal.
Swindon and Himley
DY3Small villages near the Black Country edge with older cottages and post-war houses.
Postcode districts: ST19, WV5, WV6, WV7, WV8, WV9, WV10, WV11, DY3, DY7, WS6
Tenant referencing in South Staffordshire: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in South Staffordshire?
£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 Staffordshire?
At South Staffordshire’s average private rent of £945 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £28,350 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £34,020 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in South Staffordshire?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme: HMOs with five or more people in two or more households need a mandatory licence. Smaller HMOs with three or four sharers need no licence but must follow the HMO management and fire safety rules. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with South Staffordshire Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in South Staffordshire?
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 Staffordshire Council's private sector housing team, which can inspect homes and take action against landlords.