Tenant referencing in Southampton
For landlords and letting agents letting in Southampton: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Southampton
Southampton is a port city with two universities, and almost three in ten households rented privately in 2021. Victorian and Edwardian terraces around Portswood, Bevois Valley, Shirley and Freemantle are heavily let as shared houses, which is why nine wards have additional HMO licensing. The city centre has many new apartment blocks and purpose-built student halls, while Millbrook, Weston and Thornhill have large post-war council estates and tower blocks. Social renting is also high.
The income a tenant needs in Southampton
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 Southampton’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 | £1,257 | £37,710 | £45,252 |
| Shared by two | £629 each | £18,855 each | £22,626 |
| Shared by three | £419 each | £12,570 each | £15,084 |
Landlord licensing in Southampton
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
HMOs: Additional HMO licensing in nine wards from May 2025, for up to five years: Banister and Polygon, Bargate, Bassett, Bevois, Freemantle, Millbrook, Portswood, Shirley and Swaythling. It covers smaller HMOs (three or four sharers); larger HMOs anywhere in the city need a mandatory licence.
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Southampton City Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Southampton
- 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 Southampton
Portswood and Highfield
SO17Victorian and Edwardian terraces and villas near the University of Southampton, many let as student HMOs.
Swaythling
SO16, SO18Inter-war and Victorian terraces and semis, many let to students.
Bevois Valley
SO14, SO17Dense Victorian terraces between the city centre and Portswood, with many shared houses.
Shirley
SO15Victorian and Edwardian terraces and semis around the high street, with flats over shops.
Freemantle and Polygon
SO15Victorian terraces and large houses split into flats, close to the city centre and Central station.
City centre and Ocean Village
SO14New-build apartment blocks, purpose-built student housing and post-war council blocks.
Bitterne
SO18Inter-war and post-war semis and terraces on the east side of the Itchen.
Woolston and Weston
SO19Riverside terraces, post-war council estates and tower blocks, and new homes on the former shipyard.
Millbrook and Redbridge
SO15, SO16Large post-war council estates of houses and flats in the west of the city.
Bassett
SO16Larger inter-war and post-war detached and semi-detached houses near the university and common.
Postcode districts: SO14, SO15, SO16, SO17, SO18, SO19
Tenant referencing in Southampton: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Southampton?
£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 Southampton?
At Southampton’s average private rent of £1,257 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £37,710 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £45,252 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Southampton?
No selective licensing scheme. Additional HMO licensing in nine wards from May 2025, for up to five years: Banister and Polygon, Bargate, Bassett, Bevois, Freemantle, Millbrook, Portswood, Shirley and Swaythling. It covers smaller HMOs (three or four sharers); larger HMOs anywhere in the city need a mandatory licence. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Southampton City Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Southampton?
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 Southampton City Council's private sector housing team, which inspects privately rented homes and enforces HMO licensing.