Tenant referencing in St Albans
For landlords and letting agents letting in St Albans: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in St Albans
St Albans is one of the most expensive districts outside London, with fast trains into the capital from St Albans City and Harpenden. The city has a medieval and Georgian core, streets of Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Fleetville and around the stations, and inter-war and post-war suburbs. Harpenden has larger Edwardian and inter-war family houses. Private renting is below the national average and HMOs are few; most lets are flats and family houses for commuters.
The income a tenant needs in St Albans
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 St Albans’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 | £1,931 | £57,930 | £69,516 |
| Shared by two | £966 each | £28,965 each | £34,758 |
| Shared by three | £644 each | £19,310 each | £23,172 |
Landlord licensing in St Albans
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme: the council's enforcement policy (reviewed 2024) says it has not found a need for one.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme: the council only requires the national mandatory licence, for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households, for up to five years.
Fee: £207 per person with a minimum of £1,035 for an HMO licence
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with St Albans City and District Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in St Albans
- 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 St Albans
St Albans city centre
AL1, AL3Medieval, Georgian and Victorian houses in the conservation areas, with flats near the City station and over shops.
Fleetville and Camp
AL1Victorian and Edwardian terraces east of the centre, popular with young families and renters.
Marshalswick
AL4Mainly post-war and inter-war semi-detached and detached family houses.
Harpenden
AL5A commuter town of large Edwardian and inter-war houses, with flats near the station.
London Colney
AL2A village of post-war estates and newer housing south of St Albans.
Bricket Wood
AL2A village of inter-war and post-war houses and bungalows among woodland.
Redbourn
AL3A village of period cottages around the common and post-war estates.
Wheathampstead
AL4A village of timber-framed and brick cottages, with later houses on its edges.
How Wood and Park Street
AL2Post-war estates and semis along the Abbey Line railway.
Postcode districts: AL1, AL2, AL3, AL4, AL5
Tenant referencing in St Albans: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in St Albans?
£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 St Albans?
At St Albans’s average private rent of £1,931 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £57,930 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £69,516 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in St Albans?
No selective licensing scheme: the council's enforcement policy (reviewed 2024) says it has not found a need for one. No additional HMO licensing scheme: the council only requires the national mandatory licence, for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households, for up to five years. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with St Albans City and District Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in St Albans?
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 St Albans City and District Council's Private Sector Housing Team, which can inspect homes and take action against landlords.