Tenant referencing in St Helens
For landlords and letting agents letting in St Helens: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in St Helens
St Helens is a former glass-making and coal-mining town between Liverpool and Manchester. Much of the housing is Victorian and Edwardian red-brick terraces in Thatto Heath, Parr and Sutton, with large post-war council estates and inter-war semis in Eccleston, Rainhill and Rainford. Private renting grew faster than the regional average between 2011 and 2021, much of it in the terraced streets. Prices remain well below the North West average.
The income a tenant needs in St Helens
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 Helens’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 | £790 | £23,700 | £28,440 |
| Shared by two | £395 each | £11,850 each | £14,220 |
| Shared by three | £263 each | £7,900 each | £9,480 |
Landlord licensing in St Helens
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme: a mandatory licence is needed for privately rented homes with five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities. The five-year licence is an initial application followed by yearly renewals.
Fee: £248 a year for an HMO licence (2026/27)
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with St Helens Borough Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in St Helens
- 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 Helens
St Helens town centre
WA10Victorian terraces, flats over shops and newer apartment blocks close to the centre.
Thatto Heath
WA9Dense Victorian and Edwardian terraced streets, many privately let.
Parr
WA9Terraced streets and large post-war council estates east of the centre.
Sutton
WA9Terraces, inter-war semis and newer estates on former industrial land.
Newton-le-Willows
WA12A town of Victorian terraces, inter-war semis and new homes near the station.
Haydock
WA11Terraces, post-war estates and newer housing near the racecourse.
Rainhill
L35A village of Victorian and inter-war houses and semis around the station.
Eccleston
WA10Inter-war and post-war semi-detached and detached family houses.
Billinge
WN5A hilltop village of stone cottages and post-war houses.
Rainford
WA11A large village of post-war semis, bungalows and detached houses.
Postcode districts: WA9, WA10, WA11, WA12, L34, L35, WN4, WN5
Tenant referencing in St Helens: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in St Helens?
£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 Helens?
At St Helens’s average private rent of £790 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £23,700 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £28,440 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in St Helens?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme: a mandatory licence is needed for privately rented homes with five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities. The five-year licence is an initial application followed by yearly renewals. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with St Helens Borough Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in St Helens?
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 Helens Borough Council's Private Sector Housing Standards Team, which can inspect homes and take action against landlords.