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Tenant referencing in Stafford

For landlords and letting agents letting in Stafford: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.

Start referencingSee a sample report

The local market

Renting in Stafford

Average private rent£902£902 a month (ONS, September 2026), up 6.5% on a year earlier Source
Renting privately15.5%15.5% of households rent privately (Census 2021), up from 12.9% in 2011 Source
Average house price£260,000£260,000 (UK HPI, August 2026, provisional), up 3.5% on a year earlier Source
Council tax, Band D£2,270£2,270 Band D including Staffordshire County Council, police and fire precepts, before parish charges (2026/27) Source

Stafford borough is the county town of Stafford, the canal town of Stone, and a large rural area of villages and farmland between Cannock Chase and the Shropshire border. Homes range from Victorian terraces near Stafford's centre to large post-war estates and recent new-build developments, with Georgian and older cottages in Eccleshall and the villages. Private renting is a little below average; the barracks at Beaconside add demand for family lets. HMOs are licensed only under the national scheme.

Affordability

The income a tenant needs in Stafford

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 Stafford’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 rentTenant needs a yearGuarantor needs a year
Average home, one tenant£902£27,060£32,472
Shared by two£451 each£13,530 each£16,236
Shared by three£301 each£9,020 each£10,824
Before you let

Landlord licensing in Stafford

Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.

HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme: only larger HMOs, rented to five or more people from more than one household who share facilities, need a mandatory licence.

Fee: £858.15 for a five-year HMO licence for up to eight bedrooms (first application), £738.70 to renew, 10% off for accredited landlords (2026/27)

As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Stafford Borough Council before letting. Private renting at the council.

How it works

Referencing a tenant in Stafford

  1. Add the tenancyThe property, the rent, the move-in date and the applicant. Their link is emailed at once.
  2. They apply on their phoneFive years of addresses, work, 3 months of bank statements, payslips and ID, in about 10 minutes.
  3. We contact the refereesTheir employer, current and previous landlord, by email, automatically.
  4. You get the reportEvery check, the income from every source, and how we reached the outcome.

For landlordsFor letting agents

Neighbourhoods

Where people rent in Stafford

Stafford town centre

ST16

Victorian terraces, flats over shops and newer apartment blocks near the station and river.

Rising Brook and Wildwood

ST17

Post-war estates and 1970s and 80s private housing south of the town.

Highfields and Western Downs

ST17, ST16

Post-war council-built estates and semis on the west of Stafford.

Baswich and Weeping Cross

ST17

Inter-war and post-war semis, bungalows and detached houses on the east side of town.

Stone

ST15

A canal town with Victorian terraces near the centre and large post-war and newer estates.

Eccleshall

ST21

A small market town of Georgian and older houses with some later estates.

Gnosall

ST20

A large village of period cottages, post-war houses and new estates.

Hixon and Great Haywood

ST18

Villages east of Stafford with older cottages and newer homes near the Trent and Mersey Canal.

Beaconside

ST16

Modern estates and service family housing near the barracks on the north-east edge of Stafford.

Postcode districts: ST15, ST16, ST17, ST18, ST20, ST21

Questions

Tenant referencing in Stafford: questions

How much does tenant referencing cost in Stafford?

£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 Stafford?

At Stafford’s average private rent of £902 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £27,060 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £32,472 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.

Do landlords need a licence to let in Stafford?

No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme: only larger HMOs, rented to five or more people from more than one household who share facilities, need a mandatory licence. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Stafford Borough Council before letting).

How long does a tenant reference take in Stafford?

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 Stafford Borough Council's Housing Standards team, which can inspect homes and take action against landlords.

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