Tenant referencing in Test Valley
For landlords and letting agents letting in Test Valley and Andover: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Test Valley
Test Valley runs from Andover in the north to Romsey and the edge of Southampton in the south. Andover grew as a London overspill town, so much of its housing is post-war estates, with large new-build areas added recently. Romsey and the river villages have older period homes, and many rural cottages are thatched or listed. Private renting is below the South East average, with some lets to military families from the nearby army bases.
The income a tenant needs in Test Valley
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 Test Valley’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 | £1,235 | £37,050 | £44,460 |
| Shared by two | £618 each | £18,525 each | £22,230 |
| Shared by three | £412 each | £12,350 each | £14,820 |
Landlord licensing in Test Valley
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme found; mandatory licensing applies to HMOs with five or more occupants, whatever the number of storeys.
Fee: £466 to apply for a mandatory HMO licence plus £255 once it is granted (£383 to renew), 2026/27
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Test Valley Borough Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Test Valley
- 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 Test Valley
Andover
SP10An old market town core with Victorian terraces, surrounded by large 1960s and 1970s London overspill estates and newer developments.
Augusta Park and Picket Twenty
SP10, SP11Large new-build estates of family houses and flats on the edges of Andover.
Romsey
SO51A historic abbey town of Georgian and Victorian houses, with post-war and modern estates around it.
North Baddesley
SO52Mostly post-war and later semi-detached and detached family houses.
Valley Park and Chilworth
SO53, SO16Modern estates near Southampton and large detached houses in Chilworth.
Stockbridge
SO20A small town of thatched and brick cottages along a wide high street.
Ludgershall fringe and Weyhill
SP11Villages with older cottages and newer housing, some linked to the nearby army bases.
Test Valley villages
SO20, SP11Rural villages of thatched cottages, flint and brick houses and farm buildings.
Postcode districts: SP10, SP11, SO20, SO51, SO52, SO16
Tenant referencing in Test Valley: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Test Valley?
£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 Test Valley?
At Test Valley’s average private rent of £1,235 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £37,050 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £44,460 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Test Valley?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme found; mandatory licensing applies to HMOs with five or more occupants, whatever the number of storeys. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Test Valley Borough Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Test Valley?
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: Private tenants can contact Test Valley Borough Council's Private Sector Housing Team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions.