Tenant referencing in Thanet
For landlords and letting agents letting in Thanet and Margate: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Thanet
Thanet has one of the highest shares of private renters in the South East, with over a quarter of households renting privately. Margate and Cliftonville have many former hotels and large Victorian houses converted into flats and bedsits, which led to one of the country's earliest selective licensing schemes. Ramsgate has a large stock of listed Regency terraces, and Birchington and Westgate are mostly bungalows and family houses. Buyers and renters moving from London have pushed up demand in Margate and Ramsgate.
The income a tenant needs in Thanet
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 Thanet’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 | £1,110 | £33,300 | £39,960 |
| Shared by two | £555 each | £16,650 each | £19,980 |
| Shared by three | £370 each | £11,100 each | £13,320 |
Landlord licensing in Thanet
Selective licensing: No current designation found: selective licensing covered parts of Margate Central and Cliftonville West from April 2011 until 20 April 2021. In 2025 the council approved a budget to develop new selective licensing proposals for parts of Margate and Ramsgate; no new scheme had been found in force at the last check.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme found; larger HMOs need a mandatory licence.
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Thanet District Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Thanet
- 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 Thanet
Margate
CT9Georgian and Victorian terraces in the old town, many split into flats, with post-war estates inland.
Cliftonville
CT9Large Victorian and Edwardian former hotels and guest houses, many converted into flats and bedsits.
Ramsgate
CT11, CT12Regency and Victorian terraces around the harbour, many listed, with post-war estates further out.
Broadstairs
CT10Victorian seaside villas and terraces, bungalows and student lets near the university campus.
Westgate-on-Sea
CT8Edwardian and inter-war detached and semi-detached houses near the seafront.
Birchington
CT7Mostly bungalows and inter-war and post-war family houses.
Westwood and Northwood
CT10, CT9Post-war estates and newer homes near the Westwood Cross shopping area.
Minster and Monkton
CT12Villages with older cottages and newer estates on the edge of the marshes.
Postcode districts: CT7, CT8, CT9, CT10, CT11, CT12
Tenant referencing in Thanet: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Thanet?
£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 Thanet?
At Thanet’s average private rent of £1,110 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £33,300 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £39,960 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Thanet?
No current designation found: selective licensing covered parts of Margate Central and Cliftonville West from April 2011 until 20 April 2021. In 2025 the council approved a budget to develop new selective licensing proposals for parts of Margate and Ramsgate; no new scheme had been found in force at the last check. No additional HMO licensing scheme found; larger HMOs need a mandatory licence. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Thanet District Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Thanet?
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 Thanet District Council's Private Sector Housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions.