Tenant referencing in Torbay
For landlords and letting agents letting in Torbay and Torquay: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Torbay
Torbay covers Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, with over a quarter of households renting privately, well above the South West average. Many large Victorian villas and former hotels and guest houses have been converted into flats and bedsits, especially in central Torquay and Paignton. Brixham has steep streets of fishermen's cottages around the harbour, and the bay has many holiday lets and second homes. Prices are below the regional average and fell in the year to August 2026.
The income a tenant needs in Torbay
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 Torbay’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 | £924 | £27,720 | £33,264 |
| Shared by two | £462 each | £13,860 each | £16,632 |
| Shared by three | £308 each | £9,240 each | £11,088 |
Landlord licensing in Torbay
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme in force. The council's forward plan lists a business case on selective and/or additional licensing to be considered; no scheme had been agreed at the last check.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme in force; mandatory licensing applies to HMOs with five or more people in two or more households sharing facilities.
Fee: £2,007 for a new mandatory HMO licence, paid in two parts (£1,701 to renew)
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Torbay Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Torbay
- 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 Torbay
Torquay town centre and Ellacombe
TQ1Victorian terraces and large villas, many split into flats and bedsits, with flats over shops.
Babbacombe and St Marychurch
TQ1Victorian and Edwardian houses, former hotels converted to flats and post-war homes.
Chelston and Cockington
TQ2Victorian villas and inter-war houses, with thatched cottages in Cockington village.
Shiphay and Barton
TQ2Post-war and later estates of semi-detached and terraced family houses.
Paignton
TQ3, TQ4Victorian and Edwardian seaside terraces and guest houses, with bungalows and post-war estates inland.
Preston and Goodrington
TQ3, TQ4Inter-war and post-war houses and bungalows near the beaches.
Brixham
TQ5Fishermen's cottages and terraces on steep streets around the harbour, with post-war estates above.
Watcombe and Hele
TQ2Post-war council-built estates of houses and flats.
Postcode districts: TQ1, TQ2, TQ3, TQ4, TQ5
Tenant referencing in Torbay: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Torbay?
£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 Torbay?
At Torbay’s average private rent of £924 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £27,720 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £33,264 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Torbay?
No selective licensing scheme in force. The council's forward plan lists a business case on selective and/or additional licensing to be considered; no scheme had been agreed at the last check. No additional HMO licensing scheme in force; mandatory licensing applies to HMOs with five or more people in two or more households sharing facilities. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Torbay Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Torbay?
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 Torbay Council's housing standards team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions, and its tenants' rights pages for advice.