Tenant referencing in Wandsworth
For landlords and letting agents letting in Wandsworth: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Wandsworth
Wandsworth has one of the largest private rented sectors in London (36.3% of households in 2021), popular with young professionals sharing Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Clapham Junction, Balham, Tooting and Earlsfield. Many terraces and mansion blocks are split into flats. Nine Elms and the Battersea Power Station area have added thousands of new high-rise flats, while Roehampton’s Alton Estate and other post-war estates are under regeneration. The council’s Band D charge is one of the lowest in the country.
The income a tenant needs in Wandsworth
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 Wandsworth’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 | £2,632 | £78,960 | £94,752 |
| Shared by two | £1,316 each | £39,480 each | £47,376 |
| Shared by three | £877 each | £26,320 each | £31,584 |
Landlord licensing in Wandsworth
Selective licensing: Selective licensing covers Furzedown, South Balham, Tooting Bec and Tooting Broadway (designation 1, from 1 July 2025) and East Putney, West Putney and Northcote (designation 2, from 1 April 2026 until 31 March 2031), for privately rented homes that aren't HMOs.
HMOs: Additional licensing covers the whole borough from 1 July 2025 for HMOs not covered by mandatory licensing, including smaller shared homes and flats in multiple occupation in purpose-built blocks of three or more flats.
Fee: Selective licence £850 per property; additional HMO licence £1,450 per property, each paid in two parts (Part A on application, Part B when granted).
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Wandsworth Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Wandsworth
- 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 Wandsworth
Battersea
SW11Victorian terraces and mansion blocks near the park, with council estates and riverside flats.
Nine Elms
SW8, SW11New high-rise apartment towers around Battersea Power Station and the US Embassy.
Clapham Junction
SW11Victorian terraces, many split into flats or let to sharers, around Northcote Road and the station.
Balham
SW12Victorian and Edwardian terraces and mansion blocks, often converted into flats.
Tooting
SW17Edwardian terraces, many let to sharers, near St George’s Hospital and the Broadway.
Earlsfield
SW18Late-Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses, including the Magdalen Park estate.
Wandsworth Town
SW18Victorian terraces between the commons and new riverside blocks.
Southfields
SW18, SW19Edwardian terraces on the grid of streets near Wimbledon Park.
Putney
SW15Victorian and Edwardian houses and mansion blocks, with riverside flats and estates up the hill.
Roehampton
SW15Large post-war council estates, including the Alton Estate, and student housing for the university.
Postcode districts: SW4, SW8, SW11, SW12, SW15, SW17, SW18, SW19
Tenant referencing in Wandsworth: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Wandsworth?
£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 Wandsworth?
At Wandsworth’s average private rent of £2,632 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £78,960 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £94,752 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Wandsworth?
Selective licensing covers Furzedown, South Balham, Tooting Bec and Tooting Broadway (designation 1, from 1 July 2025) and East Putney, West Putney and Northcote (designation 2, from 1 April 2026 until 31 March 2031), for privately rented homes that aren't HMOs. Additional licensing covers the whole borough from 1 July 2025 for HMOs not covered by mandatory licensing, including smaller shared homes and flats in multiple occupation in purpose-built blocks of three or more flats. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Wandsworth Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Wandsworth?
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: Wandsworth Council’s private sector housing service can inspect privately rented homes for disrepair and hazards; tenants can contact it through the council’s housing pages.