Tenant referencing in Watford
For landlords and letting agents letting in Watford: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Watford
Watford is a compact, densely built town with one of the fastest rises in private renting in England between 2011 and 2021. Victorian and Edwardian terraces in West Watford and Callow Land are often split into flats or let as shared houses, while the town centre has gained many new apartment blocks and office-to-flat conversions. Post-war council estates in Garston, Meriden and Holywell include many ex-council homes now let privately. Good rail links to London keep rents close to outer-London levels.
The income a tenant needs in Watford
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 Watford’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 | £1,829 | £54,870 | £65,844 |
| Shared by two | £915 each | £27,435 each | £32,922 |
| Shared by three | £610 each | £18,290 each | £21,948 |
Landlord licensing in Watford
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme; only national mandatory HMO licensing applies (five or more people from two or more households). Licences last up to five years.
Fee: £1,557.70 for a new HMO licence, £1,295.90 to renew (council fee list)
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Watford Borough Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Watford
- 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 Watford
Town centre
WD17Modern apartment blocks and converted office buildings around the High Street and Clarendon Road, with flats over shops.
West Watford
WD18Dense Victorian and Edwardian terraces, many let to sharers or split into flats.
Callow Land and North Watford
WD24, WD25Edwardian and interwar terraces and semis near the Watford North station.
Cassiobury and Nascot
WD17Larger Edwardian and interwar detached and semi-detached houses near Cassiobury Park.
Oxhey
WD19Victorian terraces and cottages around Bushey station, with newer flats near the river.
Garston and Leavesden
WD25Post-war council estates and private semis, with newer homes on the former aerodrome land.
Holywell and Meriden
WD18, WD25Post-war council-built houses and maisonettes alongside ex-council homes now let privately.
Watford Riverwell
WD18New-build apartments and town houses in the regeneration area by the hospital and football ground.
Postcode districts: WD17, WD18, WD19, WD24, WD25
Tenant referencing in Watford: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Watford?
£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 Watford?
At Watford’s average private rent of £1,829 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £54,870 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £65,844 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Watford?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme; only national mandatory HMO licensing applies (five or more people from two or more households). Licences last up to five years. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Watford Borough Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Watford?
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: Watford Borough Council's environmental health and licensing team looks into disrepair and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and licenses HMOs.