Tenant referencing in West Berkshire
For landlords and letting agents letting in West Berkshire and Newbury: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in West Berkshire
West Berkshire is mostly rural, with Newbury and Thatcham holding much of the population and suburbs such as Tilehurst and Calcot on Reading's edge. Newbury has seen many new flats and town houses, including large town centre schemes. The North Wessex Downs villages have brick and flint cottages and farm conversions, and Lambourn has housing tied to the racing industry. HMOs are fairly few, and the council runs only mandatory HMO licensing.
The income a tenant needs in West Berkshire
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 West Berkshire’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 | £1,338 | £40,140 | £48,168 |
| Shared by two | £669 each | £20,070 each | £24,084 |
| Shared by three | £446 each | £13,380 each | £16,056 |
Landlord licensing in West Berkshire
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), run by the Public Protection Partnership.
Fee: £1,145 for an HMO licence application (council page)
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with West Berkshire Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in West Berkshire
- 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 West Berkshire
Newbury
RG14Victorian terraces near the centre, post-war estates and many modern flats and town houses, including Parkway and the racecourse development.
Thatcham
RG18, RG19Large estates of 1960s to 1990s houses and newer developments on the town's edges.
Hungerford
RG17Georgian and Victorian houses along the High Street and canal, with post-war estates around them.
Tilehurst, Calcot and Purley
RG31Suburban semis, bungalows and modern estates on the western edge of Reading.
Theale and Burghfield
RG7Village houses with newer estates, some close to the gravel pits and the M4.
Pangbourne and the Thames villages
RG8Victorian and Edwardian villas and riverside houses, some in flood risk areas.
Lambourn
RG17Racing-yard cottages, flats for stable staff and village houses in the downland valley.
Compton and the Downs villages
RG20Brick and flint cottages, farmhouses and barn conversions in small rural villages.
Postcode districts: RG14, RG7, RG8, RG17, RG18, RG19, RG20, RG31
Tenant referencing in West Berkshire: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in West Berkshire?
£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 West Berkshire?
At West Berkshire’s average private rent of £1,338 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £40,140 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £48,168 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in West Berkshire?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme; only national mandatory HMO licensing applies (five or more people from two or more households), run by the Public Protection Partnership. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with West Berkshire Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in West Berkshire?
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: West Berkshire's private housing work is done by the Public Protection Partnership, which looks into hazards and disrepair in private rented homes and HMOs.