Tenant referencing in West Devon
For landlords and letting agents letting in West Devon and Tavistock: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in West Devon
West Devon is a rural borough taking in much of Dartmoor, with Tavistock and Okehampton as its main towns. Many homes are built of granite, stone or cob, some thatched and listed, and a large share are off the gas network. Private renting is close to the national level, with farm cottages and flats over shops in the market towns. Holiday lets and second homes are common in the moorland villages.
The income a tenant needs in West Devon
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 Devon’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 | £846 | £25,380 | £30,456 |
| Shared by two | £423 each | £12,690 each | £15,228 |
| Shared by three | £282 each | £8,460 each | £10,152 |
Landlord licensing in West Devon
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).
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with West Devon Borough Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in West Devon
- 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 Devon
Tavistock
PL19Victorian granite and slate houses, including the Duke of Bedford's model cottages, with modern estates on the edges.
Okehampton
EX20Stone and rendered houses in the town centre and growing new-build estates near the A30.
Yelverton and Horrabridge
PL20Detached houses, bungalows and cottages on the edge of Dartmoor.
Hatherleigh
EX20Cob and thatched cottages in a small market town with some newer homes.
Lifton and the Tamar villages
PL16Stone cottages, farmhouses and bungalows in villages near the Cornish border.
Princetown
PL20Granite terraces and former prison staff houses high on Dartmoor.
North Tawton
EX20Older terraces and cob cottages with some post-war council housing.
Bere Alston and Bere Ferrers
PL20Victorian terraces from the mining era and village cottages on the Bere peninsula.
Postcode districts: PL19, PL20, EX20, EX21, PL16, EX17
Tenant referencing in West Devon: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in West Devon?
£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 Devon?
At West Devon’s average private rent of £846 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £25,380 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £30,456 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in West Devon?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme; only national mandatory HMO licensing applies (five or more people from two or more households). (as checked in October 2026; confirm with West Devon Borough Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in West Devon?
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 Devon Borough Council's Environmental Health team deals with disrepair and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and licenses HMOs.