Tenant referencing in Westmorland and Furness
For landlords and letting agents letting in Westmorland and Furness and Kendal: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Westmorland and Furness
Westmorland and Furness was formed in 2023 from Barrow-in-Furness, Eden and South Lakeland. Barrow has dense Victorian terraces built for the shipyards, a large private rented sector and growing numbers of HMOs. South Lakeland and Eden are dominated by stone cottages, farmhouses and Victorian villas, and in the Lake District many homes are second homes or holiday lets, which keeps long-term lets scarce. Many rural homes are off the gas network.
The income a tenant needs in Westmorland and Furness
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 Westmorland and Furness’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 | £816 | £24,480 | £29,376 |
| Shared by two | £408 each | £12,240 each | £14,688 |
| Shared by three | £272 each | £8,160 each | £9,792 |
Landlord licensing in Westmorland and Furness
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
HMOs: Only national mandatory HMO licensing applies at present (five or more people from two or more households). In September 2025 the council agreed in principle to extend HMO licensing in the Barrow area; no start date had been confirmed when checked.
Fee: £534 for an HMO licence of up to five bedrooms, plus £34 for each extra room (Barrow area fee page)
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Westmorland and Furness Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Westmorland and Furness
- 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 Westmorland and Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
LA13, LA14Long streets of Victorian red-brick and sandstone terraces built for shipyard workers, with flats and post-war estates.
Walney Island
LA14Vickerstown's early 1900s company-built cottages and terraces, with newer homes and coastal bungalows.
Kendal
LA9Grey limestone terraces and yards in the town centre, with post-war and modern estates on the hillsides.
Ulverston
LA12Stone terraces and cottages in a market town, with newer estates on the edges.
Windermere and Bowness
LA23Victorian stone villas and guest houses, many now holiday lets or split into flats.
Ambleside and Grasmere
LA22Lakeland stone cottages, many second homes or holiday lets, with some flats for local workers.
Penrith
CA11Red sandstone terraces and townhouses in the centre and modern estates around the town.
Appleby and the Eden valley
CA16, CA10, CA17Sandstone cottages, farmhouses and barn conversions in small towns and villages.
Postcode districts: LA9, LA14, LA13, LA12, LA23, LA22, CA10, CA11, CA16, CA17
Tenant referencing in Westmorland and Furness: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Westmorland and Furness?
£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 Westmorland and Furness?
At Westmorland and Furness’s average private rent of £816 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £24,480 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £29,376 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Westmorland and Furness?
No selective licensing scheme. Only national mandatory HMO licensing applies at present (five or more people from two or more households). In September 2025 the council agreed in principle to extend HMO licensing in the Barrow area; no start date had been confirmed when checked. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Westmorland and Furness Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Westmorland and Furness?
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: Westmorland and Furness Council's private sector housing team deals with disrepair and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and licenses HMOs.