Tenant referencing in Wyre Forest
For landlords and letting agents letting in Wyre Forest and Kidderminster: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Wyre Forest
Wyre Forest is made up of the former carpet town of Kidderminster, the canal town of Stourport-on-Severn and the riverside town of Bewdley, with villages and woodland around them. Kidderminster has many Victorian terraces and converted mill buildings, and HMOs are concentrated there. Large interwar and post-war estates surround the town, and park homes and holiday caravans are common around Stourport. Bewdley and Stourport sit on the Severn, which floods regularly.
The income a tenant needs in Wyre Forest
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 Wyre Forest’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 | £823 | £24,690 | £29,628 |
| Shared by two | £412 each | £12,345 each | £14,814 |
| Shared by three | £274 each | £8,230 each | £9,876 |
Landlord licensing in Wyre Forest
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). The council has consulted (2025 to 2026) on an Article 4 Direction so that new small HMOs in Kidderminster would need planning permission.
Fee: £880 for an HMO licence (council page)
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Wyre Forest District Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Wyre Forest
- 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 Wyre Forest
Kidderminster town centre
DY10, DY11Victorian terraces and former carpet factory buildings converted to flats, with flats over shops.
Foley Park and Habberley
DY11Interwar and post-war council-built estates and private semis on the west side of the town.
Offmore and Comberton
DY10Post-war estates of semis and terraces on the east side of Kidderminster.
Stourport-on-Severn
DY13Georgian canal basin houses, Victorian terraces and caravan and holiday parks along the river.
Bewdley
DY12Georgian town houses and cottages along the Severn, many listed and some at flood risk.
Blakedown and Cookley
DY10, DY11Village houses and bungalows in the green belt north of Kidderminster.
Wolverley and Franche
DY11Older village cottages in Wolverley and modern estates in Franche.
Far Forest and Rock
DY14Cottages, smallholdings and bungalows in the Wyre Forest woodland.
Postcode districts: DY10, DY11, DY12, DY13, DY14
Tenant referencing in Wyre Forest: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Wyre Forest?
£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 Wyre Forest?
At Wyre Forest’s average private rent of £823 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £24,690 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £29,628 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Wyre Forest?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme; only national mandatory HMO licensing applies (five or more people from two or more households). The council has consulted (2025 to 2026) on an Article 4 Direction so that new small HMOs in Kidderminster would need planning permission. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Wyre Forest District Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Wyre Forest?
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: Wyre Forest District Council's Private Sector Housing team investigates disrepair and unsafe conditions in private rented homes and licenses HMOs.