For landlords · 5 min read
Tenant referencing costs: who pays and how much
In England you cannot charge a tenant for referencing — the Tenant Fees Act 2019 bans it — so the cost sits with the landlord. Standalone referencing typically costs £20–£40 per applicant, and OpenRent publishes £30 per reference (checked July 2026). The trap is that you pay per applicant, so referencing three people for one property costs three times as much, and referencing a tenant who then pulls out is money gone. On Hilltro referencing is completed by the tenant before they enquire, at no cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Can a landlord charge a tenant for referencing in the UK?
Not in England. The Tenant Fees Act 2019 bans charging tenants for referencing, credit checks, renewals and most admin. The landlord pays. Attempting to recover it indirectly can lead to repayment orders, financial penalties and prosecution for repeated breaches.
How much does tenant referencing cost?
Standalone referencing typically costs £20–£40 per applicant. OpenRent publishes £30 per reference (checked July 2026). Agents usually include it within a tenant-find fee rather than itemising it. On Hilltro it is completed before enquiry at no cost to the landlord.
What does tenant referencing include?
Identity verification, right to rent in England, employment or income evidence for affordability, previous landlord confirmation where available, and commonly a credit check. A frequent affordability benchmark is gross income of at least 30 times the monthly rent.
Do I need to reference a guarantor too?
Usually yes, and it counts as an additional reference with an additional cost. Guarantors are normally assessed on a higher income multiple than the tenant because they are covering the full rent liability.