Tenant referencing for letting agents and landlords.
Instant tenant credit checks from £7, or a full tenant reference with employer, previous landlord and income verification for £14. Published prices, instant results on credit-based checks, and a UK team on the phone if you need them. Trusted by letting agents and landlords for 10 years.
- 10 years of referencing
- 50,000+ tenants vetted
- 250+ five-star Google reviews
- ICO-registered data controller
- Prices from £7 excl. VAT
Tenant referencing prices
Pay per check, with no contract and no minimum volume. Every price is on the page and exclusive of VAT.
Express Check
An instant tenant credit check covering credit history, debt, bankruptcy and address. Ideal for a quick first sift or where affordability is already established.
£7 (excl. VAT)
What's included?
- Tenant Credit Check
- CCJ Check
- Bankruptcy Check
- Address Confirmation
Complete Reference
The full tenant reference: credit history, a validated previous landlord reference, employer reference and income verification, wrapped up in an advisory report.
£14 (excl. VAT)
What's included?
- Everything in ‘Express’ plus…
- Validated Landlord Check
- Employer Reference
- Income Verification
- Full Advisory Report
Guarantor Check
An instant background check for guarantors — credit, debt, insolvency and address — assessed to the same standard as the tenant.
£7 (excl. VAT)
What's included?
- Guarantor Credit Check
- CCJ Check
- Bankruptcy Check
- Address Confirmation
Express and Guarantor checks return instantly once the applicant or guarantor has submitted their details. A Complete Reference is usually back within 48 hours, depending on how quickly the employer and previous landlord reply.
What does tenant referencing check?
A tenant reference check answers three questions: is this person who they say they are, can they afford the rent, and have they been a reliable tenant before. Each element below covers one of those. For the full picture, including what changed under the Renters' Rights Act, read our guide to tenant referencing.
Credit check
Searches the applicant's credit file for County Court Judgments (CCJs), bankruptcies, IVAs and other insolvency records, using credit data supplied by TransUnion. Included in every check.
Identity and address confirmation
Confirms the applicant's current and previous addresses against credit reference data, so you know the details on the application match the person in front of you.
Employer reference and income verification
Contacts the applicant's employer to confirm their role, start date and salary, then tests that income against their share of the rent using an income-to-rent ratio of 2.4. A shortfall is flagged on the report rather than treated as an automatic fail. This is the affordability test most landlords and rent guarantee insurers rely on.
Previous landlord reference
Asks the applicant's current or previous landlord or agent whether rent was paid on time, the property was looked after and the tenancy ended properly. We validate that the referee is who they claim to be.
Guarantor check
Where an applicant is a student, newly employed, self-employed or recently arrived in the UK, a guarantor is often the answer. We run the same credit, CCJ, bankruptcy and address checks on the guarantor for £7.
Advisory report
A Complete Reference ends with a clear, written report summarising every check and flagging anything you should know about. It lives in your portal and can be shared with the landlord.
How tenant referencing works with Lets Safe
Create an account and you can run your first reference straight away. No contract, no minimum volume.
Create your account
Register at the Lets Safe portal. Letting agents and private landlords use the same portal and the same published prices.
Submit the applicant's details
Enter the tenant's name and email address and choose the check you need. The tenant receives a link to supply their own details and, for a Complete Reference, their employer and landlord contacts.
We take care of the rest
Credit-based checks return instantly. For a Complete Reference we contact the employer and previous landlord, verify their responses and deliver the advisory report to your portal.
Want to see it before you sign up? Book a 15-minute walkthrough with the team.
Express Check or Complete Reference: which do you need?
If you already know the applicant can afford the rent — a returning tenant, or a company let — an Express Check is usually enough. For a new applicant, or where the landlord wants rent guarantee insurance, choose a Complete Reference.
| Check | Express Check | Complete Reference | Guarantor Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit check (CCJs, bankruptcy, insolvency) | Included | Included | Included |
| Address confirmation | Included | Included | Included |
| Validated previous landlord reference | — | Included | — |
| Employer reference | — | Included | — |
| Income verification | — | Included | — |
| Full advisory report | — | Included | — |
| Turnaround | Instant | Usually within 48 hours | Instant once the guarantor submits their details |
| Price (excl. VAT) | £7 | £14 | £7 |
Built for letting agents, landlords and tenants
Letting agents
Reference every applicant from one account at a price you can put on your own fee sheet. Reports are stored in your portal, and the same provider covers rent guarantee, home emergency and legal expense cover when the let completes.
- One portal for referencing and protection
- Published, per-check pricing
- Referencing, insurance and move-in services from one supplier
- Bulk discounts and monthly invoicing on request
- Full API and white-label integration available
Private landlords
You do not need to be an agency to use Lets Safe. Reference a single tenant or guarantor at the same published prices, and read the advisory report yourself rather than relying on a summary.
- No minimum volume
- Pay only for the checks you run
- Add rent guarantee insurance once the reference passes
Tenants
If you have been asked to complete a Lets Safe reference, you will receive an email link. Have your current and previous addresses ready, plus your employer's and previous landlord's contact details if a full reference was requested. Our team is available on 0800 689 0921 if anything is unclear.
- Complete everything online
- Questions answered by a UK team
- See our tenant protection products
Why agents and landlords choose Lets Safe for tenant referencing
Prices on the page, not behind a quote
£7, £14 and £7. You will not find a contact-us-for-pricing button anywhere on this site.
Instant results where they can be instant
Anything that depends only on credit reference data returns immediately. The only steps that take longer are the ones that depend on another human replying — and we tell you that up front.
Guarantors treated properly
A guarantor is assessed to the same standard as the applicant, for the same £7, rather than being sold as a premium add-on.
Referencing that continues past the decision
Most referencing companies stop when the reference is issued. Lets Safe also provides what the reference is for: rent guarantee insurance and legal expense cover, deposit alternatives and move-in services, all under the same account.
Ten years, 50,000+ tenants vetted
Lets Safe has been referencing tenants for UK agents and landlords for a decade, with over 250 five-star Google reviews and a 99% customer satisfaction rate.
A real team on the phone
Call 0800 689 0921 or email referencing@letssafe.com and you reach the people who run the checks, Monday to Friday during business hours.
Tenant referencing FAQs
What is tenant referencing?
Tenant referencing is the process of checking a prospective tenant before a tenancy is agreed. It typically covers a credit check (including CCJs and bankruptcy), confirmation of identity and address, an employer reference to verify income and affordability, and a reference from the previous landlord. The result helps a landlord or letting agent decide whether to offer the tenancy, and on what terms.
How much does tenant referencing cost?
With Lets Safe an Express Check costs £7, a Complete Reference costs £14 and a Guarantor Check costs £7. All prices exclude VAT and are published on this page; there is no quote process.
How long does tenant referencing take?
Credit-based checks (Express Check and Guarantor Check) return instantly once the applicant or guarantor has submitted their details. A Complete Reference is usually returned within 48 hours; the exact time depends on how quickly the employer and previous landlord respond.
What is the difference between an Express Check and a Complete Reference?
An Express Check (£7) is an instant credit-based check: credit history, CCJs, bankruptcy and address confirmation. A Complete Reference (£14) includes everything in Express plus a validated previous landlord reference, an employer reference, income verification and a full advisory report.
What happens if a tenant fails referencing?
The advisory report explains what was found so you can make an informed decision. Common next steps are asking the applicant to provide a guarantor, who can be checked with Lets Safe for £7, or agreeing different terms with the tenant. The final decision always rests with the landlord or agent.
Is tenant referencing a legal requirement in the UK?
Tenant referencing itself is not a legal requirement, but it is standard practice and is usually a condition of rent guarantee insurance. Right to Rent checks are a separate legal duty for landlords in England and are not replaced by a reference.
Can private landlords use Lets Safe, or is it only for letting agents?
Both. Letting agents use Lets Safe for volume referencing through a single account, and private landlords can reference an individual tenant or guarantor at the same published prices.
What information does the tenant need to provide?
The agent or landlord enters the applicant's name and email address. The tenant then supplies their details, including current and previous addresses, and for a Complete Reference their employer and previous landlord contact details, so those references can be requested.
More questions? Read our plain-English guide to tenant referencing, see the full FAQ, visit the Help Centre or contact the team.
Reference your next tenant today.
Create a free account, submit the applicant's details and have an Express Check back before you finish your coffee. No contract, no minimum volume.