RentFig vs Goodlord: a landlord's alternative
The biggest difference between RentFig and Goodlord isn't price — it's who they're for. Goodlord is an operating system for letting agents and doesn't sell directly to individual landlords, so referencing through it means going via an agent or buying Goodlord-powered referencing through the NRLA. RentFig is built for landlords directly: a free application form and pay-per-check referencing at £9 (credit) or £19 (full), no account, no agent. This page compares them fairly.
The key difference: who each is built for
Goodlord is widely regarded as excellent referencing software — but it's sold to letting agencies, not to self-managing landlords. If you use a letting agent, your reference may well run through Goodlord behind the scenes. If you don't use an agent, you can't buy a reference from Goodlord itself — the route in is the NRLA, which resells Goodlord-powered referencing at £23.40 for members or £40.20 for non-members (inc. VAT). RentFig sells direct, per check, for less.
RentFig vs Goodlord at a glance
A side-by-side comparison for tenant referencing. Prices are paid by the landlord (the Tenant Fees Act 2019 bans charging the tenant) and are indicative — confirm current details on each provider's own site.
| Feature | RentFig | Goodlord |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's sold to | Landlords directly — sign up and use it yourself | Letting agents — Goodlord does not sell directly to individual landlords; the NRLA resells Goodlord-powered referencing to landlords |
| Can a solo landlord use it without an agent? | Yes | Not from Goodlord itself — but you can buy Goodlord-powered referencing through the NRLA, or go via a letting agent that uses Goodlord |
| Referencing price (paid by landlord) | £9 credit check / £19 full reference (£7 / £17 with a free account) | Not published by Goodlord — set by the agent's contract. Via the NRLA: £23.40 (members) / £40.20 (non-members) inc. VAT |
| Free application form | Yes — collect the tenant's details and consent at no cost | Via the agent's onboarding flow, not a standalone landlord tool |
| Account / subscription | No account or subscription — pay per check | Agent platform subscription (the agent's, not the landlord's) |
| What a full reference checks | ID, credit history, income & affordability, employer & previous-landlord references, Right to Rent (England), anti-fraud | Comprehensive reference: credit, affordability, employment and previous-landlord checks |
| Turnaround | Credit check can be back the same day; full reference usually up to 7 working days | Fast — by Goodlord's own figures, 30% instantly, 70% within 24 hours and 90% within 72 hours |
| Ongoing property management | Yes — tenancies, rent chasing, compliance tracking, accounting, AI assistant | A lettings platform for agents (referencing, rent, insurance, e-signing) |
| Best for | Self-managing landlords who want cheap, direct, no-account referencing and software to run their portfolio | Letting agencies automating pre-tenancy admin across many landlords' properties |
Goodlord details summarised from goodlord.com and nrla.org.uk, checked 13 October 2026 (it sells to letting agents, not directly to individual landlords; landlords can buy Goodlord-powered referencing through the NRLA). RentFig figures are our own (disclosure: RentFig is our product).
Where RentFig wins for a self-managing landlord
- You can actually buy it directly — no letting agent in the middle; sign up and reference a tenant yourself.
- Transparent, low per-check pricing — £9 credit / £19 full, published up front, with a free application form to start.
- It runs the tenancy too — rent chasing, compliance, accounting and an AI assistant, not just pre-tenancy referencing.
Where Goodlord is the better fit
If you're a letting agency — or a landlord who prefers a full managing agent — Goodlord is built for that world: a polished agent platform spanning referencing, rent collection, insurance and e-signing across many landlords' properties, with very fast reference turnaround. RentFig isn't an agent operating system and doesn't try to be. The honest split: use an agent? Goodlord may already power your references. Self-manage? RentFig lets you do it yourself, directly and cheaply.
FAQ
Can I use Goodlord as a landlord without a letting agent?
Not from Goodlord directly. Goodlord sells its platform to letting agents rather than to individual landlords — but the NRLA sells Goodlord-powered referencing to landlords, at £23.40 for members or £40.20 for non-members (inc. VAT). Otherwise you would go through a letting agent that uses it. If you self-manage and want to reference a tenant yourself, a direct-to-landlord service like RentFig is a closer fit — you can send a free application form and run a check without an agent or an account. (Disclosure: RentFig is our product; Goodlord's model is summarised from goodlord.com and nrla.org.uk, checked 13 October 2026.)
How much does Goodlord referencing cost compared with RentFig?
Goodlord does not publish a per-reference price because it is bought by agents under a platform contract, so what an agent passes on is not published. Through the NRLA, Goodlord-powered referencing is £23.40 for members or £40.20 for non-members, inc. VAT. RentFig charges the landlord directly: £9 for a credit check and £19 for a full reference, with no account or subscription and a free application form to start.
Is RentFig a Goodlord alternative?
For a self-managing landlord, yes — RentFig covers the referencing job Goodlord is known for (credit, affordability, employment, previous-landlord and Right to Rent checks) but sells to you directly and per check. It is not an alternative for a letting agency that needs a full agent operating system; that is Goodlord's market. If you don't use a letting agent, RentFig lets you reference and manage tenancies yourself.
Is Goodlord's referencing better than RentFig's?
Both provide a comprehensive reference. On turnaround, Goodlord reports 30% of references back instantly, 70% within 24 hours and 90% within 72 hours; at RentFig a credit check can be back the same day once the applicant has completed their form, and a full reference usually takes up to 7 working days, because it waits on the employer and previous landlord replying. The practical difference is access and price: Goodlord reaches landlords through an agent under a quoted contract or through the NRLA (£23.40 members / £40.20 non-members), whereas RentFig is bought directly for £9/£19 per check with no account. Which is 'better' depends on whether you use a letting agent.
Is RentFig a good OpenRent alternative for tenant referencing?
Yes — if you want companies like OpenRent for tenant referencing but cheaper and without a listing, RentFig is a direct fit. Like OpenRent, RentFig sells straight to landlords (unlike Goodlord, which works through letting agents), but referencing is £9 for a credit check or £19 for a full reference versus OpenRent's £30, with a free application form and no account required. See our full RentFig vs OpenRent comparison for a fee-by-fee breakdown.
Can the tenant be charged for referencing with either?
No. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, charging a tenant for referencing is a banned fee in England — the landlord or agent must pay. That applies whether the reference runs through Goodlord (via an agent) or directly through RentFig.
See how every UK option compares in our cheapest tenant referencing guide, or start now with the free tenant referencing tool.
Disclaimer: This comparison is general information for UK landlords, not legal or financial advice. RentFig is our own product; Goodlord is an independent company and its details are summarised from its public website and may change — always confirm current pricing, availability and what's included directly with the provider.