RentFig vs OpenRent for tenant referencing
Both help UK landlords reference tenants, but they're built for different jobs. OpenRent is an online letting agent — it advertises your property on Rightmove and Zoopla and charges £30 per reference. RentFig is property-management software with a free application form and pay-per-check referencing at £9 (credit) or £19 (full), with no account or subscription. This page compares them fairly so you can pick the right tool — or use both.
RentFig vs OpenRent at a glance
A side-by-side comparison for tenant referencing and what surrounds it. Prices are paid by the landlord (the Tenant Fees Act 2019 bans charging the tenant) and are indicative — confirm current pricing on each provider's own site.
| Feature | RentFig | OpenRent |
|---|---|---|
| Free application form | Yes — collect the tenant's details and consent at no cost | No standalone free form — referencing is a paid step |
| Referencing price (paid by landlord) | £9 credit check / £19 full reference (£7 / £17 for members) | £30 per reference |
| Account required | No — order a one-off check by card | Yes — referencing runs through an OpenRent account |
| Subscription | No — pay per check only | No subscription for referencing (account-based) |
| 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 | Usually within 48 hours | Typically a few working days (varies) |
| Property advertising (Rightmove / Zoopla) | No — RentFig is management software, not a listings portal | Yes — advertise and let a property (paid advertising package) |
| Ongoing property management | Yes — tenancies, rent chasing, compliance tracking, accounting, AI assistant | Focused on advertising, referencing and tenancy creation |
| Best for | Landlords who want cheap, no-account pay-per-check referencing and software to run their portfolio | Landlords who want to advertise a property online and find a tenant themselves |
OpenRent details from openrent.co.uk, checked June 2026; confirm current pricing on their site. RentFig figures are our own (disclosure: RentFig is our product).
Where RentFig wins
- Cheaper per check— £9 credit / £19 full vs OpenRent's £30 per reference, and you can run a quick £9 credit filter before paying for a full reference.
- Free to start, no account— collect the tenant's application and consent for free and only pay if you proceed; no sign-up or subscription required.
- It manages the tenancy too — rent chasing, compliance tracking (gas, EICR, EPC), accounting, and an AI assistant, not just a one-off reference.
Where OpenRent is the better fit
OpenRent does something RentFig deliberately doesn't: it's a full online letting agent. If your main goal is to advertise a property on Rightmove and Zoopla and find a tenant yourself, OpenRent is purpose-built for that, with listing and tenancy-creation tools alongside its referencing. RentFig is for vetting and then managing the tenancy, not for marketing an empty property. Many landlords sensibly use both: advertise and find the tenant on OpenRent, then reference and run the tenancy on RentFig.
FAQ
Is RentFig cheaper than OpenRent for tenant referencing?
Yes. RentFig charges £9 for a credit check and £19 for a full reference, whereas OpenRent charges £30 per reference. RentFig also lets you collect the tenant's application for free and needs no account or subscription, so you only pay if you decide to run a check. (Disclosure: RentFig is our product; OpenRent's £30 price is from openrent.co.uk, checked June 2026.)
Do I need an OpenRent listing to use RentFig referencing?
No. RentFig referencing is independent — you send a free application form and run a credit check or full reference without advertising a property anywhere. OpenRent's referencing is part of its lettings platform, so it sits alongside listing and tenancy-creation services.
What does OpenRent referencing include compared with RentFig?
Both provide a comprehensive reference covering credit, affordability, employment and previous-landlord checks. RentFig's £19 full reference also includes an explicit Right to Rent check (England) and anti-fraud verification, and there is a cheaper £9 credit-only option for a quick first filter that OpenRent does not price separately.
Is OpenRent better than RentFig?
They do different jobs. OpenRent is an online letting agent built to advertise a property on Rightmove and Zoopla and help you find a tenant. RentFig is property management software with built-in, low-cost pay-per-check referencing, plus rent chasing, compliance tracking and accounting. If your main need is advertising and letting, OpenRent fits; if it's affordable referencing and running your tenancies, RentFig fits — and plenty of landlords use both, advertising on OpenRent and referencing and managing on RentFig.
Can the tenant be charged for referencing on either platform?
No. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, charging a tenant for referencing is a banned fee in England — the landlord or agent must pay. Both RentFig and OpenRent charge the landlord, not the tenant.
See the full breakdown of UK options and prices 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; OpenRent is an independent company and its details are summarised from its public website and may change — always confirm current pricing and what's included directly with each provider.