How do I run a credit check on a tenant?

Collect the tenant's application and written consent first (RentFig's application form is free). Then order a credit check online for £9 by card, with no account needed. The applicant is emailed a secure link and enters their sensitive details directly with our referencing partner, and the result can be back the same day once they've completed their form.

What does a tenant credit check show?

RentFig's credit check confirms the applicant's identity electronically, runs an anti-money-laundering (AML) check, and returns their credit history from a licensed credit reference agency: county court judgments (CCJs), defaults, bankruptcies, IVAs and address links.

Is it a soft credit check? Will it affect the tenant's credit score?

It's a soft (quotation) search. It isn't visible to lenders and doesn't affect the applicant's credit score.

How much does a tenant credit check cost?

£9 per check, or £7 with a free RentFig account. You pay per check by card. There's no subscription.

How long does a tenant credit check take?

It can be back the same day once the applicant has completed their form. A full reference (£19) usually takes up to 7 working days, because it waits on the applicant's employer and previous landlord. Our referencing runs Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm.

What doesn't a credit check show?

A credit check doesn't show criminal records, immigration status or the applicant's current income. It doesn't include a Right to Rent check, income verification or references from an employer or previous landlord. Those come with the full reference.

Is a credit check enough, or do I need a full reference?

A credit check on its own suits a quick first filter before viewings, a lodger (in England you still need a Right to Rent check, which is in the full reference or you can do it yourself), re-checking an existing tenant, or a guarantor whose income you don't need verified. For a new tenancy, the £19 full reference adds income and affordability, employer and previous-landlord references, a digital Right to Rent check and anti-fraud checks.

Can I charge the tenant for the credit check?

No. In England the Tenant Fees Act 2019 makes the landlord pay for referencing, and you can't charge the tenant or their guarantor for it. Wales and Scotland have similar bans.

Do I need the tenant's consent to run a credit check?

Yes, collect written consent with the application before you order. RentFig's free tenant application form collects the application and the applicant's written consent at no cost, before you pay for any check.

Soft search — no effect on their credit score

Tenant credit checks for landlords

Check a tenant's identity and credit history for £9. It can be back the same day once they've completed their form.

CCJs, defaults, bankruptcies, IVAs and address links from a licensed credit reference agency. No account, no subscription: pay per check by card.

Order a credit check — £9 What it shows

Members pay £7 and £17. Free account, no card

Example RentFig tenant reference report for a fictional applicant, showing an overall Pass — Our real report format · fictional applicant

What a tenant credit check shows

It confirms who the applicant is and how they've handled credit. It's a soft (quotation) search, so it isn't visible to lenders and doesn't affect their credit score.

Included

Included: Identity confirmed electronically
Included: AML (anti-money-laundering) check
Included: County court judgments (CCJs)
Included: Defaults
Included: Bankruptcies and IVAs
Included: Address links

Not included

Not included: Criminal records
Not included: Immigration status or Right to Rent
Not included: Current income or affordability
Not included: Employer or previous-landlord references

Income, references and Right to Rent come with the £19 full reference.

More detail on each item: what a tenant credit check shows.

How to run a credit check on a tenant

Step 1
Collect the application and written consent free first
Send our free tenant application form. You only pay if the application looks right.
Step 2
Order the check
Pay £9 by card, no account needed. Tell us who you're checking.
Step 3
They complete their form
The applicant enters their sensitive details directly with our referencing partner. The result can be back the same day once they've finished.

In England the landlord pays for referencing: under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 you can't charge the tenant or their guarantor for it.

Credit check or full reference?

A credit check is enough when you need a fast read on someone. For a new tenant moving in, the full reference checks they can pay and have rented well before.

A credit check (£9) suits

A quick first filter before you book viewings or hold a room
A lodger in your own home (in England, still check their Right to Rent)
Re-checking a tenant who already lives there
A guarantor, when you don't need their income verified

Choose the full reference (£19) for

Any new tenancy where you need to know the rent is affordable
Income checks plus employer and previous-landlord references
A digital Right to Rent check through Yoti, on the GOV.UK register
Anti-fraud checks. Usually up to 7 working days, as it waits on referees

Order a tenant credit check

£9 per check (£7 for members), or £19 for the full reference. No account, no subscription.

Credit check

£9per check

£7 for RentFig members

Identity, AML and credit history from a licensed credit reference agency. Soft search.

Includes:

Credit history & adverse-credit search
Soft search — no impact on the tenant's credit score
Identity verification
AML (anti-money-laundering) check

Full tenant reference

Most chosen

£19per reference

£17 for RentFig members

Everything in the credit check, plus income, references, Right to Rent and anti-fraud.

Everything in the credit check, plus:

Income & affordability verification
Employer & previous-landlord references
Right to Rent check (England)
Anti-fraud verification

Members save £2 on every check

Free RentFig account, no card. Every report is filed against the right tenancy.

Create free account

Referencing 2–6 people for one property? HMO rooms, sharers, couples and guarantors — one form, one payment, 6% off full references.

Tenant credit checks: questions

How do I run a credit check on a tenant?: Collect the tenant's application and written consent first (RentFig's application form is free). Then order a credit check online for £9 by card, with no account needed. The applicant is emailed a secure link and enters their sensitive details directly with our referencing partner, and the result can be back the same day once they've completed their form.
What does a tenant credit check show?: RentFig's credit check confirms the applicant's identity electronically, runs an anti-money-laundering (AML) check, and returns their credit history from a licensed credit reference agency: county court judgments (CCJs), defaults, bankruptcies, IVAs and address links.
Is it a soft credit check? Will it affect the tenant's credit score?: It's a soft (quotation) search. It isn't visible to lenders and doesn't affect the applicant's credit score.
How much does a tenant credit check cost?: £9 per check, or £7 with a free RentFig account. You pay per check by card. There's no subscription.
How long does a tenant credit check take?: It can be back the same day once the applicant has completed their form. A full reference (£19) usually takes up to 7 working days, because it waits on the applicant's employer and previous landlord. Our referencing runs Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm.
What doesn't a credit check show?: A credit check doesn't show criminal records, immigration status or the applicant's current income. It doesn't include a Right to Rent check, income verification or references from an employer or previous landlord. Those come with the full reference.
Is a credit check enough, or do I need a full reference?: A credit check on its own suits a quick first filter before viewings, a lodger (in England you still need a Right to Rent check, which is in the full reference or you can do it yourself), re-checking an existing tenant, or a guarantor whose income you don't need verified. For a new tenancy, the £19 full reference adds income and affordability, employer and previous-landlord references, a digital Right to Rent check and anti-fraud checks.
Can I charge the tenant for the credit check?: No. In England the Tenant Fees Act 2019 makes the landlord pay for referencing, and you can't charge the tenant or their guarantor for it. Wales and Scotland have similar bans.
Do I need the tenant's consent to run a credit check?: Yes, collect written consent with the application before you order. RentFig's free tenant application form collects the application and the applicant's written consent at no cost, before you pay for any check.

More: all our referencing checks, how to reference a tenant and the best tenant referencing companies in the UK.

Please note: this page is general information for UK landlords, not legal advice. A credit check is one input to your decision; it doesn't show criminal records, immigration status or current income.