Tenant referencing and compliance specialist Blinc-UK has launched a digital tenant referencing service that charges letting agents £8 per applicant.
The independently owned company, which has served the property industry since 2008, brings digital identity verification, Open Banking, HMRC income information and fraud screening together in a single report. Blinc-UK said the service is its most detailed yet and that reports are often completed within minutes.
“We’ve listened to what letting agents want and used the technology now available to completely rethink how tenant referencing should work,” said Daniel Leeson, co-founder of Blinc-UK. “The result is a more robust, faster and considerably cheaper way of referencing applicants.
“Some might call it self-service, others might call it instant referencing, but ultimately it’s about giving agents the flexibility to work in whatever way suits their business. They’re in complete control of the process and the decisions they make, while our platform does all the heavy lifting for them.
“It’s about making referencing work around the agent, rather than the other way around.”
The launch comes after the Renters’ Rights Act abolished Section 21, which places greater emphasis on tenant screening before a tenancy begins. The tenant referencing service also responds to growing concern over fraudulent applications, verifying information directly from independent sources instead of relying only on documents supplied by prospective tenants.
Each £8 reference includes:
- Certified digital identity verification and Right to Rent checks
- Open Banking income and affordability assessments, with applicant consent
- HMRC employment and income data
- Credit history, County Court Judgment and insolvency checks
- HM Land Registry information
- Politically Exposed Person (PEP) and sanctions screening
- Fraud detection, including identity risk indicators and IP address warnings
Guarantor references and additional applicants cost £8 each, with no premium tiers or extra charges for the listed checks.
“When agents see a full reference at £8, they assume something has been taken out,” Leeson added. “We’ve done the opposite. This is the most comprehensive reference we’ve ever offered.
“We’ve spent years developing technology that removes the manual chasing and paperwork which traditionally made referencing expensive. Those savings go straight back to agents without compromising the checks.”
Income information comes through Open Banking and HMRC, while digital identity verification and fraud screening add further evidence for referencing decisions. Agents can set their own criteria, including income and affordability thresholds and guarantor requirements, to reflect their policies and those of their landlords.
Completed references go to landlords for approval through the platform, and a central dashboard records results and approvals. Applicants complete the process through a secure link sent to their smartphone, which removes paper forms and reduces administrative work for agency staff.
Blinc-UK now serves more than 1,000 property agents and employs a UK-based team of more than 20 people.
“We were letting agents ourselves, so we know what it’s like when a tenancy is waiting on a reference, and you can’t get hold of anyone,” said Darren Bignall, co-founder of Blinc-UK. “That’s why our service team matters as much as our technology.
“Agents want thorough information, landlords want confidence and tenants want to move in without delay. Our new service delivers all three, at a price that makes comprehensive referencing accessible to every agency.
“The new referencing platform is now live and available to letting agents across the UK, giving them immediate access to a faster, more comprehensive and cost-effective way of referencing prospective tenants.”
