Blinc-UK launches comprehensive tenant referencing service for just £8

The independently owned company, which has served the property industry since 2008, said its new service was its most detailed yet, combining digital identity verification, Open Banking, HMRC income information and advanced fraud screening in a single report, often completed within minutes.

Co-founder of Blinc-UK, Daniel Leeson, said: "We've listened to what letting agents want and used the technology now available to completely rethink how tenant referencing should work. 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 follows the abolition of Section 21 under the Renters' Rights Act, placing greater emphasis on effective tenant screening and helping landlords and agents make informed decisions before a tenancy begins. 

The new service also aims to tackle growing concerns over fraudulent tenancy applications by verifying information directly from independent sources, rather than relying solely on documents supplied by prospective tenants. 

Every £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 are also charged at £8 each, with no premium tiers or additional charges for the listed checks.

Leeson added: "When agents see a full reference at £8, they assume something has been taken out. 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." 

The service is designed to provide agents with greater confidence in the information supplied by prospective tenants. Income information can be obtained through Open Banking and HMRC, while digital identity verification and additional fraud screening provide further evidence to support referencing decisions. 

Agents can also customise their referencing criteria, including income and affordability thresholds and guarantor requirements, to reflect their own policies and those of their landlords. 

Completed references can be forwarded to landlords for approval directly through the platform, with results and approvals recorded in a central dashboard. 

Applicants complete the process through a secure link sent to their smartphone, removing the need for paper forms and reducing the administrative burden on agency staff. 

Blinc-UK now serves more than 1,000 property agents and employs a UK-based team of more than 20 people. 

Darren Bignall, Co-founder of Blinc-UK, said: "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. 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. 

Agents can find out more and start using the service at http://www.blinc-uk.com/referencing