Rochdale Boroughwide Housing criticised for charging for tenant references

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing is being criticised by letting agents after it was revealed that they are charging £77.50 for a tenant reference.

One agent who contacted Rochdale Online described this as “ridiculous” and said: “As a social housing provider I feel that this is ridiculous and should be brought to the attention of everyone involved.”

The letting agent was following normal procedure when asking RBH for a reference and was shocked when changed almost £80.

The agent added: “As a private landlord we have never and will never charge for providing our tenants with a reference.”

Andy Wadsworth, RBH Head of Legal and Mutual Services, said: “RBH has a long standing policy, inherited from Rochdale Council, to charge private landlords for references.

“The purpose of the charge is to cover the cost to RBH of providing the reference. No private landlord prior to Brentwood Investments has queried this charge. RBH is not in the business of subsidising private landlords.”