Online estate agency 99home has acquired a tenancy referencing provider plus a supplier of insurances for landlords.

The firm, which says it is the UK’s fifth largest online agent, has bought Landlord Referencing and Rent Safe UK.

Until now, 99home has been using a third-party referencing service.

Paul Routledge, owner and founder of both of the acquired firms, will be staying with the business in a consultancy capacity. A landlord with over 100 properties, he established the firms in 2009 after an incident where he said he was stabbed in the head by an un-vetted tenant.