Tenant referencing in Lewes
For landlords and letting agents letting in Lewes: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Lewes
Lewes District mixes the historic county town, the coastal towns of Newhaven, Seaford and Peacehaven, and villages in the South Downs and Low Weald. Fewer households rent privately than the national average, and many lets are period terraces in Lewes, flats in Newhaven and Seaford, and bungalows along the coast. Much of the north and centre of the district is in the South Downs National Park, where older cottages and farm buildings are common.
The income a tenant needs in Lewes
We check that a tenant’s yearly income is at least 30 times their monthly share of the rent, and that a guarantor earns at least 3 times the yearly rent they guarantee, with enough disposable income left each month to pay it. At Lewes’s average rent:
Income comes from the most reliable source: the salary the employer confirms, then payslips, then what was declared, checked against three months of bank statements.
| Monthly rent | Tenant needs a year | Guarantor needs a year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average home, one tenant | £1,333 | £39,990 | £47,988 |
| Shared by two | £667 each | £19,995 each | £23,994 |
| Shared by three | £444 each | £13,330 each | £15,996 |
Landlord licensing in Lewes
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme: the council runs only the national mandatory licensing for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households, and says it could bring in additional or selective licensing in future.
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Lewes District Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Lewes
- Add the tenancyThe property, the rent, the move-in date and the applicant. Their link is emailed at once.
- They apply on their phoneFive years of addresses, work, 3 months of bank statements, payslips and ID, in about 10 minutes.
- We contact the refereesTheir employer, current and previous landlord, by email, automatically.
- You get the reportEvery check, the income from every source, and how we reached the outcome.
Where people rent in Lewes
Lewes town
BN7Georgian and Victorian terraces and listed timber-framed houses in the old town, with later estates on the edges.
Newhaven
BN9Victorian terraces near the harbour, post-war council-built estates and new-build flats on former industrial land.
Seaford
BN25Inter-war and post-war bungalows and semi-detached houses, with Victorian and modern flats near the seafront.
Peacehaven
BN10Bungalows and chalet-style houses on the 1920s clifftop grid, with newer estates.
Telscombe Cliffs and East Saltdean
BN10, BN2Inter-war and post-war bungalows and detached houses on the cliffs next to Brighton.
Ringmer
BN8A large village of post-war houses and bungalows with newer estates around older cottages.
Newick
BN8Village cottages, detached houses and small post-war estates in the Low Weald.
Chailey and Wivelsfield
BN8, RH17Scattered rural cottages, farmhouses and small estates of detached houses.
Postcode districts: BN7, BN8, BN9, BN10, BN25, BN2
Tenant referencing in Lewes: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Lewes?
£14.99 per applicant with Rentwick, the same for tenants and guarantors, paid by the landlord or agent. Tenants in England can’t be charged for referencing.
What income do tenants need to rent in Lewes?
At Lewes’s average private rent of £1,333 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £39,990 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £47,988 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Lewes?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme: the council runs only the national mandatory licensing for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households, and says it could bring in additional or selective licensing in future. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Lewes District Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Lewes?
The applicant applies on their phone in about 10 minutes. We email their employer and landlords straight away, so most references are back within a few working days, depending on how quickly the referees reply.
What does the reference check?
Three months of bank statements, payslips, income from every source, the employer, current and previous landlords, five years of addresses and a credit check, with AI comparing every document with the application.
For tenants: Tenants with disrepair, damp or safety problems can contact the Lewes and Eastbourne Councils' private sector housing team through the council website.