Tenant referencing in Northumberland
For landlords and letting agents letting in Northumberland and Morpeth: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Northumberland
South-east Northumberland, around Blyth, Ashington and Bedlington, has rows of former colliery terraces with a sizeable private rented sector, and the Croft area of Blyth is now under selective licensing. Cramlington is a new town of estates that is still growing. Further north and west, Morpeth, Hexham, Alnwick and Berwick are stone-built market towns, and the rural uplands and the coast have stone cottages, farm lets and many holiday homes. Many rural homes are off the gas grid.
The income a tenant needs in Northumberland
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 Northumberland’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 | £687 | £20,610 | £24,732 |
| Shared by two | £344 each | £10,305 each | £12,366 |
| Shared by three | £229 each | £6,870 each | £8,244 |
Landlord licensing in Northumberland
Selective licensing: Selective licensing in the Croft area of Blyth (between Hodgsons Road, Waterloo Road/Bridge Street, Regent Street and Renwick Road) from 14 October 2024 for five years, to October 2029. No selective licensing elsewhere in the county; Ashington Town Council has asked for a scheme there.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme found; national mandatory HMO licensing (five or more people from two or more households) applies.
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Northumberland County Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Northumberland
- 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 Northumberland
Blyth
NE24Victorian and Edwardian terraces near the port and town centre, post-war estates and newer housing at the edges.
Ashington
NE63Long rows of brick colliery terraces, with post-war estates and new-build homes.
Cramlington
NE23A 1960s–80s new town of estates, with more new-build homes being added.
Bedlington
NE22Former mining terraces, inter-war semis and post-war estates.
Morpeth
NE61A market town of stone town houses and cottages, with suburban estates around it.
Hexham
NE46Stone terraces and Victorian villas in a Tyne Valley market town.
Prudhoe
NE42Terraces, semis and post-war estates above the Tyne.
Alnwick
NE66Stone town houses and cottages, with newer estates on the edges.
Berwick-upon-Tweed
TD15Georgian stone houses inside the town walls and terraces at Tweedmouth and Spittal.
Amble
NE65Harbour-town terraces, newer estates and holiday lets on the coast.
Postcode districts: NE20, NE22, NE23, NE24, NE41, NE42, NE43, NE46, NE47, NE48, NE49, NE61, NE62, NE63, NE64, NE65, NE66, NE67, NE68, NE69, NE70, NE71, TD15
Tenant referencing in Northumberland: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Northumberland?
£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 Northumberland?
At Northumberland’s average private rent of £687 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £20,610 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £24,732 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Northumberland?
Selective licensing in the Croft area of Blyth (between Hodgsons Road, Waterloo Road/Bridge Street, Regent Street and Renwick Road) from 14 October 2024 for five years, to October 2029. No selective licensing elsewhere in the county; Ashington Town Council has asked for a scheme there. No additional HMO licensing scheme found; national mandatory HMO licensing (five or more people from two or more households) applies. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Northumberland County Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Northumberland?
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 can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions in privately rented homes to Northumberland County Council's housing standards team.