Tenant referencing in Sheffield
For landlords and letting agents letting in Sheffield: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Sheffield
Sheffield is a hilly city of Victorian stone and brick terraces, large Victorian villas in the south-west, and big post-war council estates. Two universities mean a large student rental market, in shared houses around Broomhill, Crookes and Walkley and in purpose-built blocks in the city centre. The city still has a large council housing stock, though the private rented share grew between 2011 and 2021. There is no selective or additional licensing at present, only mandatory HMO licensing.
The income a tenant needs in Sheffield
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 Sheffield’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 | £936 | £28,080 | £33,696 |
| Shared by two | £468 each | £14,040 each | £16,848 |
| Shared by three | £312 each | £9,360 each | £11,232 |
Landlord licensing in Sheffield
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme in force. The London Road, Abbeydale Road and Chesterfield Road scheme ended on 31 October 2023, and the earlier Page Hall scheme ran from 2014 to 2019.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme. HMOs with five or more people from two or more households need a mandatory licence, whatever the number of floors.
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Sheffield City Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Sheffield
- 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 Sheffield
City centre and Kelham Island
S1, S3Converted works and warehouses, new apartment blocks and purpose-built student accommodation.
Broomhall and Broomhill
S10Large Victorian villas, many split into flats and student shared houses near the University of Sheffield.
Crookes and Walkley
S10, S6Steep streets of Victorian stone and brick terraces, popular with students and young professionals.
Ecclesall Road and Sharrow
S11, S7Victorian terraces and semis close to Ecclesall Road and Abbeydale Road, with flats over shops.
Nether Edge
S7Victorian and Edwardian villas and terraces in a conservation area, some converted into flats.
Hillsborough
S6Victorian terraces and inter-war semis around the football ground and shopping centre.
Darnall and Tinsley
S9Terraced streets and post-war council estates in the industrial east of the city.
Page Hall and Firth Park
S4, S5Dense Victorian terraced streets with a large private rented sector.
Gleadless Valley
S14A 1960s council estate of houses and flats built into a steep wooded valley.
Stocksbridge
S36A former steel town of stone terraces and post-war estates on the edge of the Peak District.
Postcode districts: S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S9, S10, S11, S12, S13, S14, S17, S20, S35, S36
Tenant referencing in Sheffield: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Sheffield?
£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 Sheffield?
At Sheffield’s average private rent of £936 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £28,080 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £33,696 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Sheffield?
No selective licensing scheme in force. The London Road, Abbeydale Road and Chesterfield Road scheme ended on 31 October 2023, and the earlier Page Hall scheme ran from 2014 to 2019. No additional HMO licensing scheme. HMOs with five or more people from two or more households need a mandatory licence, whatever the number of floors. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Sheffield City Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Sheffield?
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 Sheffield City Council's private housing standards team, which inspects privately rented homes and enforces HMO licensing.