Tenant referencing in South Hams
For landlords and letting agents letting in South Hams and Totnes: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in South Hams
South Hams is a rural and coastal district between Plymouth and Torbay, with Dartmoor to the north. Many homes are stone or slate-hung cottages and period town houses in Totnes, Dartmouth, Kingsbridge and Modbury, and a high share in places like Salcombe and Dartmouth are second homes or holiday lets, which keeps long-term rentals scarce. Larger estates are in Ivybridge and the new town of Sherford. Few HMOs need a licence here.
The income a tenant needs in South Hams
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 South Hams’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 | £1,005 | £30,150 | £36,180 |
| Shared by two | £503 each | £15,075 each | £18,090 |
| Shared by three | £335 each | £10,050 each | £12,060 |
Landlord licensing in South Hams
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme: a licence is needed only for HMOs let to five or more people forming two or more households (the national mandatory scheme).
Fee: £446.40 for a five-year HMO licence plus a £144 fit and proper person fee
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with South Hams District Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in South Hams
- 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 South Hams
Totnes
TQ9A hilly market town of Tudor, Georgian and Victorian houses, with flats over shops on the high street and newer estates.
Dartmouth
TQ6A steep harbour town of period houses, terraces and flats, with many second homes and holiday lets.
Kingsbridge
TQ7A market town at the head of the estuary, with Victorian terraces and post-war and new-build estates.
Salcombe
TQ8A sailing town where a large share of homes are second homes or holiday lets.
Ivybridge
PL21A town on the edge of Dartmoor that grew with large estates from the 1970s onwards.
Sherford
PL9A new town under construction on the edge of Plymouth, with modern houses and flats.
Modbury
PL21A small town of Georgian and older stone and slate-hung houses.
South Brent
TQ10A village on the edge of Dartmoor with stone cottages and post-war houses.
Wembury and Yealmpton
PL9, PL8Coastal and river villages with cottages, bungalows and newer houses near Plymouth.
Postcode districts: PL8, PL9, PL21, TQ6, TQ7, TQ8, TQ9, TQ10
Tenant referencing in South Hams: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in South Hams?
£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 South Hams?
At South Hams’s average private rent of £1,005 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £30,150 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £36,180 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in South Hams?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme: a licence is needed only for HMOs let to five or more people forming two or more households (the national mandatory scheme). (as checked in October 2026; confirm with South Hams District Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in South Hams?
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 South Hams District Council's private sector housing team (shared with West Devon), which can inspect homes and take action against landlords.