Tenant referencing in Sunderland
For landlords and letting agents letting in Sunderland: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Sunderland
Sunderland has a lower share of private renters than most of the North East, with more social housing than the England average. Private lets are concentrated in the inner terraces of Millfield, Pallion, Hendon and Roker, including the single-storey Sunderland cottages unique to the city. The university brings student lets near the city centre and Chester Road, and Washington's new-town villages offer family houses. Prices and rents are among the lowest in England.
The income a tenant needs in Sunderland
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 Sunderland’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 | £707 | £21,210 | £25,452 |
| Shared by two | £354 each | £10,605 each | £12,726 |
| Shared by three | £236 each | £7,070 each | £8,484 |
Referencing a tenant in Sunderland
- 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 Sunderland
City centre and Ashbrooke
SR1, SR2Victorian terraces and large villas in Ashbrooke, with flats over shops and student blocks in the centre.
Millfield and Pallion
SR4Dense Victorian terraced streets, including single-storey Sunderland cottages, many privately let.
Hendon
SR2Older terraced streets near the docks, with some newer housing on cleared sites.
Roker and Seaburn
SR6Victorian and Edwardian terraces and semis near the seafront, some converted to flats.
Southwick and Monkwearmouth
SR5Terraced streets and post-war council-built estates north of the river.
Washington
NE37, NE38A new town of numbered villages built from the 1960s, mostly terraced and semi-detached houses.
Houghton-le-Spring and Hetton-le-Hole
DH4, DH5Former mining towns with terraced colliery streets and later estates.
Doxford and Silksworth
SR3Post-war and modern estates of semi-detached and detached family houses.
Postcode districts: SR1, SR2, SR3, SR4, SR5, SR6, NE37, NE38, DH4, DH5
Tenant referencing in Sunderland: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Sunderland?
£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 Sunderland?
At Sunderland’s average private rent of £707 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £21,210 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £25,452 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
How long does a tenant reference take in Sunderland?
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: Private tenants can report disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions to Sunderland City Council's private sector housing team.