Tenant referencing in Swale
For landlords and letting agents letting in Swale and Sittingbourne: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Swale
Swale covers Sittingbourne, the market town of Faversham and the Isle of Sheppey. Private renting is close to the national average, with many lets in the Victorian terraces of Sittingbourne and Sheerness and in flats over shops. Sheppey also has large numbers of bungalows, holiday parks and chalets, some lived in all year. Sittingbourne and the villages around it have grown with big new-build estates for Medway and London commuters.
The income a tenant needs in Swale
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 Swale’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 | £1,124 | £33,720 | £40,464 |
| Shared by two | £562 each | £16,860 each | £20,232 |
| Shared by three | £375 each | £11,240 each | £13,488 |
Landlord licensing in Swale
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme found; mandatory licensing applies to HMOs with five or more unrelated people sharing facilities.
Fee: £896 for a five-year mandatory HMO licence, or £761 for accredited landlords
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Swale Borough Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Swale
- 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 Swale
Sittingbourne
ME10Victorian terraces near the centre, flats over shops and large post-war and new-build estates around the town.
Milton Regis and Kemsley
ME10An old village core with terraces, and newer estates around Kemsley.
Faversham
ME13A historic market town of timber-framed and Georgian houses, Victorian terraces and newer estates.
Sheerness
ME12Victorian and Edwardian terraces and flats, including the historic dockyard area of Blue Town.
Minster-on-Sea
ME12Bungalows and post-war houses on the Isle of Sheppey's north coast.
Leysdown and Eastchurch
ME12Holiday parks, chalets and bungalows, with village houses at Eastchurch.
Queenborough and Rushenden
ME11Older cottages in Queenborough and new housing on regeneration land at Rushenden.
Iwade and Newington
ME9Villages that have grown with large modern estates of family homes.
Postcode districts: ME9, ME10, ME11, ME12, ME13
Tenant referencing in Swale: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Swale?
£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 Swale?
At Swale’s average private rent of £1,124 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £33,720 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £40,464 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Swale?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme found; mandatory licensing applies to HMOs with five or more unrelated people sharing facilities. (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Swale Borough Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Swale?
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 contact Swale Borough Council's Private Sector Housing team about disrepair, damp or unsafe conditions, or use the council's 'Complain about a landlord' page.