Estate Agents in Sunderland

Whether you are selling a family home in Fulwell, buying a first flat near the city centre or looking for somewhere to rent, a local estate or letting agent will usually be your first contact. Sunderland's agents are clustered in the city centre around Fawcett Street, Frederick Street and Athenaeum Street, with branches in the suburbs too. This guide covers three agencies with Sunderland offices that were actively listing properties on the main portals in November 2026. Inclusion here is not a recommendation over agents we have not listed.

Peter Heron

Peter Heron is a family-owned agency that has been a household name in Sunderland since the 1960s. It has two branches: one on Fawcett Street in the city centre and one on Sea Road in Fulwell, which covers Seaburn, Roker and the north side of the city. Each branch has separate sales and lettings teams.

The agency is a member of Propertymark through the National Association of Estate Agents and the National Association of Residential Landlords' Agents, belongs to The Property Ombudsman scheme, protects deposits through the Tenancy Deposit Scheme and holds client money protection.

Best for: Suits sellers and landlords who want a long-established local agency, particularly on the north side of the river.

Andrew Craig

Andrew Craig is a North East agency with a Sunderland branch on Frederick Street. The branch covers the city centre and much of the city south of the Wear, including Ashbrooke, Barnes, Tunstall, Silksworth and Ryhope. It handles sales, lettings and fully managed lettings, and buyers can book a mortgage appointment through Mortgages Now, the group's mortgage service.

The branch opens Monday to Friday from 9am to 5:15pm and on Saturday mornings from 9am to 1pm.

Best for: Suits buyers and sellers in the southern suburbs, and first-time buyers who want to sort a mortgage at the same time.

Michael Hodgson

Michael Hodgson on Athenaeum Street is an independent firm of chartered surveyors and estate agents. As well as residential sales and lettings, it carries out valuations and deals in commercial property, including shops, offices and industrial units.

That mix of agency and surveying can help with less straightforward cases, such as a house that needs a formal valuation for probate or a small business looking for premises to rent.

Best for: Suits people who need a valuation or commercial premises as well as a house sale.

Choosing an agent to sell

• Get more than one valuation. Ask two or three agents to value your home and explain how they reached their figure, using recent sales nearby. The highest figure is not always the most realistic.
• Compare fees and contract terms. Agents charge either a percentage of the sale price or a fixed fee. Check the length of any sole agency period and the notice needed to end it.
• Check redress membership. Every estate agent in England must belong to a government-approved redress scheme, either The Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress Scheme. If something goes wrong, the scheme can look at your complaint.
• Ask about marketing. Find out which portals the agent uses, whether photos and floorplans are included, and who carries out viewings.

Renting through an agent

If you are a tenant, letting agents in England cannot charge you fees for viewings, references or setting up a tenancy, under the Tenant Fees Act 2019. Your deposit is capped at five weeks' rent for most tenancies and must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days. Ask the agent which scheme they use and whether they hold client money protection.

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 is changing how private renting works in England, including the end of fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies and of "no fault" evictions under section 21. The changes are being brought in in stages, so check the latest position on GOV.UK before signing or giving notice.

Where to look

Most Sunderland homes for sale or to let appear on Rightmove and Zoopla, and agents also list properties on their own websites, sometimes before they reach the portals. If you are new to the city, our guide to moving to Sunderland gives an overview of the different areas, from Ashbrooke and Barnes to Seaburn, Washington and Houghton-le-Spring, and our guide to the best streets to live in Sunderland looks at particular roads in more detail. Families may also want to check our schools guide before choosing an area.

After you have found a home

Buying a property means instructing a conveyancing solicitor or licensed conveyancer, and our solicitors guide covers several Sunderland firms that handle conveyancing. Council tax, bin collections and other local services are explained in our council services guide. Other local services are in the directory.

Know a Sunderland estate agent we have missed? Get in touch.