◈ Once you found a property to rent through us, we will require you to put down a holding deposit of £500 to £800. We will inform the landlord of your interest and we will reserve the property for you subject to all the paperwork and reference checks are clear.
Once the landlord agrees to your tenancy, you will need to provide us the following documents to complete our reference checks. For details of fees please see the Tenant fees section:
To complete our referencing, we will check and require:
◈ Passport Copies with Proof of Residency
◈ Utility Bill or UK Drivers Licence
◈ Previous landlord details (if applicable)
◈ Bank Statements – 3 Months
◈ Employment status, including employer contact details and salary – Payslips for 3 months
◈ Employers letter
◈ If Self-employed – Accountant Letter & SA302 HMRC Form
Occasionally a tenant doesn't quite meet the desired referencing requirements and in this case, you will be asked to provide a guarantor for which referencing fees will also apply. The above documents will be required for the Guarantor. The Guarantor will also be required to sign a Guarantor Covenant to accept liability
You will also be asked for proof of ‘Right to Rent' under the new immigration legislation. This will require you to provide us with original copies of your passport or other evidence of your right to rent. A full list of documents that are acceptable can be found on the Tenants Guides section.
After the referencing is completed, to commence your Tenancy Agreement we will be required to pay the First Month’s Rent in advance, Six weeks deposit and admin fees. Thereafter we will provide you with a tenancy agreement to sign. Before signing the tenancy Agreement, we will require cleared funds therefore we request for the balance to be transferred. Please read this carefully as this is a legally binding document. If there are any issues you want explained in more detail or changes to be negotiated with the landlord, you must do this before signing.
Your tenancy agreement will be an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) and will detail both your own and the landlord's responsibilities. Please ask us about anything you are unsure of, as we will be happy to talk you through it.
You will be required to pay a six weeks deposit calculated on the rental of the property, and this will be registered with a government scheme MyDeposits.
Your deposit is to cover the cost of any damage you may cause during your tenancy, and will be returned to you in full at the end of your tenancy, unless any deductions are required. If you are not happy with any of the deductions, we can negotiate any deductions on your behalf with the landlord. If not you can go to the MyDeposit Dispute service will mediate on your behalf with the landlord.
On receipt of your deposit, you will be provided with a Deposit Certificate, Prescribed Information and Information for Tenants which is registered with your details.
Your first payment will be payable on the first day of your tenancy starts and monthly thereafter. The rent should be paid in full and on time, This will be paid to us directly if we are managing the property. You will be provided with details with your tenancy agreement. It is your responsibility to make sure that your Standing Order leaves your account, we are not able to speak to the bank on your behalf. For late payments there will be a 6% interest charged on the rent amount.
On your move in day, there are a few very important things to do that can help your tenancy run smoothly by ensuring the balance is paid, ready to sign your Tenancy Agreements to prevent any issues at the end of it.
Either one of our lettings team, Inventory Clerk or your landlord will go through the inventory with you when you move into your new home. This document lists everything in the property, so please take care to go through it carefully to prevent any disagreements later on.
If there is something missing or damaged, it is important that this is noted on the inventory, and it is advisable that you take a photograph of any damage for your records and ensure that whoever is checking you in signs the inclusion. Any issues you notice in the property after the move in should be informed to the Agents within 48 hours by email so we can make the amendments.
You will be liable for water, gas, electricity and council tax bills in your rental property (if applicable).
On your move in day, we will take a reading from all of the meters and we will contact the utility companies of your move-in date and provide them the details. You will be provided with details of which utility companies and council service the property. It will be your responsibility thereafter to follow up with the utility companies and to ensure that all the bills are paid when due.
By law, if you have a gas boiler in your property you will be provided with a Gas Safety Certificate.
At check-in, it's worth spending a few minutes finding out where things like stop-cocks and fuse boxes are, as well as how to operate anything that is new to you.
All rental properties must by law be fitted with both smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. These will be tested to make sure they are working when you are checked into your new home. During your tenancy, it is then your responsibility to check them regularly and replace batteries as required or notify either ourselves or your landlord of any faults. You must also make sure that they are kept free from dust and other obstructions.
This depends on our agreement with your landlord. If we are managing your property, we will make our first visit approximately three months into your tenancy and every six months thereafter. We will give you plenty of notice and arrange it at a time that is convenient for you. If your landlord is managing your property, he or she will be required to give you at least 24 hours' notice of when they wish to visit.
You will be responsible for the general upkeep of the property and garden (if applicable) and your landlord will be responsible for areas including structural work, fixtures and fittings, boilers and wiring. You will be expected to do simple things like changing light bulbs, tightening a cupboard door screw, unblocking a toilet if you have blocked it, and making good any minor damage you have caused.
If something major needs repair or maintenance, please notify the agent immediately, as leaving it could cause further damage and incurred costs which you could then be liable for.
When reporting a repair or maintenance issue, we recommend you take photographs of the problem concerned and email us with all the details, log it online with the log in details given to you, as well as calling on the phone.
Full details of your responsibilities will be laid out within your tenancy agreement but please check with us if there is anything about which you are unsure.
If we have a management contract with your landlord, we will provide you with our emergency contact details in case anything goes wrong, so we can quickly get things sorted for you. If your landlord is managing the property, he or she will provide you with their own direct contact details
Who you need to contact in different instances will also be detailed in your tenancy agreement.
If the landlord has a maintenance cover, the details will be provided to you and it will be your responsibility to call the company and organise an appointment suitable for you for them to come and sort the issue out.
Should you want to renew your agreement, you will need to let us know at least two months prior to the end of your current tenancy.
If your landlord is agreeable, you will be issued with a revised tenancy agreement. There will be no cost for the renewal. A fee will be applicable if any changes made to the Tenancy Agreement eg change of names.
We hope your tenancy runs smoothly and do please speak to one of our friendly and helpful team if you need any further details or explanations.
We will write to you three months before the end of your Tenancy to ask if you want to renew or inform you that the landlord wants the property back. If you receive the renewal letter from us and you do not wish renew the contract, you should tell us as soon as possible. You will be required to give two months’ notice as per the clause on your Tenancy Agreement.
At the end of the tenancy we will arrange a check-out appointment. You will need to have paid all of the rent due. Make sure all of your belongings have been removed from the property. Hand back all keys you have for the property. Make sure that the property is clean (to a professional standard) and that all contents are left intact. We will take a note of the meter readings and inform the utility providers.
We will require a forwarding address. Please ensure you redirect your mail and cancel all media services. Cancel your standing order as we can't do this for you. Furniture must be left in the same place as stated on the inventory. Replace light bulbs that are not working. Ensure the garden has been tended to and left in the same condition as stated on your inventory and move in photographs. Put the rubbish bins out and make sure the rubbish has been placed in the right bins. You will also need to sign the unprotection form for the deposit to be unprotected.