From studio flats to family homes, we have excellent knowledge of the local market to guide you through the renting process and we will help to take the pressure off finding your new home.
During your let if you have any questions at all please contact one of our team who will be very happy to help and advise you. Below is our guide of the process of renting through us.
When you find a property that suits your needs you will need to fill out a simple application form which we submit to the Landlord for consideration. At this time any details or requirements can be agreed, including occupancy date, duration of the letting, etc. Any offer made is subject to satisfactory references being received and a tenancy agreement being completed.
For self employed applicants we require a written reference from their accountant and bank. You must be able to show three years’ trading figures.
In the event that your financial information highlights any potential of risk to the landlord, you may be asked to provide a guarantor. Students or unemployed are most likely to require a guarantor. You may also require a guarantor should your income fall short of the necessary requirements. A guarantor will be contractually liable, both financially and legally, should you fail to pay the rent during your tenancy or in the event of damage to the property.
To check if your income will be sufficient, check that your annual salary is at least 30 times the monthly rent. For example a rent of £400pcm would require a minimum of £12,000 annual salary. Every guarantor needs to fill out an application form and be referenced before a tenancy can be considered. Before the tenancy can proceed they need to sign the deed of guarantee.
The holding deposit shows good faith on the part of a prospective tenant enabling the landlord to take further action in the confident knowledge that the applicant is serious and fully committed to the property. This deposit is fully refundable if the applicant should have to withdraw from the tenancy agreement prior to signing the lease.
The holding deposit is particularly appropriate where there is good demand for the property and the landlord may lose other prospective tenants if the applicant causes unnecessary delay or declines the tenancy at the last minute.
We will take references on behalf of the landlord. This will include your employer, any former landlords, character reference, current banks statement and pay slips, copy of ID, passport or driving licence. In addition a credit check will be undertaken, using an independent referencing company.
Please note that the referencing agency requires tenants to earn 30 x 1 month’s rent between them to rent a property (e.g. 30 x £600 pcm = £18,000 p.a.).
Where a tenant is unable to meet the required references, credit checks, is a student or is under the age of 18 years of age they in certain circumstances may be able to have a Guarantor agree to underwrite any rent liabilities.
Some landlords may prefer not to allow tenants who:
Please refer to further information on individual properties and check if restrictions apply. We will make sure you have been informed about any restrictions to the property before an agreed viewing.
As a tenant you are responsible for insuring your possessions. The tenants contents insurance policy will cover you for accidental damage to any of the landlord’s goods as well as insuring your possessions. The landlord’s own insurance will not cover the tenant’s belongings.
The deposit is normally one and a quarter month’s rent. The deposit is lodged with a Government approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme. This means that it is protected both during and after your tenancy and when you leave we will negotiate any proposed deductions helping the Tenant and Landlord to reach agreement. All deposits now have to be protected by law so if you are considering renting through a private landlord or another Agent, ensure you satisfy yourself that they are complying by asking them which Tenancy Deposit Scheme they are registered with.
Before your tenancy begins we require the first month’s rent and deposit in cleared funds. The deposit is used in the event of breakage or damage caused.
Rents are payable by standing order in advance and are normally due on the first of each calendar month. The tenant is usually responsible for gas, water rates, council tax, electricity and telephone bills.
Once your reference is returned to us as acceptable we will make a date for you to take occupancy of your new home. You will need to come to our office and sign the Tenancy Agreement and the Inventory. All our tenant agreements are Shorthold Assured Tenancies unless otherwise stated.
The tenant is usually responsible for council tax, water rates, gas, electricity and telephone costs. Please speak to one of our representatives who will instruct you further.
You can apply to the dispute resolution process if you do not come to an agreement with your landlord over any deductions that have been requested. You will need to demonstrate that you have attempted to come to an agreement with the landlord before you enter the dispute resolution process.
Tenants do not have to use the dispute resolution process, but, if you decide to do so then your landlord has to enter into the dispute process with you.
Any submitted evidence will be passed to an independent adjudicator. The adjudicator will come to a decision, within 20 working days. If at this stage you are not happy with the amount of the deposit that is to be returned then you may request a review. After a review the decision made will be final and binding on both parties.
The landlord/agent should attempt to resolve the dispute within 10 working days. If this timescale is not met the dispute can be referred for resolution by the Independent Case Examiner which provides a free resolution service or the courts.