Renting your new home

Thank you for contacting us concerning your search for a home.

Generally speaking, all properties we offer are ‘let as seen’. In other words, the condition of the property will not vary between the time of viewing and date of occupation, unless specifically agreed with the landlord. When viewing a property, please spend time to establish whether specific items are included, as some furniture and effects may not be provided by the landlord or could belong to the current tenant. We will be pleased to assist with this and provide access to the Inventory, if possible.

Rents are usually quoted as weekly, especially in central London. However, they are payable monthly or quarterly, depending upon the terms of the tenancy agreement. The table below will help as a general guide, but to convert a weekly rental figure to monthly, multiply the weekly rent by 52 and divide the total by 12.

Weekly Rent  £   200      250      300      350      400      450      500      550      600      650      700 Monthly*Rent £   867   1,083    1,300   1,517   1,733   1,950   2,167   2,383   2,600   2,817    3,033

  • The monthly rent figure is rounded up or down to the nearest £

Before you move in

Once we have agreed terms with the landlord, we will ask you for an administration fee that will be deducted from the initial monies due. If the tenancy does not proceed, we reserve the right to hold all or part of this payment, depending upon the stage of the transaction and the reasons why.

As you will appreciate, all tenancies are subject to receipt of satisfactory references, which must be approved by the landlord. A reference fee for each prospective tenant (and guarantor, if required) to be named in the agreement will be required. This fee is non-refundable, as we instruct a credit reference agency to undertake these enquiries.

Prior to the tenancy commencing, we will provide you with a statement of account giving a full breakdown of the initial monies due. These include:

First rent agreement:

This is normally one month or quarter, depending upon the terms agreed.

Deposit:

This is usually the equivalent of six weeks’ rent and is generally held by us a Stakeholder to cover any damage to the property or breaches of the agreement that may arise during your tenancy.

Inventory Fee:

This payment covers checking in at the commencement of the tenancy. In most cases, the landlord will pay for the preparation of the Inventory and checking out at termination. The inventory procedures are covered in more detail below.

Before the tenancy commences, the initial monies must be paid in cleared funds, the tenancy agreement must be signed and witnessed and a bank standing order must be completed for future rent payments. It is important to allow five days for rent payments to reach the nominated account, from the time the funds leave yours.

Rent payments can only be received from one bank account. Therefore, if there is more than one named tenant in the agreement, you will need to make arrangements between you for a single rent payment on the relevant dates.

Prior to moving in, it is essential you have adequate insurance cover for your personal possessions (to include accidental damage) as such cover will not be included under the landlord’s policy. In the case of unfurnished properties, you will need to insure your furniture, fixings, fittings and personal effects. We will be pleased to advise you on suitable policies if required.

Moving In

On the day the tenancy commences, you will be checked in to the property by an independent inventory clerk, the landlord or his representative. A summary of the overall condition of the property, fixtures, fittings will be prepared at this time and you will be required to sign it. Once this has taken place, you will be given a set of keys.

A copy of the summary (Schedule of Condition) will be sent to you shortly after you move in, together with a full copy of the inventory. Both these documents will form the basis of assessing any damage or breakages that occur during the tenancy, and hence any deductions to be made from the deposit following the check out at the end of the tenancy. We therefore strongly advise you to check the inventory carefully at the outset and advise us or the landlord (or his representative) of any discrepancies in writing, within seven days of checking in, to avoid any later disputes. Once you receive your copy of the inventory, please keep it safe, as it will be referred to when you move out.

Meter readings for all relevant services (i.e. electricity, gas and water) will be taken at the check in and noted on the Schedule of Condition. You will need to notify the relevant utility companies of the change of occupant(s) and ask them to transfer the account into your name(s). We will be able to provide you with details of the relevant service companies concerned.

If you are taking over an existing telephone line, you will need to inform the service provider of your tenancy.

Once you have moved in, we will advise the local authority that you are in occupation and responsible for the Council tax during the tenancy.

If you intend to use a television during your tenancy (whether or not provided by the landlord), you are required by law to obtain a license. A television license can be purchased at a post office, online at www.tv-l.co.uk or by telephoning 0870 241 6468.

Please note that the tenancy agreement prohibits you from changing any of the utility service providers without prior written approval of the us or the landlord (or his representative). Any charges or other costs arising from a breach of this provision will be your responsibility.

Enjoying your new home

Once you have moved in, you can relax and get on with life. During your tenancy (unless otherwise specified) you are responsible for the day-to-day upkeep and maintenance of your property. Typically this would include:

Keeping the property clean, tidy and adequately ventilated at all times at all times

Maintaining the garden (where applicable)

Replacing/ repairing any broken or damaged items which belong to the landlord and changing fuses, light bulbs and tap washers when needed

Ensuring the property is secure when you are absent and does not breach any insurance terms

Paying any bills incurred as a result of calling out emergency or non-approved repair companies or tradesmen, without prior authorisation

Reporting any problems, where repairs or remedial action are required to minimise any damage

Forwarding any relevant post

The above list is not exhaustive, but has been designed to give you a clear idea of your responsibilities. If the landlord is managing the property, you should liase with him regarding any problem or issues, as we will have no authority to deal with such matters on his behalf.

Managed properties

If we are managing the property, we will provide you with full contact details of your property management team when you move in. As a matter of course, we will normally hold a set of keys to the property. The locks for the property should not be changed without our consent, except in an emergency. If for any reason they are, you are required to give us a new set as soon as possible. Often a simple problem can cause equipment or appliances to malfunction. These can generally be remedied by the following means:

Checking the vacuum cleaner bag/ hoses for blockages

Checking timers and thermostats on the boiler/ heating system

Bleeding radiators to remove air

Checking washing machine filters are clean

Ensuring rinse aid and salt levels are correct in dishwashers

Checking the timer or automatic functions on ovens have not been accidentally set

Any routine maintenance is the responsibility of the landlord. This will include servicing of gas appliances and replacement of spare parts in appliances, due to general wear and tear. All maintenance problems should be reported to your property manager, as soon as possible.

Wherever possible, urgent repairs will be carried out within 24 hours, but you will appreciate that sometimes delays can occur if, any example, spare parts are required. Delays may also be experienced if the property has been newly built or converted and we are reliant upon the developer’s after sales service. In all cases, we will keep you fully informed and ensure repairs are carried out as quickly as possible with minimum inconvenience to you.

Obviously, we want you to treat the property as your own and as such will expect to you to co-operate fully in allowing access for contractors, which may require you to be at home to le them in at the agreed time.

Where we are managing properties, it is usual for them to be visited by us, two to three times a year, in addition to checking in and checking out. The purpose of these visits is to keep the landlord informed about the condition of the property and in particular whether any repairs or maintenance are required. Any damage noted will be reported to you, and if you are considered to be liable for its repair, you will be asked to attend to it, as this will minimise the schedule of damages when you move out. Usually, these visits are carried out during normal working hours and we will give you prior notice in writing. There is no need for you to be present during this visit, but you are welcome to attend if you wish.

Terminating the tenancy

The procedure for terminating the tenancy (by either party) will be detailed within the Tenancy Agreement. If we are managing the property, we will arrange a suitable check out time with you. If we are not managing the property, the landlord will arrange the check out with you direct. When this takes place, the inventory will be checked, meters read and all keys collected from you.

Before you are checked out, you will be required to return the property to its original condition and make sure all the furniture; fixtures and fittings are positioned in the same place as at check in. If any items are noted on the inventory as ‘not seen’ and you cannot find them, it may result in a deduction from your deposit. Once the final rent payment has been made, please remember to cancel your standing order. If additional rent payments are made to us, you may incur an administration charge for any refunds.

If you require the services of professional cleaners or gardeners before the check out, we will be more than happy to assist you. Where we are holding your deposit, we are unable to return it without agreement in writing from you and the landlord, the extent of any deductions. In order to send payment to you, we will need your forwarding address.

We trust you have found this guide informative and look forward to finding a suitable home for you in the very near future. In the meantime please feel free to contact us if we can be of any further assistance.