TENANTS
Our aim is to find you the perfect property to suit your requirements with the minimum of hassle.
Finding a property
The first step is to contact us to provide brief details about yourself and about the accommodation you require. We then search our database for suitable properties for you to view. If not urgent, we log your details in to our system so that we could contact you as and when suitable properties become available. It is wise to start looking about a month before you wish to move, as the nicer properties are viewed and reserved quickly. Our tenancies are granted for a minimum term of 6 months, which may be renewed if all parties agree.
Please note that for your safety and peace of mind –
• We provide for all our managed properties copies of Gas Safe certificate, Electric Safety Certificate , EPC and ‘How To Rent Property Guide’ on the date the agreements are signed and keys of the properties are handed over.
• All Tenancy Deposits (bonds) are held in accordance with the Deposit Protection Regulations.
Viewings
Viewings will be arranged at times to suit you, including evenings and weekends, and you will invariably be accompanied by a member of staff, who can give advice and answer any questions you may have.
References
As a minimum we will require satisfactory references from your employer (or college), a previous or current landlord, and a credit reference report.
We also require a guarantor, we may use the services of an independent referencing company to obtain and evaluate these references.
Rents
Rents are normally quoted calendar monthly, and payable monthly in advance. The tenant is responsible for Council Tax, Water Rates, Gas, Electricity, TV Licence, Broadband and Telephone costs. All rents are payable by bank standing order to our company bank account or your landlord’s bank account.
Deposit
A security deposit of a minimum of one month’s rental will normally be required. This deposit will be treated in accordance with the Tenancy Deposit Protection regulations, and you will be provided with the appropriate prescribed information and receive details regarding the scheme used. The deposit is held to cover damage, breakages, and any other liabilities under the terms of your tenancy agreement. Please note that under no circumstances can the deposit be used by the tenant to cover rent.
Tenancy deposit protection – prescribed information
Legislation requires that certain information must be given to the tenant within 28 days of a deposit being taken. Whether you use the DPS, or the TDSL scheme, only some of the information is provided to the tenants by the scheme administration. The remainder must be provided by the landlord.
A special ‘Tenancy Deposit – Prescribed Information’ form has been designed for this purpose, and a copy is available from this agency.
It is very important that the form is completed fully and accurately, and that you attach to it a printed version of the relevant scheme’s Terms and Conditions.
These can be downloaded from their respective websites on the following links, depending on which scheme you use:
DPS: http://www.depositprotection.com/
TDS: https://www.tds.gb.com/
MY DEPOSITS: http://www.mydeposits.co.uk/
It is also important that under Paragraph 7 of the form you include the exact terms in the tenancy agreement that permit deductions from the deposit.
It is recommended that a signed copy of the form is given to each tenant individually. You should also retain a single copy signed by every tenant, in order to prove that the information has been given. So where there are say 4 tenants, you need 5 copies.
Be sure to comply with the above requirements fully and accurately, because penalties to the landlord for non-compliance can be heavy.
Where we are providing our Full Letting & Management Service will handle all of this for you as part of our service.
The Disability Discrimination Act 2005
From October 2010, the Equality Act replaced much of the Disability Discrimination Act of 2005. However, the Disability Equality Duty in the DDA continues to apply. These Acts define disabled people’s rights in respect of premises that are let or to be let. Landlords and managers of let/to let premises are required to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people.
The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 (EPC’s)
Since 1st October 2008 landlords in England and Wales offering property for rent are required by law to provide prospective tenants with an Energy Performance Certificate for their property. In Scotland EPCs for rental properties have been required since January 2009. The certificates must be provided free either when (or before) any written information about the property is provided to prospective tenants or a viewing is conducted. An EPCs is valid for 10 years. We can arrange an EPC inspection for our landlord clients upon request.
Please note that we cannot market your property to let until we have in our possession a valid EPC for the property.
The above is a brief summary of landlords’ responsibilities and of the laws surrounding tenanted property. We hope that you find it useful. If there are any aspects of which you are unsure, please ask us. We look forward to being of assistance to you in the letting and management of your property.
