Tenant Guide
Setting your budget
The first steps to consider before looking at any properties are your requirements and budget.
You should consider things such as location, number of bedrooms, size of rooms etc and decide which are essential and where potential compromises may lie.
You should then look at your income and existing financial commitments to come up with a realistic budget for your rental property. There are rent affordability calculators online to help you do this.
You can then start looking for the right property that meets your needs.
Book an appointment to view
Once you have found a property that you are interested in, get in touch with the office and we can arrange a suitable time for you to view the property.
Our staff are fully trained and will make the process of finding the perfect home for you as simple as possible. The more information you can give them to explain exactly what you are looking for the easier it will be for them find you your ideal property.
COVID-19
In light of the recent Covid-19 outbreak and regulations, where possible we are sending an initial video tour of the property. Once you have viewed the video, if you are still interested then we will arrange for you to view the property in person. Please note that PPE (minimum of a face mask) must be worn on viewings.
Application Form and Documentation
If you wish to proceed with renting the property, we will require you to complete an application form and provide supporting documentation.
The documentation we require include;
- Proof of ID (Passport OR Driving Licence AND Birth Certificate)
- Proof of Earnings (last three payslips OR last three-months’ bank statements OR letter from employer confirming salary)
- Proof of Current Address (Recent bank statement or utility bill)
- Biometric Residence Permit / Visa (where applicable)
- Student Status Certificate (Full-time students only)
- Confirmation of Student Finance Payments (Students only, where applicable)
We do accept applications from tenants in receipt of Universal Credit, we will need to see proof of the payment amounts that you are in receipt of. We will also require you to provide a UK-based guarantor who is working full-time.
Students will also require a UK-based guarantor or alternatively pay rent termly in line with student finance payments.
Holding Deposit
We take a holding deposit the equivalent of 1-weeks rent. For example, if the rent is £500 the holding deposit would be £115. This reserves the property and remove it from our availability list.
The holding deposit will be deducted from the first month’s rent. Should you withdraw from the proposed letting, through no fault of the landlord or the agent, the holding deposit will be retained to cover any reasonable costs.
None of the holding deposit will be retained should the tenant’s withdrawal be due to a breach of the proposed letting agreement by the landlord or managing agent.
Referencing
Referencing commences on receipt of the holding deposit, application form and supporting documents. Our checks include;
- References from your current landlord and employer
- Confirmation of employment and proof of salary
- Credit check (completed by a third-party e.g. Rent4sure)
- Photographic Identification Check / Right-to Rent Immigration Check
We will then inform you if your application has been successful.
Deposit
You will need to pay a security deposit. This is usually the equivalent of 5 weeks rent, however it may vary dependent on the Landlord of the property.
This is required within 1-week of paying the holding deposit, or sooner if you are looking to move in quickly. We need to receive the deposit a minimum of 48-hours in advance of move-in. We can be flexible on the date the deposit is received but any agreement would be outline as part of the application form.
Tenancy Agreement
Both the landlord (or appointed representative) and tenant(s) will be required to sign a tenancy agreement prior to the tenancy commencing. The agreement outlines both the tenant and landlords’ obligations.
Most tenancies run for a minimum period of twelve months although some are available for 6 months. We do not offer shorter contracts than 6-month. We will contact you towards the end of the tenancy to see whether you wish to renew your agreement for a further period and will liaise with the landlord to organise the paperwork.
First Rental Payment
The first rental payment is due in cleared funds on the start date of the tenancy. The holding deposit that has been paid will be deducted from the payment due.
Please note that the first rental payment will be needed to be paid in full and the tenancy agreement signed by all parties prior to keys being issued.
Managed Properties
Many of our properties our held on a ‘fully managed’ basis. If this is the case with the property you have chosen, we will inform you prior to your tenancy commencing.
If we are managing the property, then any faults with appliances or problems within the property will need to be reported to us and we will deal with the problem as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Failure to report an ongoing problem may turn the responsibility on to you. If the property is not on a fully managed basis then you should liaise directly with the landlord on any issues.
Rental Payment
For managed properties, rental payments should be made by standing order from the tenants’ bank account to our bank account. If the property is not ‘fully managed’, rent is payable by standing order directly to the landlord.
We have a system called ‘Barclay Pay’ whereby we can setup automated payments. This can be arranged at your move-in appointment.
Insurance
Your belongings are your responsibility and you must ensure you have adequate contents insurance to cover them.
The Landlord will have insurance for the building and his own contents, but their policy will not cover any of your belongings. The landlord accepts no responsibility and cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to tenants’ possessions.
Tenants’ obligations
The responsibility for the property lies with the tenant during the period of tenancy. You must ensure the property is fully secured at all times. During the winter months, you must take measures to prevent freezing of the water and heating system.
If you intend to be away from the property for more than 2-weeks we request that you contact the office to inform them.
Property Inspection
If we are instructed as managing agents for your property, we will carry out 6-monthly inspections to assess the condition of the property. We will always arrange this with you with advanced warning at a pre-arranged time.
Notice to end a tenancy
To terminate your tenancy agreement, you will normally be required to give us at least one month notice in writing (unless otherwise specified in your specific tenancy agreement). If you are in a fixed
term tenancy then you are responsible for the property and rental payments until the end of the fixed term.
Deposit Returns
When your tenancy ends, an inspection of the property will be carried out, either by the landlord or a member of the Homemaker Properties team. Any deductions will be discussed with you.
We endeavor to return your deposit as soon as possible. We have 10-days to return your deposit if there are no deductions. If there are deductions, we have 30-days to return your deposit as extra time is required to obtain quotes to complete work.