What do you need
What do you need
Though we do not charge tenants for referencing, we are permitted to ask a tenant to provide information which supports us to carry out a reference check, such as:
– proof of ID: passport or any other official form of ID
– proof of residence: recent bank statements, utility bills, voter registration confirmation or council tax statements
– credit check: we may ask this information in order to carry out a credit check worthiness requirements and will only ask for you to disclose relevant information
– proof of income: recent bank statements, employer contact details, signed contract of employment and/or a letter from a tenant’s employer
If a tenant fails to provide the necessary information in good time, and we can demonstrate that we have given sufficient notice to provide this, we will be entitled to retain the holding deposit. We will provide reasons in writing to the tenant to explain why we have retained their holding deposit should this occur.
If a tenant changes their mind and decides to withdraw after paying a holding deposit, and they notify us of this before the ‘deadline for agreement’ has passed, we are entitled to retain the holding deposit. Even if a tenant does not notify us of their decision to withdraw, we are still entitled to retain the holding deposit if they have not taken reasonable steps to enter into the tenancy before that date and we have taken all reasonable steps
Right to rent checks
We must check the immigration status of anyone aged 18 or over who’ll be living in the property before a tenancy is agreed. This is known as a ‘right to rent check’. We can ask to see a tenant’s passport or other official documents that prove their immigration status. We are required to take copies of the documents and keep them safe.
If a tenant fails a right to rent check or does not provide us with the necessary evidence required to complete the check, we can retain their holding deposit. We will explain to the tenant in writing that we are retaining their holding deposit because they have failed a right to rent check.
Late Payment of Rent
Late Payment of Rent
A default fee can be charged for late payment of rent but only where the rent payment has been outstanding for 14 days or more (from the date set out in the tenancy agreement)
Any fee charged will be no more than 3% above the Bank of England’s base rate for each day that the payment has been outstanding.
Lost Keys
Lost Keys
A default fee will be charged for a lost key or equivalent security device. We will provide evidence in writing to the person liable for the payment to demonstrate that the costs they have incurred are reasonable.
Deposit
Deposit
We will usually require a maximum of 5 weeks’ rent as a deposit from you prior to moving into your new home. This deposit will be transferred to the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS) authorised by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure that it is safe and secure.
At the end of your tenancy, and assuming the property is properly maintained apart from reasonable ‘wear and tear’, the deposit will be transferred back to you. The payment of a deposit is a standard practice in the lettings industry. It is applied to every lettings agreement and it becomes payable on the day that the letting agreement is signed.
About the payment
About the payment
Payment must be in a form that is immediate, so unfortunately personal cheques cannot be accepted, nor credit card payments. Usual accepted payment methods include a verified bank transfer, a banker’s draft, a building society printed cheque or payment in cash.
Should there be any discrepancies, we will refer back to the inventory carried out prior to you moving into the property and we will recover claims for damages through the tenancy deposit at the end of the tenancy, where independent arbitration will be available through the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS).
Dispute Resolution
Dispute Resolution
The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) arrangements provided by the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS) are designed to make disagreements over the repayment of the deposit faster and cheaper to resolve than going to court. Where both the landlord and tenant agree to using the ADR service the case will be handled by an independent, impartial and qualified adjudicator, and a decision will be made on the basis of the evidence provided.
For more information, please visit the Government’s Guidance for Tenants page.