What references are required, and what will I need to provide?
References are always required and are obtained through HomeLet referencing agency. It should be appreciated that no tenancy will be granted until satisfactory references have been received and approved.
Each person relating to the tenancy will be required to fill in a reference form.
Additionally, and depending on your personal circumstances, the following will also be required.
Employed
- Photographic ID for example a Passport or Driving Licence, or alternatively a passport sized photograph.
- Proof of residency - to include one of the following;
A Driving licence or a utility bill to include one of the following; gas, electric, water, telephone landline bill (not mobile), recent council tax bill (no older than 3 months prior to the start date of the tenancy).
- Your most recent three months wage slips or a letter on headed paper from the Personnel/Human Resources Department of your employer confirming your address, start date of your employment and current salary. Please note that this letter must be signed and dated by the Payroll Department or the Financial Director and contain the printed name of the signatory.
- A previous landlord's reference, if applicable (we will obtain this on your behalf).
Self Employed
1,2 and 4 (if applicable) above AND
A minimum of 3 years worth of filed accounts will be required (if the applicant has been self employed for less than three years, they will require a guarantor) 3 years worth of authenticated self assessment tax calculation forms from the tax office (These are called SA302 or SA100 at the time of print)
OR,
A letter from your accountant confirming drawings, and the start date of the business.
Housing Allowance
As 1,2 and 4 above (Pay slips will be required if a tenant works part-time) AND
a guarantor (see below for guarantor referencing requirements) AND
a letter from housing benefit confirming that your claim is going through, or has been accepted.
Student
As 1, 2 and 4 (if applicable) above, and a guarantor.
Guarantor
If a guarantor is required he/she will need to provide 1,2 and 3 above.
How can I protect my contents and deposit?
If you're renting, it's easy to think that you haven't got many belongings to insure, but the cost of replacing them could be more than you think.
You probably know how much a new TV, laptop, games console or digital camera might cost. However have you thought how much your clothes, shoes, bed linen and kitchen equipment are worth, or even the food in your freezer? The last thing that you need after an accident, burglary, fire or flood is a mounting bill just for the things you take for granted.
Also your landlord's own insurance won't cover you if you accidentally damage their property. From a spilt glass of wine to an iron mark on the carpet, accidents happen to the best of us.
That's why HomeLet have designed a home contents insurance policy specifically for tenants. It covers the cost of replacing your own things, new for old, and protects you against losing your deposit if your landlord's property gets damaged.
Cover starts from only £9 per month for £5000 worth of cover.
If you so wish please contact CGT Lettings for more information.
CGT Lettings is an appointed representative of HomeLet. HomeLet is a trading name of Barbon Insurance Group Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services authority.
When can I move in?
When you first enquire or view a property you will be advised of the date when the property will become available. This information can also be found on the property detail section of our website, and on our printed property lists.
As soon as you pay your holding fee, a definitive date for the commencement of your tenancy will be agreed
What information is given the day that I take possession of the property?
When the day arrives for you to take possession of your property we shall have already agreed a convenient time for you to visit our office to collect the keys and complete all the necessary paperwork.
The appointment will last for approximately 20 minutes and you will be given a Tenants Pack which will help to guide you through your tenancy. Also included will be the relevant safety certificates (if applicable), an Energy Performance Certificate, copies of utility letters, and the Tenancy Deposit Certificate.
You will also be provided with a very detailed inventory describing the condition of the property and its contents. You will have the opportunity to check the inventory, make any relevant amendments, and return it to us within 48 hours.
Before we can release the keys, all parties aged 18 and over will need to have signed the tenancy agreement, and all remaining monies must be paid in full. We recommend payment by debit card or bankers draft. For security reasons we discourage cash payments.
How long am I committed for?
It will depend on the length of your tenancy agreement. The most common fixed period is 6 months, after which the tenancy runs on a month by month basis.
In this instance you would be obligated for the first 6 months, and should you wish to vacate you would need to give one months notice in writing, ending no sooner than the initial 6 months.
Should you decide to stay beyond the initial 6 months then this is perfectly acceptable, without the requirement to sign another contract. This is known as a 'statutory periodic tenancy' running on a month by month basis on the same terms and conditions.
If the landlord requires possession of the property then he would have to provide you with 2 months notice, again not expiring sooner than the initial 6 months.
Are there any further administration fees payable during my tenancy?
Unlike many of our competitors CGT Lettings does not charge automatic renewal fees. Therefore once your tenancy has commenced you need not worry about incurring further administration fees.
The only time a fee would apply would be if you requested another fixed term contract once the initial term had expired. In this instance, and assuming the landlord agreed, there would be a charge of £50 plus vat, as well as any re-referencing charges that may apply.
