When you have selected a property that you would like to rent we will request a reference fee of £60.00 (including VAT) from each tenant. Your rental application will preferably be made on line, or if you prefer by completion of a form in your own handwriting. The information you provide, including details of your previous landlord, current employer (or accountant if you are self-employed) and bank/building society will be passed to an independent specialist agency that will run a credit history check and take up references.
Please note that the reference fee will not be returned if you withdraw your application for any reason or if, in our opinion or in that of our client, satisfactory references are not subsequently obtained. It will be refunded, less any specific costs we have already incurred, if the landlord should withdraw the property from the market but Renting Places cannot accept liability for any costs or inconvenience suffered by the applicants in such circumstances.
On acceptance by the landlord, we will prepare a Tenancy Agreement.
MOVING IN
Once your application has been approved we will arrange a moving in date with you and send you an invoice for the following charges:
First month's rent;
Security deposit, usually equivalent to one month's rent but this will be increased to one and a half month's rent if you own a pet that you are bringing to the property with the landlord's agreement. This will be held against damages, non-payment of rent, etc and is returnable, less such deductions, after you have vacated the property at the end of the tenancy. Unless advised to the contrary, we will hold your deposit as landlord's agent and register it with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme.
Agency administration fee - 30% of one month's rent plus VAT towards the tenancy agreement, inventory/schedule of condition, check-in and check-out.
Final confirmation of a tenancy cannot be given until satisfactory references have been obtained, we have our client's consent, the necessary legal documentation has been signed and we are holding cleared funds in full settlement of your invoice. Your account may be settled by Bank Internet transfer, Banker's Draft or Building Society cheque. Personal cheques are only acceptable with our specific prior agreement and at least seven working days should be allowedyou're your cheque to clear through the banking system. Payments in cash with incur a £15 charge to cover bank charges for cash handling.
You will be asked to complete and sign a standing order mandate for future calendar monthly rental payments.
An application may be rejected at any time and no correspondence regarding the reasons for a rejection will be entered into.
TENANCY AGREEMENT
The minimum term for an assured shorthold tenancy agreement is usually 6 months, without a break clause. All rents are paid calendar monthly in advance and, unless specifically agreed in writing to the contrary, you will be responsible for the payment of all services at the property including council tax, water rates, gas, oil, coal, electricity, telephone charges, television licence fee and any charges associated with the usage of cable or satellite television, strictly subject to the landlord's prior agreement and whether a satellite dish has previously been installed. Your tenancy agreement is a legally binding agreement between you and the landlord setting out your rights and obligations as a tenant, it must be signed by you by the landlord or agent and you should read it carefully to make sure you understand it.
If you wish to stay at the property after the initial fixed term this can be agreed provided all parties accept. Thereafter you will have to provide a minimum of one month's notice in writing when you want to leave and if the landlord wishes to end the agreement he will have to provide a minimum of 2 months' notice in writing.
INSURANCE
It is a condition of the Tenancy Agreement that you have, at the time of the commencement of the tenancy and for its duration, a household insurance policy to cover your own possessions and includes accidental damage cover to the landlord's contents, fixtures and fittings. If you do not already hold such a policy we can provide a quotation on request, based on the value of your own possessions and level of cover to suit your requirements.
LOOKING AFTER THE PROPERTY
Where required by the landlord we will compile an inventory - an accurate record of the property at the commencement of the tenancy listing the contents, fixtures and fittings supplied and their condition. The inventory will include any special instructions or precautions in relation to the items supplied, dates of purchase of any nearly-new items and any warranties in force, the meter readings prior to occupation, keys supplied, user manuals supplied and a gas safety certificate (if relevant) and evidence of any other inspections including energy performance certificate.
If we are responsible for the maintenance and supervision of the property you are renting, it is imperative that we are informed of any maintenance issues promptly in order to avoid minor defects becoming major problems and to ensure you are given the maximum enjoyment whilst living there.
At the of your tenancy, subject to a satisfactory inventory check-out, your deposit will be returned to you shortly after you have left the property and relinquished the keys. Otherwise, following written notification to you in advance, it will be used for repairs and maintenance and the balance will be returned to you after these items have been dealt with, accompanied by copy invoices/receipts. You cannot set your deposit against any rent due.
LEAVING THE PROPERTY BEFORE THE END OF THE TENANCY
If you leave the property before the end of the tenancy you may still be held legally liable and responsible for all your obligations and costs under the terms of your Tenancy Agreement. If you need to discuss a change in your circumstances, or you are unsure of the legal procedure required in order to give notice to end your tenancy, please contact us urgently.
OTHER CHARGES YOU MAY HAVE TO PAY
We may have to pay costs if you do not keep to the conditions of this contract. The law allows us to recover our reasonable costs from you. The costs you will have to pay are as follows:
If we have to send you a letter because you have broken the agreement (including owing rent), you must pay our reasonable costs of not more than £20, including VAT.
If your bank returns a cheque, standing order or direct debit unpaid, you must pay our reasonable costs of not more than £20, including VAT.
If we send you a Legal Notice because you have broken this agreement, you must pay our reasonable costs of not more than £35, including VAT. We will not charge you for any covering letter.
If you do not respond to the notice, and as a result we or our agent have to visit you at home, you will pay our reasonable costs of not more than £60, including VAT.
If we have a genuine reason to believe that you have abandoned the property and we have to visit the property and speak to neighbours and authorities, you agree to pay our reasonable costs of not more than £60, including VAT.
