Tenants

Outlined below are a few helpful notes to explain the procedures taken once you have decided on a property you wish to rent. Please keep this fact sheet handy as a reference.

MAKING AN APPOINTMENT TO VIEW

Once you have selected the properties you wish to view, please contact our office to make an appointment. All viewings are accompanied by a member of staff, who can either meet you outside the property or take you from our offices. Please note that 24 hours notice is often required to gain access. Please call if unable to attend or if you are going to be late!

TAKING UP REFERENCES

Once you have decided on a property, we will need to take up various references before you can move in. These may include: Employers’ reference - Current or previous Landlord - Credit score rating.

To simplify this procedure, we ask you to sit down with us in our offices and complete application forms. You will need to provide us with two recent payslips and a Council/Utility Bill with your name and proof of address for the previous three years and photo proof of identity. We complete e-Forms online to the referencing agency who normally respond within 72 hours. Please rest assured that this is a completely confidential procedure and no information relating to your financial status is divulged to anyone. We also need to see passports of foreign nationals and work permits if necessary.

NORMALLY WE REQUIRE A MINIMUM OF 7 DAYS TO PROCESS ALL TENANCY APPLICATIONS.

At this stage we ask you for an administration fee ( from £175 ) and a holding deposit of £150 or more (depending on how long we hold the property), which covers all the initial costs relating to renting a property. This can be cash or a cheque ( cheques need 10 working days to clear ). For this ONE OFF FEE per initial rental (which is only payable when you have chosen your new home) we provide the following services:

* Accompanied viewings to all potential properties
* All references and credit checks carried out by professional agency
* All paperwork, including
* Lease documentation / Tenancy Agreement
* References completed
* Inventories for managed properties
* Standing order for rent payment
* All meter readings at move in and vacating (Managed properties)
* Deposits are protected using a government authorised scheme.

The holding deposit is non-refundable in any circumstances where you fail to proceed with renting the property and would be utilised to defray the Landlords costs involved with the abortive letting.

If you decide not to proceed with the proposed tenancy or the replies we receive to our references are unsuitable, the Administration Fee cannot be refunded. However, if the Landlord decides not to proceed, the Administration Fee and Holding Deposit will be refunded to you in full.

Properties can not be reserved until fees and deposits are paid

THE TENANCY

We will discuss the terms and conditions of the tenancy with you and give you as clear a picture as possible regarding all aspects of renting. We will be pleased to provide you with a draft tenancy agreement and statutory notices for your perusal - please ask.

In most cases, an ASSURED SHORTHOLD TENANCY will be created in accordance with the 1988 Housing Act (as amended 1996). There is usually a minimum fixed period for any tenancy of 6 months, which by law NEITHER PARTY CAN TERMINATE EARLY. In exceptional circumstances we may be able to end a tenancy early. However, this can only be by arrangement through us and with the full agreement of the Landlord. Our fees for this are the equivalent of ONE MONTHS RENT and are payable at the time we agree to terminate the tenancy. You will be responsible for all rent and bills on the property until we have found new tenants and they have moved in.

During the last six to eight weeks of a tenancy we will contact both you and the Landlord to ask if the tenancy is to continue for a further period and if the rent is to be increased. If an extension to the tenancy is agreed, there will be an administration fee of £50 including VAT to cover the cost of preparing the necessary paperwork.

UTILITY SERVICES

We will arrange to transfer the Utilities into your name when you sign the Tenancy Agreement. We are unable to change the telephone line into your name, we recommend that you contact BT prior to your move-in date as it can take several days to arrange this

MOVING INTO THE PROPERTY

On the day you take over the property it will be necessary for you to sign your tenancy agreement and pay your installation monies in the form of a BANKERS DRAFT, (if you have not already paid in advance). If you wish to pay by personal, company or Building Society cheque or by direct transfer to our bank, (please ask for account details) we require payment 10 WORKING DAYS IN ADVANCE to allow for clearance. All cheques or Bank Drafts should be made payable to Bannisters Limited - Clients Account. We do not take any cards.

All check in’s and check out's will only be undertaken between 09.00 and 16.00 Monday to Friday.

You are usually given two copies of the inventory to take away with you and have three days to check it at the property. If you disagree with any part of the Inventory you must amend both copies and return one signed copy to us.

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL TENANTS
As part of our terms and conditions, it is a mandatory requirement of all tenancies that Tenants arrange insurance cover for their own possessions and for accidental damage to Landlord’s contents.

We can provide leaflets for tenants insurance if required. Please ask.

WHAT DOES MOVING IN COST?

We realise that the costs involved in renting a property are high and sometimes difficult to find. So we have designed our services to be as cost effective as possible, with NO HIDDEN COSTS. What you see here is all that you pay for your initial rental with us.

Set out below are the costs for a typical rental of a property at £650 per calendar month.

* Dilapidations deposit against Inventory (Usually one months rent + £200 (more for larger properties)

* Pet damage/cleaning deposit where you have cats and/or dogs £150 (£200 for two pets)

* First months rent in advance

* Administration Fee for Family unit - Domestic Partners and/or children from £200 (One reference only)

Family Unit - References on both

Partners from £260

Single person - from £200

Sharers – from £260 for two + £60 per additional person.

EXAMPLE FOR A £650 PER MONTH PROPERTY

Deposit against Inventory - £850 (£650 + £200)
Pet damage/cleaning deposit (If applicable) - £150 (one pet)
First months rent (less holding deposit) in advance - £500
Holding deposit (minimum) - £150
Administration Fee (Family Unit) (minimum) - £200

TOTAL PAYABLE £1850

MAINTENANCE

Should any problems arise with the structure of the property the Landlord will be responsible for any repair costs. In the event of any maintenance problems you are required to contact our office if we are managing the property and the Landlord if it is a basic managed property. We will arrange for the necessary repairs to be undertaken when authorised to do so by the Landlord. You are NOT permitted to instruct your own contractors or undertake the repairs yourself.

However, if anything goes wrong due to misuse or neglect it will be your responsibility to pay for any repairs or replacements. Likewise should we organise for a contractor to visit the property to carry out any maintenance works (by prior arrangement with yourself) and you fail to be at the property, or deny him access, any abortive call out fee will be passed over to yourself.

PROPERTY CHECKS

Once you have moved into a property that we are managing, we will undertake our first inspection after about 6 weeks and thereafter every three months. You will receive a notification card prior to the visit. These inspections are to confirm that the property is being kept in a clean and tidy condition.

VACATING AT THE END OF THE TENANCY

During the last 6 – 8 weeks and remaining part of your tenancy you are to allow viewings to take place for future tenants. All viewings will be accompanied by Bannisters staff and you do not have to be present.

On the termination of your tenancy, the inventory and schedule of condition will be checked once again. This is important as it gives an accurate assessment of any dilapidations that have occurred during your tenancy (fair wear and tear excepted).

Please note that all carpets have to be professionally cleaned by a nominated professional cleaning company at the end of the tenancy. In addition, if pets have been at the property then the carpets/flooring have to be sanitised, de-odourised and flea treated by the cleaning company. We will need to see the original invoice to confirm this has been done. Curtains need to be washed or dry cleaned as per the instructions on them. Windows need to be clean.

CONCLUSION

We trust the above information will be of use to you whilst you are looking for a new home. Should there be any points you would like to discuss further, please do not hesitate to ask us. The contents of this Tenants Fact Sheet form part of any agreement between you, us and any Landlord should you rent a property through Bannisters HomeLet.