New tenant wants to rent what next?

This may be the first time the individual has rented or they may be well versed. The important thing is YOU define your expectation of them. This can be achieved by providing them with our simple summary Starting a new Tenancy – What happens next .

The process from here:-

• The proposed Tenant should have previously completed your tenancy application form. This gives you permission to proceed with the vetting process. Such process should include Tenant referencing and Credit Check, take advantage of our FREE Tenant Credit Check, this service is free to Members

• You should be asking for a Holding fee of no more than one weeks rent this is the maximum allowed from June 2019 this affirms genuine intent and you MUST issue a receipt for such monies ; this creates clarity what these monies are for and defines circumstances where monies will or NOT be returned to the prospective tenant

• Should the tenant withdraw or fail tenant referencingyou simply progress with vetting new prospects. The Ban on Tenant Fees law means you will have to return the holding fee unless deductions can be justified Remember to continue taking phone numbers of prospective Tenants who contacted you – just in case the intended Tenant does not proceed or fails the Tenant Credit Check

• If you are now happy to proceed you should provide the Tenant Guidance notes, these define what happens next.

• You should already have your Tenancy Agreementalready prepared, if you need help use the PIMS Tenancy Agreement Wizard

Guidance information we give to the Tenant Print Form

The Next 18 Steps to help you get of to a smooth start are

Completing the Tenancy Application form and referencing Upon receipt of your completed ‘Tenant Application Form’ we shall commence reference checks, which may or not include financial credit checks. As part of our referencing procedure we reserve the right to take rental Insurance on prospective Tenants, to assist in this process we require to see your last three month bank’s statements.

If satisfactory references are not received within one week, we may offer the property to other prospective Tenants or withdraw the property or change the letting terms. We reserve the right to seek further references. We may also require a satisfactory guarantee from a guarantor, who will also be required to provide satisfactory references.

Should we have to decline your request for a tenancy no correspondence can be entered into : The decision of the Landlord or their Agent is final. Unless stated otherwise stated the Holding fee will be returned to the person who paid it. They will be responsible for the distribution of any balance to other parties.

Once your application has been approved

Balance of monies due must be paid prior to moving in You will need to arrange to pay the balance of monies due (as detailed). Balance required on or before move in date in cleared funds. Cheques will need to be presented 7 working days before move in date.

Your First Months Rent: Subsequent months will be payable in advance by standing order.

Deposit – The deposit (if any) received will be registered with one of the Government authorised tenancy deposit schemes (the “Tenancy Deposit Scheme”) and held in accordance with the rules of that scheme (the “TDS Rules”). Full details of the scheme will be notified to the Tenant within 30 days of the commencement of the Tenancy Agreement. The deposit has to be held until the end of the Tenancy and is held in respect of the property being well maintained and returned in a condition no less favourable than when your tenancy commenced.

Admin Fee MUST BE NILL – Admin fees banned from June 2019 .

Energy Performance Certificate – Where a property (not a room) is being rented we shall provide you a copy of An Energy Performance Certificate for the property of no less than an E rating .

Moving In Guidance

Signing the Tenancy Agreement The Tenancy Agreement to be provided will detail the contract between the Landlord and the Tenant and must be signed prior to providing you with keys.

Inventory An inventory will be prepared and provide to you. This will normally be provided on the move in day. Once you receive the inventory, you should check through thoroughly to ensure that the contents are correct. Should there be any inaccuracies, please make a note in pencil before returning the copy to the Landlord. It is in your best interest to do this since your Agreement states that the inventory will be deemed to be correct if we do not receive the signed copy within seven days of the start of your Tenancy.

During the Tenancy

Utilities It is the Tenants responsibility to pay for all utilities (as specified in the Tenancy agreement). The Landlord will contact the relevant authorities and advise them to cease supply in the Landlord’s name. It is therefore important that you contact the relevant Gas, Electricity, Water and Telecom suppliers (if required) to complete application forms for supply of utilities to your impending residence.

Council Tax is the responsibility of the occupant and the Landlord will advise the Local Authority of your occupancy. However, if you do not receive any notification from them in the first month, it is your responsibility to contact them.

Television set at your premises, you will be responsible for payment of the licence as and when it becomes due.

Insurance for your own contents and personal possessions is not covered by any policy held by the Landlord. It is the Tenant’s responsibility to arrange insurance for these items

Rent Payment – Rent is payable per calendar month in advance by standing order. Your rent payment date will be set as the same day that you move. For example, if you move in on 16th January then rent payment will be due on the 16th day of every month during the tenancy. We are happy to discuss move the rent payment date should this assist you.

Before the end of your Tenancy Agreement – Renewing

Two months before the end of your Tenancy, we shall discuss, and you may be offered the opportunity to renew your Agreement. If you are offered a renewal opportunity please advise us as soon as possible should you wish to accept or arrange a leaving date.

AT THE END OF THE TENANCY

At the end of the Tenancy, you should provide the Landlord with your forwarding address and also inform the post office in order that they can forward any mail. Once all bills have been settled, an account and the balance of your deposit will be returned to you by the Landlord.

When vacating the property, please liaise with the Landlord to transfer the utilities in order to avoid any of the services from being disconnected or any unnecessary charges being levied on yourself. Once the transfers have been accepted, the Landlord will require all bills to be either settled or re-addressed to your next residence by the various authorities.