Work out how much you can afford each month after regular outgoings and remember you will likely need to pay a deposit too. Deposits can not be above the cost of five weeks’ rent. Don’t forget to budget for things like Internet, TV Licence and Council Tax.
Make a list of what your next home needs to have so you can refer to it on your searches and viewings. Once you have your list, we will clarify anything you’re unsure of. These suggestions will get you started:
Check out the local transport links if you have a daily commute and how long your journey will take, especially if you’re relying on public transport. Get a feel for the area and find out where amenities such as supermarkets are located. We can answer questions about the local area.
Whilst you’re viewing a property, this is your chance to get a feel for the space, condition and safety. Landlords have many legal obligations regarding your safety whilst renting the property. They include gas safety checks, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, electrical safety and energy efficiency.
As part of the referencing process and to comply with Right to Rent legislation we need to be sure a customer is who they say they are. We will require a proof of residency (such as a utility or council tax bill from the last 3 months) and proof of ID (such as a passport or resident permit). By law we also have to verify that you have the right to reside in the UK be it temporarily by way of a visa, or permanently.
Customerss applying to rent need to give details of their employer and income, their previous address and landlord, and some bank account details. These will be checked to ensure they are able to commit to monthly rental payments.
In some circumstances, a customer may not be approved immediately via referencing. Obvious examples are students without a regular income, low credit score, or someone renting in this country for the first time with no renting history. This is not uncommon, and there are still options for customers in this position. They could pay the rent for the full term up front, or seek out a guarantor.
A guarantor is somebody who can support a customer with their tenancy (usually a parent or guardian). They will agree to take responsibility for the rent if the customer fails to. Guarantors are required to pay any rent arrears (if the customer does not pay) and for any damages costing more than the deposit.
A guarantor will complete the same referencing process as the customer. To be eligible, they are employed and a UK resident, with sufficient earnings to cover the customer’s rent if needed.
In you are part of a joint tenancy or a house share, the tenancy agreement states that all customers are jointly responsible for all rents and responsibilities. There is no individual ‘share’ of the rent written into the tenancy agreement. The guarantor therefore has the same responsibility.
A deposit is paid to protect the landlords property during the tenancy with the promise from the customer that the property will be kept in a good condition and in good order. The deposit is held to ensure that any damages (over and above fair wear and tear) can be corrected at the end of the tenancy.
A Tenancy Deposit Scheme will protect the money for you and can offer assistance should there be a dispute about the deposit at the end of the tenancy. You will receive confirmation that your deposit is protected as part of your tenancy sign up pack.
An AST agreement exists to protect both you, as the customer, and the landlord and sets out the terms for you to live in the landlord’s property. It is normally a written agreement (but can be verbal) that clearly outlines your responsibility for the condition of the property and the responsibilities of the landlord whilst you are their customer.
A written AST will state the terms of your tenancy agreement:
All parties should receive a copy of the AST to sign. Read through all the terms before agreeing to them and keep your copy of the agreement safe in case you need to refer back to it during your tenancy.
Your landlord will regularly schedule visits to the property. They want to make sure that the property is being looked after and maintained in a good condition, and they’ll be looking for any maintenance issues.
Your landlord is responsible for maintaining the property in keeping it in a good state of repair. They will either take care of this directly, or do so via sub contractors. Make sure you refer to your sign up pack to know who to go to when there’s a problem at the property. If you do damage to the property you are expected to cover the cost of putting this right.
You would need to request any changes to the property in writing to us. We will not unreasonable refuse requests, based on the property being returned to the original condition when you vacate. We recommend receiving this permission in writing.
We know that accidents can happen. Contact us as soon as you can and we can discuss the options. You will be expected to cover the cost of putting it right. Don’t try to ignore or hide damage because it could get worse, and it will only come out of your deposit at the end of the tenancy. If you have contents insurance you may be able to claim against this to repair the damage.
A landlord has to give the customer 24 hours written notice before entering the property (letter or email), unless it’s an emergency such as a leak. If the written notice is inconvenient, you have the right to advise the landlord and they then cannot enter the property and instead arrange another date.
If you have committed to a fixed term contract, you will be liable for the rent until the fixed term has ended. If your fixed term has lapsed and you are now on a periodic/rolling contract, you can refer to your tenancy agreement as this will outline the notice period required.
It is always your responsibility to pay the rent, but we know that circumstances can change. If you become unemployed or are unable to work due to sickness, you can look into making a claim for Universal Credit. Make contact with us as soon as possible so that we can assist you with putting a payment plan in place and also signpost you to the benefits you may be entitled to.
