Choosing the right property
When looking for your next home, it is worth considering your key requirements:
- Think about where you would like to live. What are the important things that you need to be near? i.e. schools, shops, work, transport etc.
- Consider your ‘must haves’. i.e number of bedrooms, parking, outside space
- Think about your budget.
The rental market moves more quickly than the sales market, so it is important that when you find the perfect home, you can take the steps to secure it quickly.
Arranging a viewing
This can be done by contacting Arden Property Centre and speaking to a member of staff. All our staff are highly trained and knowledgeable and will be able to provide further advice and information. A viewing will be arranged at a mutually convenient time and a member of staff will accompany you.
If after the viewing you decide you would like to rent the property you will be asked to complete our on-line application form.
When this has been completed, we will discuss your application with the landlord and advise you of the outcome as soon as possible. Should your application be accepted, you will need to pay a holding deposit which is the equivalent of one weeks’ rent. The full terms and conditions relating to the payment of the holding deposit are contained within the tenancy application form.
Credit checks and references
Each applicant over the age of 18 will be required to provide some relevant documents, such as a form of ID, proof of your address, previous landlord references and employer references. We will need to certify the originals to check your 'Right to Rent'. By law, we must see a copy of either your:
- Passport; or
- Driving Licence with Birth Certificate.
- Also, for non-EU nationals, we will need to see your Visa.
Referencing Criteria
- Three years’ previous address history.
- Landlord's details for any property rented in the last 3 years.
- Adequate household income to cover the rent (35 x monthly rental amount as annual household income).
- If you are retired, then your (joint) pension per annum will also need to equal 35 times monthly rental amount.
- No adverse credit in the form of a county court judgment, bankruptcy order or similar.
- If you are self-employed, either an accountant's certificate or evidence of the last three years' tax returns.
- f you are a student or claiming housing benefit you will need a family member or friend to act as a guarantor.
Rent & Deposit
Once the deposit is paid in full, the property is secured. This deposit will be equal to five weeks rent and it is held to cover any excessive damages that need to be repaired at the end of the tenancy.
The deposit will be held in the Deposit Protection Service (DPS). You will be issued with a deposit ID number and certificate of registration from the scheme which you will need to keep safe for the return process at the end of your tenancy.
Along with the deposit, you will also have to pay the first month’s rent in advance. The rent that you will pay will be calculated on a per calendar month basis and paid each month in advance. The first months rent will be required prior to the commencement of the tenancy and subsequent payments must be made by standing order on the date stated in your tenancy agreement
Signing the Tenancy Agreement
You will be invited into our office to sign your tenancy agreement which will be an Assured Shorthold tenancy agreement. Tenancies are for an initial 6-month period and will continue monthly thereafter
A Tenancy Agreement is a legally binding document that sets out the terms of the tenancy and is drawn up to ensure the rights and obligations of both the tenant and the landlord are clear. All relevant parties will be asked to sign this document -we will sign this on the Landlord's behalf.
Inventory and Schedule of condition
The inventory is a detailed list of contents and condition of the property before you move in. This allows the landlord and tenant an opportunity to agree to the condition of the property at the start of the tenancy and diminishes the risk of any dispute when you move out. We recommend you thoroughly check the inventory before you sign it.
Regular Inspections
As part of our obligations to the Landlord, we will carry out routine property inspections throughout the course of the tenancy to check that everything is in order, usually only a couple of times a year. You will be given prior notice of visits via email. You will also have an annual visit from a gas engineer to complete the Gas Safety Certificate if your property has a gas supply.
Maintenance Issues
For the duration of your tenancy we will be your first port of call for any issue’s maintenance or otherwise.
In the event that your property needs repair during your tenancy, you must advise us of the nature of the repair needed immediately and we will do our best to obtain the landlords instructions with a view to quickly resolving.
Please contact the office directly by phone or email.
Moving Out
When you decide to move out you will need to give at least one month’s notice in-line with your tenancy dates. We will need to receive the notice in writing, and we will confirm the last date of your tenancy. We will also advertise the property and contact you to arrange access for viewings.
You will be sent a detailed checklist to go through before the end of your tenancy. It is your responsibility to clean the property and remove all personal belongings. You will need to ensure that the property is left in good condition for you to be entitled to your full deposit back. If there are no deductions or disputes your deposit should be returned directly to you from the DPS within 10 days.
Arden Property Centre will arrange a closing inspection report to be conducted on or after the last day of your tenancy to ensure that the property is left in the same condition as it was given to you. The closing inspection report will be compared to the opening inventory. At this point, you will need to ensure that the keys are returned to us.