Are you a tenant looking for a property to rent in Fitzrovia, Soho, Covent Garden, Bloomsbury and Marylebone?

 

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TENANT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

HOLDING DEPOSIT

A holding deposit of two weeks rent by cheque, credit card cash will need to be paid in order that an offer can be put forward to the Landlord.  Should the offer be accepted, the property will be withdrawn from our register whilst references are obtained.  This holding deposit is NON REFUNDABLE should you withdraw your offer at anytime for any reason.  Should the Landlord withdraw for any reason then the holding deposit will be refunded in full by cheque.  ACCEPTANCE OF A HOLDING DEPOSIT DOES NOT IMPLY A TENANCY.  The holding deposit monies will be deducted from the final balance payable at the commencement of the Tenancy.

 

TERM

 

Properties are usually available for a minimum term of 12 months with a break-clause (minimum 6 months) by negotiation, although most Tenancy Agreements can be extended subject to the Landlord’s agreement.  Unless you are taking the property in the name of your company, the Tenancy Agreement used will be an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, which allows you to seek the rights of the Housing Act. If the Tenancy is to be in the name of a company / partnership, or the rent is in excess of £1923.08 per week, a Law of Contract Tenancy will need to be created.

 

DEPOSIT 

A deposit equivalent to six weeks rent will be held as an agent of the Landlord against any outstanding dilapidations, if any, at the end of the tenancy.  The deposit will be returned, less any agreed deductions, after a full report has been made to the Landlord at the end of the tenancy.  In most cases a period of approximately 30 days should be allowed.

 

REFERENCES

Each Tenancy is subject to the receipt of satisfactory references, which will need to be approved in writing by the Landlord.  We can either check the references ourselves (Bank, employment and previous landlord references will be required) or  use an independent credit reference agency, and the cost of taking up the necessary references will be £50.00 + VAT per Tenant, and this is to be paid along with the initial holding deposit when an offer is made and is NON-REFUNDABLE.In cases where a Tenant requires a Guarantor, there will be no charge for the cost of referencing the first guarantor, but a charge of £30.00 + VAT will be incurred for every subsequent Guarantor.

 

INITIAL RENT PAYMENT

In addition to the deposit mentioned above, one month’s rent is required at the commencement of the tenancy, payable by Bankers Draft, Building Society cheque or Bank Transfer prior to the commencement of your tenancy.  Please be aware that we can only accept cleared funds and cannot accept personal cheques or credit cards, and if you are making the initial payment by Bank Transfer, we CANNOT release keys to the property until ALL funds are cleared in our account.

(Foreign students or other applicants without UK based guarantors will have to pay 6 months rent in advance.)

 

RENT

The rent is calculated on a calendar month basis the calculation is (the agreed rent amount per week x 52 / 12) as per the Tenancy Agreement and is payable without demand on the due date, Interest on any payment which falls into arrears will be levied in accordance with the terms of the Tenancy Agreement, although the Landlord’s right to take appropriate legal action is entirely reserved.

 

UTILITIES

You are responsible for all utility bills, unless otherwise specified by the landlord’s agent; this covers council tax, water, electricity and gas (if applicable).  You are also responsible for a television license, even if a television has been provided and any mobile or landline phone bills. It is the Tenant’s responsibility to notify all necessary utilities companies at the beginning and end of the Tenancy.         

 

COUNCIL TAX

You are responsible for the Council Tax or any other such charge or tax which may supersede it.  You should therefore ensure that the Local Authority has your personal details together with the date of the commencement of your Tenancy.  Students need to register for Council Tax, although in most cases students are exempt from this charge.  If the property is not your principal home or you are living alone you may qualify for a discount.  Properties in the W1 postal area will mostly fall into the following boroughs the following charges given below are a rough guide.

Camden                                020 7974 6470                   

Westminster                         0845 302 3400                   

 

KEYS

The Landlord will provide a set of keys per tenant to the property.  The cutting of additional keys to the property is expressly prohibited without prior consent of the landlord or us as their agent.  If such consent is forthcoming the keys must be handed back to the Landlord or us as their agent at the end of the Tenancy.

 

INVENTORY

In most cases, there will be a detailed Inventory and Schedule of Conditions for each property. An independent Inventory Clerk will be instructed to conduct a ‘check-in’ appointment at the commencement of the Tenancy, the cost of which will be met by the Landlord. The Inventory Clerk will also perform a ‘check-out’ appointment at the end of the Tenancy, the cost of which will be met by the Tenant.  The cost of this will vary dependant on the size of the property. The Inventory Clerk will endeavour to provide you with meter readings both at the check-in and check-out appointments.

 

MONIES THAT NEED TO BE RECEIVED BEFORE MOVING INTO A PROPERTY

 

  • One calendar month’s rent in advance (or six months’ rent in advance if you do not have a  suitable  UK based Guarantor) 
  • Six weeks deposit
  • Administration charges (Tenancy Agreement, References and Inventory ‘check-in’)