Finding your new home can be a stressful period in your life. Our aim is to look after our tenants and put things in place to ensure that things run smoothly throughout the tenancy.
Looking for a new property to rent can be daunting, so below we have set out some information to ensure your application and tenancy goes as smoothly as possible.
Looking for a property
There are lots of things to consider when looking for a property to rent, and it’s important to try and find a property that suits your individual needs. This includes the type of property you are looking for, a house, flat or bungalow, if you require a garden, how many bedrooms and also the location. At Halliwell Marks we have excellent knowledge of the properties we list and the local area, and are happy to offer advice to ensure the property meets your needs.
Once you have found a property and placed an offer, the first check that is done is the affordability check. This is carried out to ensure you can afford the property you wish to rent, and as a rough rule, if you multiply the rent by 30, that is the household income that is required. For example, a rent of £1,500 would require a household income of £45,000. We carry out various other referencing and identification checks and then make a recommendation to the landlord.
Once your application has been accepted, you will be required to pay a holding deposit. This is the equivalent to one week’s rent, and this goes towards your first month’s rent.
On signing your tenancy agreement, a tenancy security deposit is due along with the first month’s rent. The deposit is protected in a Government Approved Scheme in accordance with current legislation.
Your tenancy agreement is a legally binding contract and will set out your obligations as a tenant and also the terms of your tenancy, such as the length and any break clauses.
Once you have signed the tenancy agreement, we can begin to make arrangements for you to move in. An inventory of the property is carried out before you move in, and we’d advise you review this and satisfy yourself that it is accurate. Whilst the landlord is responsible for buildings insurance, you are responsible for contents insurance for your own belongings and so we recommend getting that in place for when your tenancy agreement commences.
Your responsibilities as a tenant
There are certain requirements, set out in your tenancy agreement, that you need to meet throughout your tenancy. These include:
- Paying your rent on time
- Looking after the property and reporting any issues that arise
- Be considerate of your neighbours
The Landlord’s responsibilities
The landlord also has many responsibilities for the duration of your time as a tenant, including:
- Maintaining the building to an appropriate standard
- Providing building insurance for damage, flood and fire
- Providing an annual Gas Safe check and Landlords Gas Safety certificate
- Provide carbon monoxide alarms in line with current legislation
- Carry out reasonable repairs
Ending your tenancy
The terms for ending your tenancy will be set out in your tenancy agreement, which will specify the notice required from either you or the landlord. At the end of your tenancy, an inventory is carried out and checked against the original inventory, to compare for differences whilst taking into account fair wear and tear.
Your deposit will be returned less any agreed deduction. However, we are aware that there can sometimes be disagreements over the return of deposits at the end of tenancy agreements.
This is why we use the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS), who are an independent, not-for-profit company that helps resolve disputes around tenancy deposits in the private rental sector. Their service is free of charge, and all decisions are made without any influence from the landlords and/or agents.
You can be sure in the knowledge that your deposit is kept safe throughout your tenancy with Halliwell Marks.
We also conduct regular inventories and inspections to ensure our tenants are always satisfied with the standard of the property in which they reside.
Our aim at Halliwell Marks is to ensure that the tenancy runs smoothly for both the landlord and the tenant, and we’re here at any point to help ensure your new home is a success.