Tenant Guide – Starting A Tenancy

First Months Rent & Deposit

Starting a tenancy and releasing the keys to you is dependent you paying the first month’s rent and the security deposit. These need to be paid in advance as specified in your terms of business. Your deposit will be submitted into the Deposit Protection Scheme within 30 days of you paying it to us. As soon as it has cleared into the DPS they will email you a unique tenant ID number. Keep this safe as you will need it to claim your deposit back!

Paying Your Rent

We will prepare a standing order mandate for you to complete on the day your tenancy starts. This will be set up for the same day each month to the date that your contract started. A standing order mandate is an instruction from you, to your bank. We have no control over it. It is vital you ensure it is in place for the first payment and that funds are available on the due date so the bank does not cancel it. Rent is always paid in advance of the month. Speak to us if you need to change the date the rent is paid. It can be paid early, but not any later than the date specified.

Inventory Check-In

All properties managed by us will have an independent inventory clerk check you into the property the day your tenancy starts. (Most of our landlords who manage the property themselves will also instruct a clerk, however this will be stated on your terms of business if they don’t). Independent inventories and check-in’s are vital to ensure all parties are in agreement to the condition of the property at the start of each tenancy to minimise the risk of a dispute at the end of a tenancy if money is requested out of your deposit.

Utility Companies

We will notify the current suppliers for Gas, Water and Electricity as well as Council Tax to inform them of the new tenancy, accurate meter reading will be taken on the day the tenancy starts. It is the tenants responsibility to inform us if they do not receive a welcome letter from the supplier in the first month of the tenancy and to pay all utilities up to the last day of their tenancy even if they leave the property early.

Tenants are welcome to switch utility suppliers during their tenancy if they can find a better deal but we must be informed of the change.