Tenants

YOUR VIEWING.
Please note that any applications put forward will not be submitted for the Landlords consideration without the Tenant/s having viewed the property in person and having seen exactly the overall condition of the property they are wishing to apply for.

YOUR APPLICATION – LET AGREED
As soon as your viewing is complete and your offer has been accepted by the Landlord, at this point we will provide you with our application pack and financial disclosure to sign & complete. You will be requested to provide Photo I.D, National Insurance Number and Employment Details for referencing. In the circumstances that your references prove unsatisfactory, or you fail to disclose relevant financial information on the application form then the application may require a Guarantor. A Holding Deposit will be required upon submitting the Application Pack. This Holding Deposit is capped at no more than “One Week’s Rent” keeping in line with current regulations set out in the Tenants Fee Ban Act 2019.

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU
IDENTIFICATION/RIGHT TO RENT
 -        Passport

•     National Insurance Number – Compulsory

or 2 of the following
-         Full driving license
-         Full Birth Certificate/Adoption Certificate
-         Letter from the UK Government Department or Local Authority
-         Utility Bill or Bank Statements from the last 3 months

REFERENCES

We will contact your employer and your landlord. (if you are in rented accommodation already) Your previous employer will also be contacted if you have recently changed jobs. If you are self-employed, we will need to contact your accountant, if you have not yet submitted your accounts you will be required to a Guarantor in place. A thorough credit check will also be conducted.

You should note that the slow return of your references can massively hold up your application process and we would highly recommend that you warn the above individuals in advance that references are required so delays are avoided and your moving in date is not affected.

Occasionally, a GUARANTOR will be required if, for example the tenant has not been classed as full time and on a permanent employment contract. For Tenants returning from working abroad in the previous 6 months a Guarantor will be required and, in all cases, where the tenants’ income falls short of our criteria or the tenants’ employment is considered as changeable (zero-hour, temp contract).

Please note that the guarantor will be checked using the same application process as the tenants’ furthermore, the guarantor must earn a minimum £30,000 P.A. or show clear income of 3 times the equivalent yearly rent. The Guarantor must be in full time employment or be able to prove by bank statements that they have “independent means”. All tenants should be able to provide a Guarantor, and should the tenant be unable to provide one, we will then decide that the tenant has withdrawn their application and move onto the next applicant wishing to take the on the property.

The guarantor must be aware that they will stand as guarantor for you, (and your partner if you are moving in to the property with someone else), for the entire occupancy of the property, not just for the period of the initial tenancy term, and will in some cases pay the rent each calendar month for the duration of your occupancy at the property.

ASSURED SHORTHOLD TENANCY AGREEMENT

We have replaced what was previously known as an Application Fee with what is now known under the Tenants Fee Ban Act 2019 as a “Holding Deposit” capped at no more than one week’s full rent. This “Holding Deposit” will secure the property alongside your completed Application Pack and will become a part payment towards your first month’s rent upon signing your contact with us. Provision have been made under the new act to inform all Tenants that the “Holding Deposit” may be retained by the Agent under the following circumstances:

• The Tenant/s have decided not to proceed with the application after submitting the application pack, paying the holding deposit and the Landlord being advised.
• The Tenant/s fail the right to rent UK checks
• The Tenant/s provide false, misleading information either in writing or verbally.
• The Tenant/s do not return their application pack completed or provide to this office their reference information, further checks or required documentation within 15 days.

RENT & DEPOSIT PROTECTION
You will be required to provide the agreed sum of rent and deposit before taking possession of the property.
The deposit is required for the full tenancy against loss, damage, dilapidation or charges payable at the termination of the tenancy. The Deposit amount will always be clearly shown on all advertised listings, across our website and clearly visible on our Tenant Procedure Forms. The deposit will be held by either the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) or the Deposit Protection Service (DPS) and is fully bonded. It is returnable in full at the end of the tenancy subject to the final inspection of the property and it should be noted that deductions will be made for cleaning, removal of items/furniture and the maintenance of the garden/s should the property not be left as per the original schedule of conditions and inventory you sign at the start of the agreement.
Rent is to be paid monthly in advance commencing on the first day of the tenancy and then collected 6 days prior to the lease date each month thereafter, ensuring the rent is never late to your landlord. The preferred method is by bank standing order but cash payments can be made and a receipt provided.

APPLICATION PROCESS & HOLDING DEPOSIT
We charge a Single Application Fee of £180 Including VAT and we charge a Joint Application Fee of £234.00 Including VAT which is non-refundable, when a tenancy is refused on the grounds of references or if the tenant withdraws from taking the property. The Guarantor Application Fee is £60 inclusive of VAT which is only charged if your application requires one. A fee of £42 including VAT is charged to the tenant for renewal of all fixed term tenancies.

DEFAULT FEES
Loss of keys; As an Agent we may on behalf of the Landlord/s charge a reasonable cost that will be evidenced in writing and contractors receipts supplied which will also include any other such security device to include all electronic garage and gate keys/fobs and this charge made against you as a Tenant/s.

Late payment of rent; As an Agent we will charge interest at 3% above the Bank of England base rate on the late payment of rent from the date the payment is missed. This charge can also be levied for rent which is more than 14 days overdue. An Agents we will NOT charge for sending any reminder letters nor include any fixed penalty charges against any late or non-payment of rent.

EARLY TERMINATION FEE
As an Agent we will charge an early termination fee if the Tenant requests to leave before the end of their Tenancy (AST), the fees charged will be

CONTRACTUAL CHANGES
As an Agent we will charge £50.00 including VAT for any changes requested to the Tenancy Agreement by the Tenant/s e.g. Additional Occupier, Change of Payment Date, Pets at Property

LOST KEYS/SECURITY DEVICES
As an Agent we will charge £15 including VAT for one hour of administration time to organise and supply new keys. We will also charge £5.00 for a new standard door key, £10.00 for a specialist door key & £50.00 for a key fob or security device to be supplied in the event of loss or damage to an existing key/device.

COMPANY LET
Company applications are accepted where the company will be paying the rent. The fee is £200 including VAT. Please note that all monies must be paid on the signing of the agreement/application prior to the occupation and should be paid in by online bank transfer.

POINTS OF INTEREST:

• The Tenant will be responsible for insuring their own belongings within the property and outbuildings/sheds/garages.

• The Tenant will take over all utilities such as Gas, Electricity, Water/Sewage charges, Council Tax & Telephone upon moving into the property and will be responsible for contacting the relevant suppliers accordingly prior to commencement of the tenancy. We will not enter into any dispute with utility companies at any time.

• Gas Safety checks will be carried out annually where applicable by a Gas Safe Registered Engineer and are a Legal Requirement.

• The Landlord is responsible for any repair/maintenance problems to appliances etc. but the Tenant is responsible for any breakages which should be reported to the office via email or phone immediately.

• Decoration of the property must only be done with your Landlord’s written permission and a member of staff will be required to visit the property upon completion to check the overall standard and update the inventory.

• No pets are allowed unless the Landlord has given written signed consent.

• 48 Hours reasonable notice should be given in the event that the we need to inspect the property outside pre-agreed times. It is usual for the Agent to inspect the property at the 4 month mark during a 6 month Assured Shorthold Tenancy and the Tenancy Agreement reflects this.

• Most initial lets are for 6 months, although some Landlords may consider longer terms of 12,18, 24 months and this will be agreed beforehand.

• We work towards having all Deposits returned to our clients and accounts finalised within 10 working days of the final inspection having taken place but in some cases it can take up to 30 days to complete the whole process.

• Alexander Jacob Property Management will deal with the property viewings, references, agreements and getting you moved in. If the agent has been instructed to manage the property partly or fully, then you will normally report any repairs or queries to them unless otherwise informed.

OUR SERVICES

We feel you are entitled to a professional and helpful service all round and, as such, Alexander Jacob Property Management are proud to have been recognised and e members of the following: The British Property Awards, Retford Gold Winner, Best Estate Agent of the Year 2018 & 2019. Members of a The Property Ombudsman Lettings, The Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) & The Deposit Protection Service (DPS). Proud members of the National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS) as our Redress Scheme for Client Money Protection and Prestigious Members to The Guild of Property Professionals – Only Agent in Retford. We also remain the Only Agent to advertise your property successfully across Rightmove, Zoopla, OnTheMarket.com, Prime Location in addition to our very own unique website and Facebook page.

This ensures that professional standards are constantly met, we use the most up to date correct Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements, all our property procedures and internal forms/documents are audited and correct. We have measures in place for reporting and dealing with repairs quickly and efficiently and our property safety checks/reports are conducted by competent members of staff. We offer award winning services alongside our expert local knowledge and strive to constantly improve and better ourselves within our dedicated Lettings Team.