Tenant
FAQs
 I’ve
found a property. What happens next?
Q How
do I apply for a property?
A We
will give you a Tenant Application Form to
complete. This can be either emailed to you or a paper copy given
when you have expressed an interest in a property. Please note
that the application cannot be processed unless the application
form has been completed in full. It is essential that all information
given on the form is accurate as any knowingly false claims will
result in the application being rejected with the loss of your
tenant fee and the holding deposit if the landlord suffers any
loss due to taking the property off the market and this resulting
in the property being unoccupied.
Q What
happens to the personal information I supply to you?
A Any
personal information you supply to us will be treated confidentially
and held in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998. On
signing the application form you authorise us to share this information
with the landlord in order that we can gain approval for the
tenancy.
Q What
fees/deposit do I have to pay?
A An
initial payment of £500 is required as soon as you have
selected a property. This payment is made up of a tenant fee
of £100 for one person renting or £150 for two people
or more, with the remaining £400 or £350 being the
first part of the deposit for the property. The remainder of
the 1.5 months deposit plus the first months rent is payable
when you move in. The Agency Fee of £100/£150 is
a One-off Fee for Life. While renting with us either with the
initial property or other properties you’ll pay no
further fees, now or in the future.
Q Is
my deposit refundable if things don’t work out?
A If
you change your mind regarding renting a property then the agency
fee will not be refundable and the initial part of the deposit
may also be forfeited especially if the landlord has suffered
costs due to stopping marketing the property. However if the
landlord does not accept your offer then your £500 will
be refunded in full.
Q Will
you stop viewings at my chosen property?
A Once
you have paid us your deposit, and
the Landlord of your chosen property has approved your application,
we will cease all viewings. The choice of Tenant for the property
is ultimately that of the Landlord. If two parties are competing
for a property, it is the Landlord’s prerogative to decide
which one he favours and may not be determined by who viewed
the property first. We are not able to discuss other offers made
for a property.
Q When
will I receive a Tenancy Agreement to sign?
A Two
copies of the tenancy agreement will be sent to you within 5
working days of us receiving your application forms and initial
payment, assuming no delays are experienced in obtaining references.
You will need to sign both copies and return them to us. We will
then either sign on behalf of the landlord or obtain the landlord’s
signature as soon as satisfactory references have been obtained.
Your copy is then sent to you. The acceptance of your Tenancy
Agreement by us on behalf of the Landlord is subject to satisfactory
references.
Q How
do I pay my rent each month?
A Your
rent should be paid each month by Standing Order and this is
a condition of your tenancy agreement (we do not operate a direct
debit system). We will give you the required Standing Order
form for you to fill in and provide to your bank to set this
up. It is your responsibility to make sure that this is implemented
by your bank and that your rent reaches Space Lettings account
on the designated date each month.
Q What
do I need to do on Check-in Day?
A On
the day it has been arranged that you will move into your rental
property, please come to our shop at 16 London Road, bringing
with you both your signed Tenancy Agreements and the means to
pay the remainder of your deposit and first months rent. Your
keys can be issued once payment has been received and the tenancy
agreement has been signed. It is not normally possible to release
keys prior to the first day of the tenancy.
Q What
do I need to pay on Check-in? How do I pay?
A You
will need to pay the remainder of your deposit (to total the
equivalent of one-and-a-half month’s rent), plus the first
month’s rent in advance. Payment by Debit card is the preferred
method of payment although a bankers draft or cash can also be
accepted. A personal cheque is not acceptable on Check-in day.
If you wish to pay by cheque, this should be made payable to “Space
Lettings” but we would need to receive it at least 10 days
prior to Check-in. Please note that credit cards are not accepted.
Q How
is my deposit held? How will it be returned when my tenancy ends?
A If
your property is fully managed by Space Lettings, your deposit
will be held as Stakeholder in accordance with the Tenancy Deposit
Protection Scheme and can be released as soon as agreement is
reached, in line with government regulations. For more
information on this please refer to your tenancy agreement or
view the website www.thedisputeservice.co.uk.
If your property is
not managed by Space Lettings then it may be held in accordance
with the custodial scheme: The Deposit Protection Service (For
more information: www.depositprotection.com).
Please refer to your tenancy agreement.
Q What
about Water, Gas, Electricity, Council Tax and Telephone?
A Unless
otherwise agreed Space Lettings undertakes to take all meter
readings at the beginning and end of the Tenancy and to notify
the Utilities and Council Tax of change of Occupier. Unless stated
in your tenancy agreement you will be responsible for paying
these accounts. You must make all arrangements for telephone
and TV services yourself as these providers will not accept instruction
from third parties
Q What
about insurance?
A Tenants
are responsible for insuring their own possessions. We would
strongly urge you to take out an appropriate Contents Insurance,
which includes Third Party cover for the Landlord. Please ensure
that your possessions are covered by Contents Insurance from
the very beginning of your Tenancy.
Q What
are my areas of responsibility as a Tenant?
A In
a Fully Managed property, Space Lettings acts as the agent of
the Landlord and will aim to resolve any maintenance issues of
which you notify us. However, you, as Tenant, are still reasonably
expected to:
.do
all day-to-day cleaning
.dispose
of all rubbish
.do
all window-cleaning
.change
lightbulbs
.do
general household and garden maintenance, such as the cutting
of grass (please refer to your contract for clarification).
.report
any water leaks, however small.
.forward
to us at 16 London Road, St Albans AL1 1NG or 1 Station Road,
Harpenden AL5 4SA, any post that may arrive for the Landlord
or former Tenant(s).
.safeguard
all keys issued. If you are locked out, you may be able to collect
a spare set from our shop.
Outside office hours, you will be
responsible for arranging and paying for a visit from a locksmith.
Timpsons run a 24-hour lock-out service and can be contacted
on 0800 0187 187. Further details are outlined in our tenancy
agreement. If
you have a maintenance problem and Space Lettings manage the
property then you should call our maintenance line 01727 891052.
If the Landlord manages the property then we will have provided
their details to you and you should contact them directly. |
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