TENANTS

Information for Tenants

Renting a home is such an exciting step which can offer flexibility and independence

There are so many factors to consider when searching for a property, but our renters’ guide will ensure you will know what to look out for and the questions to ask along the way

BEFORE YOU START LOOKING

Before you begin your journey to find the perfect rental property for you, you will need to consider how long you would like the tenancy to last for. Generally, tenancies are between six months to seven years long

CHECKING YOUR FINANCES

Before you start house hunting, you will need to work out how much you can afford each month

The average monthly cost of rent is 35% of your regular wage but remember to budget for amenities such as gas and electricity, water, phone and internet connections, TV licence and council tax (unless you are a student).  Our referencing company Van Mildert will usually ask you to prove your income is 2.5x the month’s rent (before deductions)

Remember to budget for food, household items and any other regular outgoings. You may also need to pay a deposit, this should be no more than five week’s rent (in some cases, we can offer a Zero Deposit Scheme)

PRIORITISE WHAT’S IMPORTANT

Draw up a list of the non-negotiables you need from your new home:

·        Is parking important?

·        Do you have any pets?

·        How many bedrooms do you need?

·        Are you taking furniture with you?

After listing your vital requirements, prioritise what else you are looking for in a rental property. Other factors such as storage, outdoor spaces and the speed of local broadband connections may also be important

Once you have drawn up a list, we will be able to clarify anything that is unclear about properties you are interested in

CHOOSING A TRUSTED AGENT

Quilliam have been helping renters search for properties in Brentford for the last twenty years. Most of us live in Brentford too so we are well placed to help you find a wonderful home

Quilliam are a member of ARLA Propertymark, the UK’s foremost professional and regulatory body for letting agents. This means we operate at the highest professional standards and are required to undertake regular training to keep up to date with complexed legislation and best practice

We are also backed by Propertymark’s Client Money Protection (CMP) Scheme which means that you and your money are safeguarded. You will not get this protection if you rent directly from a landlord or through an unregulated letting agent

When you have found the perfect property, we will ensure that all required legal obligations are met. The property will have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which will be E rating or above and a valid annual gas safety check, if required. Your deposit will be safely protected with the Tenancy Deposit Service. The contract you sign will be an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) which will be fully up to date to ensure it complies with all the current legislation. Please ask one of our negotiators to show you an example of this if you feel it may be helpful

All your tenancy paperwork and accounts will be available to view online 24/7 through our propertyfile portal. You will even be able to log maintenance issues and check progress online

SIGNING THE CONTRACT AND MOVING IN

Right to Rent

Before you sign your contract, you might be asked to provide some identification such as a driving licence or passport to prove that you have the right to live in the UK. All landlords or letting agents in England are required to do this for all prospective adult occupiers to ensure they have the legal right to rent. If you have a time-limited right to rent, we will need to conduct follow-up checks

The contract

Once you have the agreement, remember to read it carefully from start to finish. The most common type of contract we issue is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST). This type of contract usually names all listed tenants as ‘jointly and severally liable – which means that all listed tenants are legally responsible for all the rent

An AST contains a lot of crucial information, such as the length of the agreement, required notice period and areas where you are responsible as a tenant. As an example, it should tell you who is responsible for sourcing contents insurance. Before signing the contract, you should ensure that your non-negotiable requirements have been met and that anything that was agreed verbally is reflected in the contract

We will email you and the landlord the AST to be signed electronically

If you are unsure about any part of the tenancy agreement please do not hesitate to contact us at any time

Know your rights

Quilliam will always provide:

·        A copy of your new home’s Gas Safety Certificate (if the property has gas)

·        Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

·        The Government’s How to Rent Guide or tenant information guide

·        Your Deposit Protection Certificate

·        The Prescribed Information (this may take a few days)

·        Any licence issued by the local authority (if the property is subject to any form of local authority landlord licensing scheme).

In England we are obligated to provide you with a copy of the Government’s How to Rent Guide. Please use the checklist and keep it safe to protect yourself from problems at any stage

Fees

Due to the Tenant Fees Act introduced in June 2019 the fees we charge tenants are very limited.  Please see our ‘Fees to Tenants’ leaflet 2019 for full details

Deposit

Your deposit will be registered with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme and a certificate will be issued to you within thirty days of the start of the tenancy. If your landlord is looking after your deposit (Finder’s Fee Service) your landlord will send you the certificate

Professional Inventory

In most cases, a landlord will have a professional inventory carried out to record the condition of the property before a new tenancy begins. The content of the inventory will be available for you to view and comment on, should you feel necessary. A detailed inventory means you should only be liable for any damage which has occurred during your stay and could save you money

Once all the paperwork has been completed, you can collect the keys from us and move into your new home!