TENANT guide to letting

Reserving the property

Once you’ve found your ‘plum’ property and you are absolutely certain you would like to rent it, we will ask you to provide us with email addresses for all applicants so that we can send everyone an Application Pack. We will then communicate via a company called ‘Signable’ which enables us to get the paperwork, including tenancy agreements, signed legally, quickly and securely on line with electronic signatures. You will be asked to pay a Holding Deposit equivalent to one week's rent which will need to be paid in cleared funds, preferably by bank transfer, for which you will be given a receipt.

The purpose of the holding deposit is to reserve the property until approval to let has been given by the Landlord. It is refundable in full should the Landlord decide not to proceed with the letting at any time before the signing of the Tenancy Agreement but if you withdraw your application or if you fail to provide complete and accurate information in your application then it will be retained by the agency. Otherwise, it will be used towards the first month's rent.

References

Shortly after we receive your completed Application Form(s) (we require one for each person) you will be contacted by email by an independent referencing company (Veri-Check). They will request you to complete an on-line application so that your references can be evaluated.

As a minimum we will require satisfactory references from your employer (or college), a previous and/or current landlord, and a credit reference report and on occasion we may also require a personal reference, and sometimes a guarantor. Additionally, you will be asked to provide proof of residency and identification.

Rent

Rent is normally quoted per calendar month and is as a rule exclusive of council tax, water rates, and other utilities and is payable monthly in advance from the date you move in. It is not normally a problem to agree a different rent due date to accommodate individual circumstances provided the Landlord is in agreement.

Where there is more than one Tenant, all Tenants are jointly and severally responsible for the full rent which should be paid by a SINGLE standing order using the reference provided into our company bank or your Landlord's bank account as instructed.

Tenancy Agreement

The Tenancy Agreement is a legally binding and enforceable contract between yourself and the Landlord and the terms and conditions must be strictly observed by both parties. Most of our tenancies are 'assured shorthold' for a period of 12 months with a break clause at 6 months and may be extended if all parties are in agreement. After the first six months it is possible for either party to exercise the break clause. Tenants are required to give at least one month’s notice in writing and should the Landlord wish to terminate the Tenancy then he is required to give two months’ notice in writing.

Tenancy

Tenancy is granted to either an individual or a group of people. In the case of the latter, the Tenants will be jointly and severally responsible for all aspects including payment of rent, household duties such as looking after the premises, paying bills, taking precautions in case of frost, emptying dustbins, etc. It is important to nominate a 'Lead' Tenant who will be the first point of contact in matters relating to the tenancy, including the deposit

Deposit

A security (dilapidation) deposit, normally equivalent to five weeks’ rent will be required to cover damage, breakages, and any other liabilities under the terms of the Tenancy Agreement. If your tenancy is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy then the deposit will be treated in accordance with the Tenancy Deposit Protection regulations.

The DPS

plum lettings is registered with The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) and unless otherwise advised your deposit will be lodged with them. You will be provided with the appropriate Prescribed Information and receive details of the scheme and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Rules governing the protection of the deposit including the repayment process which can also be found at www.depositprotection.com.

In addition to paying rent for the property, you may also be required to make the following permitted payments:

Before the tenancy starts

Holding Deposit equivalent to one week's rent

Dilapidation deposit of 5 weeks' rent (or in the case of rental income of more that £50,000 per annum) 6 weeks' rent

During the tenancy

Payments to other third parties: such as Council Tax, utilities or payments for communications services

Default Charges: such as payments for the replacment of lost keys or interest on overdue rent; and

Tenancy Transaction Charges: such as requests to vary or assign the tenancy.