Tenant Information
The tenants section of this site has been designed to provide you with information you will possibly require if you are looking for a property to let. However, if you are unsure about the demands placed upon tenants and the criteria you will be asked to meet, please speak to a member of our staff to be advised exactly what you will need to do to secure your new rental property.
As the most experienced agent in the local area with almost 70 years combined experience in lettings, Kingswood are expertly placed to help you with your search for a property in the GU35 area. Our branch is staffed by local people so you can be sure of receiving the best local knowledge and service when you take a look at our properties to let. We aim to stand apart from our competitors by offering a lettings experience that allows you to find your new home and sign up to a tenancy in a stress-free manner.
Tenant Information
As an independent company we set our own standards in conjunction with working with many of the industries trade bodies own ‘ codes of conduct ’ to provide all our clients re assurance.
To view any properties we have available for let please contact our office to arrange an appointment. Viewings can be arranged during office hours Monday – Saturday.
We advise that you should start looking about three to four weeks before you need to move into a property.
Many tenants ask how much they need to be earning to rent a property through ourselves. Your gross earnings must be a minimum of 2½ times the monthly rent:
Example: Monthly Rent is £600.00
Then your income needs to be 2.5 x £600.00 equalling £1500.00 per month
Your income can be calculated individual or joint if there is more than one tenant applying. If your earnings are less than this you may be able to still rent with the aid of a guarantor.
Referencing and Credit Checking
After you have viewed a property you would like to rent, the first step is to start the credit check and referencing process. Any person over the age of 18 that is moving into the property will have to go through the credit check and referencing process.
The forms for referencing can be collected from our office in Bordon, or we can email them to you. Once you have completed the referencing form(s) and returned them to our office they will be sent to a professional referencing company who will carry out the checks on our behalf. The referencing company will seek confirmation of your financial status, employment and the conduct of former tenancies.
In addition to obtaining references, a full credit check will be carried out. This process does not in anyway form a contract or any obligation upon us or the Landlord. At this stage and subject to the Landlord’s agreement, we will advise other applicants that the property is under offer.
Before we can process the reference and credit check, all applicants must provide a copy of their passport and, if applicable, a copy of their residency/citizenship visa.
Before the tenancy start date, all applicants will also need to provide photo identification and proof of residency. Acceptable forms of photo identification include; photo driving license (must show current address as provided on the referencing form) or a National ID Card.
Acceptable forms of proof of residency include a utility bill, a letter from your employer or a letter from a Government department (dated within the last 3 months). Bank statements and mobile phone bills cannot be accepted.
Referencing usually takes three to four days but may take longer if the referencing company has difficulty in contacting your referees ( employers, landlords etc ). We advise that you let your referees know that they may be contacted for a reference. When filling out the form, ensure that you have all telephone numbers and email addresses for all referees.
If a Guarantor is required with your application we will notify you immediately. By needing a guarantor it does not always mean you cannot rent a property. The most common reason that a Guarantor is required is that your income is less than two and a half times the monthly rent. For a Guarantor to be accepted their income must be three times the monthly rent.
Example: Monthly Rent is £600.00
The income needs to be 3 x £600.00 equalling £1800.00 per month
The Guarantor will also have a credit check carried out during their referencing so a good credit history will also be necessary.
All information given on the referencing form must be accurate and true to the best of your knowledge. Unsuccessful applications could be down to poor credit history, detrimental landlord’s reference or an adverse employer’s reference.
Information gained from the referencing cannot be revealed to you, however you may contact the referencing company direct for further information.
Upon the receipt of the satisfactory references we will advise the Landlord and seek their approval for a tenancy start date. Please note that although the date is set sometimes it has to be changed due to any unforeseen circumstances.
If the date is changed neither Kingswood or the Landlord can be held responsible for any costs incurred by a tenant.
Deposit
The deposit required for the property you wish to rent will usually be the equivalent of one months’ rent. With some properties the Landlord may state that a further amount is required and we will advise you of this from the start.
The deposit is to be paid in advance of the tenancy start date and must be in cleared funds via a direct bank transfer. We cannot accept any card payments or cheques.
The deposit will be held as security against your obligations to the Landlord under the Tenancy Agreement. The deposit will be held in accordance with the Deposit Protection Service scheme. You will be given details of the deposit scheme upon start of the tenancy.
Rent
Rent is payable in advance every month. The first months’ rent is due at the time the tenancy begins, and thereafter on the same day of each month. For example, if your tenancy begins on the 10th of the month, then your rent will be due on the 10th of every month thereafter.
Rent is to be paid by standing order each month. When setting up a standing order, we recommend that the rent leaves your account a couple of days before it is due to enable it to reach our account on the due date. The details of setting up a standing order can be obtained from our office.
Tenancy Agreement
Properties are let under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement for six or twelve months. The signing of the Tenancy Agreement will take place at our office. All tenants named on the Tenancy Agreement must sign before the tenancy can begin. The tenancy may be extended at end of the agreement subject to the agreement of the tenant and the landlord.
The keys to the property will not be released before the Tenancy Agreement and all relevant paperwork is signed and all monies have been cleared in our bank account.
Keys
You will be given keys to the property and they will be detailed on the inventory. All keys handed over at the start must be returned at the end of the tenancy. Monies will be taken form the deposit for any keys missing and if keys are missing then the cost of having the locks changed.
Restrictions
Some Landlords will not allow smoking, pets, young children or sharers to take occupation of their properties. You will be advised of any such restrictions when viewing a property.
Tenants are not permitted to decorate or hang pictures until approval has been obtained from the Landlord via Kingswood.
Inventory
A detailed inventory is prepared prior to the commencement of the tenancy. The inventory must be checked by the tenant and any amendments or comments should be noted on the document and returned to Kingswood within seven days of the tenancy start date, failure to do so will indicate acceptance of the document’s contents
Utility Services
As the tenant you are responsible for all utility supplies, telephone and council tax unless otherwise stated in the Tenancy Agreement. As the managing agent we will contact the local council, water, gas and electricity companies and advise them that you are the new occupier of the property.
We advise that if you have not had any correspondence from the utility companies within 28 days that you contact them as well.
As agents we cannot contact telephone, internet companies or the television licensing on your behalf.
Prior to moving in we advise that you start to search for the most competitive energy deals to suit you. As a tenant you can choose whichever provider you wish to use.
Listed below are some numbers to help you find out who supplies the property:
For Electricity Call: 0800 048 3516
For Gas Call: 0870 6081524
For Water: 0330 303 0277
For Council Tax: 01730 266551
Contents Insurance
As a tenant you do not need to have buildings insurance as it is the landlord’s responsibility to have the building insured. As a tenant you are strongly recommended to take out some form of tenant’s insurance to cover your furniture, fixtures and fittings and to cover you in the event of accidental damage to the landlords contents and property. If you do not have an existing policy and would be interested in obtaining a quote, please speak a member of our lettings staff who can help you obtain information.
Inspections
Kingswood or the Landlord will carry out regular inspections of the property.
Inspections are to ensure the property is not in need of repair and to ensure that you as the tenant are looking after the property. You will be given notification when an inspection is due to be conducted.
Tenancy Renewal
Should your tenancy be renewed we will contact you to make arrangements for the new Tenancy Agreement to be signed.
Ending your Tenancy
If you decide you wish to end your tenancy you must comply with your obligations for the notice as determined by your Tenancy Agreement.
After you have vacated the property we will undertake a final inspection of the property to make an assessment of any damages and unreasonable wear and tear.
You must ensure that the property is left clean and tidy and that all of the items detailed on the inventory are returned to the original position ready for our final inspection.
After confirmation that there are no damages, your deposit will be returned to you via the Deposit Protection Service website. The deposit will only be returned after the termination of the tenancy subject to any costs for cleaning or repairs.
