If you haven’t already, arrange a viewing of the property. If it’s a shared house, meet all the prospective housemates. The letting agent will request you to sign a Tenancy Fee Declaration form outlining the services they will offer and the Permitted Payments required from you, as per the Tenant Fees Act 2019. Subsequently, the agent will initiate the referencing process to confirm your eligibility to rent the property.

Landlords need assurance that their tenants can consistently pay rent and will responsibly maintain the property.

Referencing involves tenants providing details such as employer and income information, previous addresses, and bank account details. These are verified to ensure the tenant can afford monthly rental payments.

As part of the referencing process, we need to verify the tenant’s identity. This includes providing proof of residency (such as a utility or council tax bill from the last 3 months) and proof of ID (such as a passport or driving licence).

A guarantor is someone who agrees to provide financial support if a tenant does not pass the referencing process fully. Typically, a guarantor (often a parent or guardian) commits to jointly responsible for paying rent if the tenant fails to do so. Guarantors are also liable for covering any rent arrears and damages that exceed the deposit amount.

A guarantor must undergo the same referencing process as a tenant. Typically, they need to be employed, a resident of the UK, and have a sufficient income to cover the tenant’s rental obligations.

In a house-share scenario, the tenancy agreement typically holds all tenants jointly responsible for rent and obligations without specifying individual shares. As a result, the guarantor assumes responsibility for the entire tenancy, not just for specific tenants.

The landlord collects a deposit to ensure the tenant maintains the property in good condition throughout the tenancy. This deposit serves as a safeguard to cover any damages beyond fair wear and tear that may occur by the end of the tenancy.

A Tenancy Deposit Scheme such as My Deposits safeguards your deposit and provides assistance in case of disputes regarding the deposit at the end of the tenancy.

A tenancy agreement is a legally binding contract signed by both the tenant and the landlord, detailing all the rules and terms that both parties must adhere to.

A routine visit is a scheduled inspection of the property by your landlord or letting agent. Its purpose is to ensure the property is well-maintained and in good condition, and to identify any maintenance issues that may need attention.

The landlord is accountable for ensuring the property remains in a good condition. They may handle repairs directly or through a letting agent. It’s important to clarify whom to contact for faults at the start of the tenancy. Check your ‘Welcome letter’ to determine your landlord’s service level. For Tenant Find or Rent Collect services, contact your landlord directly. With Fully Managed service, the agent will assist. If you cause damage to the property, you are expected to cover the repair costs.

If you accidentally damage the property, notify the responsible party for property maintenance (either the landlord or letting agent) promptly. You will be expected to cover the cost of repairs. Avoid ignoring or concealing damage, as it could worsen and result in deductions from your deposit at the end of the tenancy.

If a tenant believes the landlord is not meeting their obligations, such as maintaining the property adequately, they should first contact their letting agent. The letting agent has a duty of care to the tenant and may assist in resolving issues, depending on the landlord’s service level with the agent. Refer to your ‘Welcome letter’ to determine your landlord’s service level.

A landlord must provide notice to the tenant before entering the property, except in cases of emergency.

If you are in a fixed-term contract, you are responsible for paying rent until the end of the fixed term. If you are in a periodic (rolling) contract, your tenancy agreement specifies the notice period you must provide to terminate the tenancy.

Yes, maintaining timely and complete rental payments is crucial because it can impact your credit score. Failure to do so could potentially reduce your chances of obtaining credit or a mortgage in the future.