We suggest taking the rent of the property and multiplying it by 30. This would then give you the amount that you would be required to earn of an annual basis. E.g £550 PCM x 30 = £16,500. However, if you do earn too little to afford the property you want, in most circumstances (pending the landlord’s approval) you could add a guarantor.

If your earning capacity is lower than the above criteria you will need a guarantor. A guarantor would be deemed suitable should they be able to demonstrate they can afford to cover the rent of the tenant – while at the same time taking into account their own expenses. We suggest taking the monthly rental cost and multiply it by 40. In our opinion this will indicate how much rent they could guarantee E.g. £550 PCM x 40 = £22,000.

If for example you are letting a property with a monthly rent of £500, typically you would need to pay:

• A deposit equal to one months rent + £100: £600
• Your first month’s rent in advance: £500
• Agency fees: usually £150

£250 paid upfront as a holding deposit

You will need to provide us with the following, along with a completed application form for each person wishing to be on the tenancy:

• A photocopy of your UK passport (should you not hold a UK passport, you will need to pass the “right to rent checks” – please ask for more details)
• Utility bill or bank statement (in the last three months)
• Last 3 months pay slips
• A copy of your employment contract (were possible)

If you do not have a passport we will require a copy of your birth certificate

In order for an application you must pass our referencing process. In general, the checks are on the following:

• Credit check
• Employment reference
• Previous landlord reference
• Pet references (if required)

Only if you obtain permission from your landlord. Most apartment blocks will not allow cats/dogs, so please check with our office before committing to a property if you already have a cat/dog. Smaller pets e.g hamsters/fish are usually permitted, but again, these require landlords consent prior to the let.

Yes, all tenants should insure their contents with a tenant’s contents insurance policy. The landlord is not responsible for ensuring that your belongings remain safe within the property. Tenants insurance will generally cover you for damage to the landlords goods also, thus offering more protection of a safe deposit return at the end of the tenancy.

The tenant will be responsible for paying all utility suppliers in relation to the property they are renting.

The tenancy deposit legislation dictates that any damages deposit collected in relation to an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) must be registered by your agent or landlord with a government approved protection scheme. Once the funds have been registered you will receive confirmation directly from the scheme as well as instructions of how to apply for your deposit at the end of the tenancy. This will involve you and your landlord giving separate authorisation for release of any funds based on the condition the property is returned in. More information about the legislation can be obtained from here: www.direct.gov.uk

Upon your move-in you will be advised whether the property is managed by us on your landlords behalf or by your landlord directly.

If the property is managed directly by your landlord you should contact them for any maintenance issues. If the property is managed by us, please complete the report maintenance form on our website. If your repair is an emergency, please follow instructions on our emergency contacts page.

Emergency repairs are those that render the property inhabitable. To be treated as an emergency the fault must carry the risk of immediate injury to people or major damage to property. Examples of emergency repairs are:

Heating and hot water

• Where you or your home is at risk due to a major water leak from any part of the heating system.

• Where the heating system fails between the months of October to April inclusive.

We recommend that you purchase at least one portable fan heater for emergency situations.

Please note: Having no hot water is NOT considered an emergency. The only exception to this would be for household members who are frail, elderly or registered disabled.


Gas leaks

If you smell gas, please telephone Transco (British Gas) on 0800 111999 who will attend to isolate the meter and make safe where necessary. If this results in a lack of heating, it will be dealt with as above (see 'Heating and hot water'). You will need to give us this information when you phone.


Lack of power supply

We will attend to this as an emergency when there is a loss of power to sockets throughout your home -please check with the supplier before contacting us. Power loss to lighting circuits will be attended to only when there is a hazard to health, such as light to communal hallway.


Total lack of water supply

Before contacting us, please check with the water utility company to ensure that works are not being carried out in the area.


Plumbing leaks

Where a leak is minor and can be contained, no attendance will be made as an emergency. If the leak is causing damage, then it will be considered an emergency - especially if penetrating into an electrical fitting. In the interim you should turn off your water supply at your stopcock or gate valve.


Roof leaks or other damage

This will be attended to only when the damage to the roof is likely to worsen or when it is hazardous (eg roof tiles may fall on to a public highway). Usually, we will only make the roof safe and arrange a repair for a later date.


Downpipes and gutters

We will deal with this as an emergency only if water is entering the building causing major damage or the loose part is dangerous and cannot be made safe by the resident.


Blockages

You should always have the use of one toilet. If blocked, we will clear the blockage. Please note that, if the blockage is due to your actions, you will be charged for the repair.


Broken windows (glazing)

Where the damage is caused as a result of a crime. In this case, notify the local police who will supply you with a crime number, which we will need for our records. We will make safe and secure at the emergency visit and make a further appointment to re-glaze.


Insecure property

This would be considered an emergency in several instances. For example, if a door is damaged in a break-in and will not close, if a ground floor window is jammed open or if a lock will not operate. If the damage is caused as a result of a crime please notify the local police who will supply you with a crime number, which we will need for our records. We will make safe and secure at the emergency visit.


Lockouts

Normally we will not attend lockouts if this is due to tenant neglect, such as losing a key or locking it in the property. You should contact a local locksmith. Assistance may be offered to elderly and infirm residents, but you should be aware that the works will be chargeable.


Dangerous walls and fences

We will attend and make safe walls and fences that are in a dangerous condition, for example due to storm damage.


Defective manhole covers

We will repair manhole covers that are within curtilage (boundary) of your property only. We will attend as an emergency to repair, temporarily cover or protect damaged, loose or missing manhole covers if dangerous. When an emergency repair is reported, we aim to have a contractor at your property within 24 hours. To ensure the best use of our resources we have defined the emergency jobs that will attract the 24-hour priority.


You should try to contact the landlord or agent and/or the emergency contact at least twice; leave a message if no one answers; record the date and time of the calls, faxes, or e-mails and allow a reasonable amount of time for them to respond.

Should you have done the above, it is acceptable for you to arrange your own emergency contractor. This contractor must be certified in their profession and can ONLY do work to the minimum in order to restore the property to a safe position. E.g they cannot order a new boiler or boiler parts without landlord’s consent, however they can do the necessary to make the boiler useable until we can be contacted. Should any works be completed that are then deemed to be unnecessary, or that are a non-emergency, or created by the tenant’s misuse- the tenant will be liable for the charge.

Your rent due date will generally be the same date as the date you move in, so it might be worth considering this at the start of the tenancy. If you do need to change the rent due date, we can arrange this with you and your landlord and make amendments to the tenancy agreement in accordance with this. The cost of changing your rent due date is £30.

You will be able to end your tenancy by giving notice to your landlord/agent in writing. Should you wish to terminate the tenancy at the end of the fixed initial period a notice of one month (from a rent due date) will be required. If you stay on at the property after the initial fixed period and the tenancy is not renewed, then it automatically becomes a ‘periodic tenancy’ which you can bring to an end by providing a notice of one month from a rent due date.