TENANTS

INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE TENANTS

TENANT CHECKING PROCEDURE

If you are interested in renting a property through Abbey Rentals you will be asked to complete a tenancy application form which is forwarded to our referencing company to carry out the normal checks on employment, credit history and previous renting and personal reference. It is important to give as much information as possible as failure to do so may delay the process which normally takes about 3 working days. We do ask for a holding deposit of 25% of the deposit at this stage in addition to our reference fee. In the event of you withdrawing from the application the holding fee would be forfeited. If you are not accepted as a tenant the holding deposit is refunded in full but if all proceeds satisfactorily this payment forms part of the overall deposit.

DEPOSIT

Abbey Rentals will take a deposit equivalent to 1½ months rent and this is held in a designated client's deposit account and is protected by a tenancy deposit scheme and covered by the NAEA Client Money Protection Scheme. Abbey Rentals is a member of The Dispute Service which administers this scheme and is subject to their rules and regulations.

AGREEMENTS

The tenancy agreement is a legal contract between the tenant & the landlord and details your obligations and responsibilities in maintaining the tenancy and the property. In most instances a tenancy will be agreed for a minimum of 6 months up to a maximum of 12 months, although in many cases this may be extended for a further period by issue of a new agreement. It should be noted that a tenant is contracting to rent a property for a fixed period of time and unless the Landlord is prepared to agree to terminate the agreement earlier, rent, and other obligations created by the agreement, must be paid up to the end of the term. In the event of a tenant ending the agreement early, a charge for finding a new tenant may be made.

SERVICES & COUNCIL TAX

The tenant will in almost all cases be responsible for taking over the gas, electric, water, telephone (where appropriate) & council tax liabilities in their name and to pay these for the duration of the tenancy. Abbey Rentals will take meter readings at the outset and end of the tenancy and pass on these readings to the service providers, including notifying the local authority. Tenants must notify telephone providers themselves as this cannot be carried out by a third party.

INSPECTION/WORK

From time to time we may wish to look round the property or to arrange to carry out work. We will always try to give at least overnight notice that we intend to do this, unless there is an emergency and we have to gain immediate access.

DECORATION/IMPOVEMENTS

It is normally the landlord's responsibility to keep the property in reasonable decorative repair but sometimes a tenant may wish to do redecorate a room themselves. No redecoration or alterations must be carried out without the landlord's consent even if these are considered improvements by the tenant, and any colour change must be agreed in advance.

PETS

The consent of the landlord must be obtained if a tenant wishes to keep a pet at the property. If this is granted, in the case of animals which may attract animal pests, it is a requirement that the property be fumigated by the local authority or other professional company at the end of the tenancy and a receipt produced as proof If this is not done, the cost of carrying out this fumigation will be deducted from the deposit prior to its return.

SUBLETTING

It is not permitted to sublet any part of the property during the period of the tenancy, for example, let out a spare room. The letting is to the person(s) named in the agreement, and their children.

DAMAGE

It is expected that fair wear and tear will take place, but any actual damage by accident or otherwise must be rectified prior to the end of the tenancy. If this is not carried out, a deduction will be made from the deposit to cover the cost of repair/replacement.

GARDENING

It is the tenants' responsibility to look after the main areas of the garden, including lawn mowing, flower beds etc, but tree pruning, and other more difficult work would not normally be expected of the tenants. It is important for the tenant not to neglect this work and if remedial gardening is required at the end of the tenancy, this will be deducted from the deposit.

SMOKING

Smoking inside the property is not permitted and in the event of damage being caused to the decor & fabrics, a deduction may be made from the deposit to rectify such damage.

CLEANING AT END OF TENANCY

It is important that at the end of the tenancy, the tenant leaves the property in a clean and tidy condition, failure to do so may result in a deduction from the deposit to employ a cleaning company to rectify the problems.

VIEWINGS AT TENANCY END

During the last two months of the tenancy we may need to show round either potential new tenants or potential buyers. We will contact you first to give reasonable notice that we wish to do so and agree a mutually acceptable time which should not be unreasonably refused.

RETURN OF DEPOSIT

Once the tenancy has ended and as soon as possible thereafter, the inventory will be checked and the deposit monies returned by cheque, less any deduction, if appropriate.