VIEWING
In most instances, we will need to meet you at the property at a pre-arranged time, which usually needs to be between 9.30am and 5.00pm Mondays to Fridays, or 9.30am to 1.00pm on Saturdays. We expect you to confirm by telephone that you will be keeping your appointment on the day to ensure that the property is still available and that we have no unexpected problems with access etc. This helps us both to avoid wasting time on abortive visits. If the appointment is not confirmed, our representative may not attend. We aim to be as prompt as possible but please be aware that traffic and other delays can occur and we would ask for your understanding if our representative were running a little late. If no one has arrived after say 10 minutes, you are welcome to contact our office to check on the situation. We also recognise that you may be delayed and we are usually able to wait for 10 minutes or so but please be aware that we will usually have another appointment to attend 30 minutes after yours. In these instances, please try and notify our office.


APPLICATION
Once you have viewed the property that interests you, we need to take up references in order to satisfy our client as to your suitability as tenant. The extent and depth of enquiry will vary dependant on the individual landlord’s requirements, but all applicants will need to complete our application form to be submitted to Homelet, who undertake enquiries and assessment on our behalf. They are a reputable national tenant referencing company who adhere to strict standards. The forms can be collected from our office or posted to you, but if you prefer, they can usually be e-mailed to you to enable you to complete and submit on line. Forms will generally need to be completed by each proposed occupant over 18 years of age. We are unable to consider anyone for a tenancy that is not 18 at the time of application. It is critical that all appropriate sections of the form are completed; especially contact details for existing/previous landlords and employers. Failure to do so will cause delays in processing beyond our control. Any adverse credit history such as County Court Judgements must be declared as failure to do so will result in the application automatically being rejected.

An application fee equivalent to 25% of the advertised monthly rental must be paid per property before the application can be processed.

In many situations, applicants will be asked to nominate a guarantor who will also need to be referenced and will have to agree to meet your obligations in respect of the tenancy in the event of your default. The guarantor will need to be a homeowner and employed with a verifiable income above a certain level, dependant upon the level of your commitment. Should the first nominated guarantor be unacceptable, an additional referencing fee may be payable.

In fairness to all, we try and give priority to the earliest applicants and once forms have been submitted and the fee paid, the property will be regarded as under offer pending approval of your application and withdrawn from our listing. However, in some circumstances, landlords will want us to continue to offer the property but if this is the case, you will be informed and kept advised of developments.

Applications are normally processed within a few days but this very much depends on the accuracy and detail of information that you supply and how quickly responses are received from your employers, landlords etc. We reserve the right to re-offer the property to others if there are exceptional delays in this process, and if your application is subsequently declined, the fee cannot normally be refunded.


HOUSING BENEFIT CLAIMANTS
Some of our clients are prepared to consider tenants who will be claiming Housing Benefit. Due to benefit limits, these properties are generally at the lower end of the monthly rental scale although if applicants are able to show genuine means by which they can meet any shortfall between the rent and the actual benefit that they will receive, they may well be able to proceed. Completed application forms are still required, and in most cases, a guarantor will need to be nominated and referenced also. Further details can be obtained from the Housing Benefit Office in Spire House in New Union Street.


SETTING UP THE TENANCY
Once an application has been accepted, we will liaise between you and the landlord to determine a date when your tenancy can start and after preparation of the Tenancy Agreement, you will be advised of the initial payment that will be needed. Subject to the property being available, you will normally be required to commence within two weeks of approval of your application. We must stress that where a current tenant occupies the property, the start of your tenancy may have to be delayed if that tenant fails to vacate the property when they had previously indicated or if it is not handed over in acceptable condition. As these events are totally beyond the control of the landlord or ourselves, we cannot accept responsibility for costs that you may suffer as result of any delay, although we would normally refund your application fee if you have to withdraw in these circumstances.

INITIAL RENT
Rents are as quoted in our listing and will be payable calendar monthly, due in advance on the first day of each month, unless otherwise informed. At commencement, you will be required to pay at least one month’s rent. If you take over part way through a month, an apportioned amount will be calculated as the rent due from the start date until the end of that month. This will then need to be paid at the beginning of the following month. If you take over in the latter part of a month, you may be asked to pay the apportioned rent and the rent for the whole of the following month at commencement.

SECURITY DEPOSIT (or BOND)
You will also be required to pay a Security Deposit or Bond at the start of the tenancy. We normally hold this in the capacity of Stakeholder for the duration of the tenancy in our Client's Account in accordance with RICS Members' Accounts Regulations. Neither party to the tenancy will be entitled to any interest on the deposit and any interest accruing will belong to the stakeholder.

UTILITIES
Unless otherwise stated, the rent will not include charges for gas, electricity or water, nor any Council Tax due for the period of the tenancy. These will be your own responsibility. We will notify the appropriate companies and local authority at the start of the tenancy of the change of occupancy, but you will need to contact them yourself to set up payment arrangements.