Accepting a property

If you would like to rent a property that you have seen, please complete our online application form to provide us with the information that we need to assess your suitability for the property. Once the landlord has agreed to proceed with your application, we will ask you to pay a holding deposit to reserve the property. Prior to move in you also be required to pay the deposit (within 7 days of receiving the tenancy agreement) and first month's rent (in cleared funds at least 2 working days prior to the tenancy start date).

By accepting a property you agree that your personal information can be passed to a third party company for the purpose of obtaining your credit rating and references. We use Vouch, an independent referencing agency, to collect and confirm references from you. They require the tenant(s) to earn a salary of 2.5 times the yearly rent (monthly rent x 12) on average. Other forms of income may also be considered, please contact us to discuss. If you have insufficient earnings to support the rent, you may need a guarantor, who will be liable for the rent and all of your obligations under the terms of your tenancy. A guarantor should be a homeowner, earning three times the yearly rent. Please note that all intended occupants of the property over the age of 18 will need to complete a form to be referenced, regardless of their employment status.

Holding Deposit

A holding deposit equivalent to 1 weeks' rent (rounded down to the nearest pound) will be due to be paid prior to your credit check and references being obtained.

The holding deposit will be repaid to the tenant(s) or, if the tenant(s) agrees, used to settle part of the first month's rent in the following circumstances:

a) A tenancy agreement relating to the property is entered into prior to the deadline for agreement;

b) The landlord decides not to enter into a tenancy agreement relating to the property; or

c) The landlord or the tenant(s) fail to enter into a tenancy agreement relating to the property prior to the deadline for agreement and the following do not apply:

i) Robert Williams is prohibited by section 22 of the Immigration Act 2014 (persons disqualified by immigration status) from granting a tenancy of the property to the tenant(s) and could not reasonably have known this prior to the holding deposit being paid;

ii) The tenant(s) provides false or misleading information to Robert Williams; or

iii) Robert Williams takes all reasonable steps to assist the landlord to enter into a tenancy agreement before the deadline for agreement but the tenant(s) fails to take all reasonable steps to enter into a tenancy agreement before that date.

Only one holding deposit will be held for a property at any one time.

Deposit

In addition to one month's rent in advance, you will be required to pay a Deposit equivalent to five weeks' rent (rounded down to the nearest pound) within 7 days of receiving the tenancy agreement.

Additional Costs

Throughout the tenancy you are likely to incur other costs for the following services:

· Utilities (gas/oil, electricity, water, sewerage and telephone/broadband)

· Council Tax

· Television license

· Telephone/Internet

· Insurance (for your own contents)

Utilities/Council Tax

Once you have signed a Tenancy Agreement you are usually liable for the utility charges relating to that property to include gas/oil, electricity, water and sewerage plus the council tax. The utility companies and local authority will usually have been notified of your impending occupation along with appropriate meter readings. However, we would recommend that you check with the appropriate utility companies to ensure that this has been set up correctly.

Television/Telephone & Broadband Connections

Landlords cannot guarantee quality of signal or availability of signal at any let property. With regard to telephones and broadband connections, tenants will need to make their own investigations as to the availability of a suitable telephone/broadband connection at the let property and will be responsible for any connection costs.

Moving in

On the agreed moving in date you will need to make an appointment to collect the keys and complete any outstanding paperwork. The first month's rent and deposit must be paid in advance. Monies must be cleared and the Tenancy Agreement signed at least 2 days prior to the tenancy start date (unless alternative arrangements have been agreed), otherwise access to the property may not be permitted. All payments for the monthly rent must be paid by standing order and bank details will be supplied on/before your move in date. Rent will then be due on the anniversary date of the start of the tenancy.

Moving Out

In order to terminate the contract, at least one month's written notice must be given and this notice must expire at the end of a rental period i.e. the day before the rent is due. The property cannot be vacated before the end of the fixed contract unless agreed. Please contact us prior to the tenancy ending to discuss the key handover.

Inventory

When the landlord requires a schedule of condition and inventory, this will be provided to you at the commencement of the tenancy requiring you to check it, sign and return back to us within 10 days. It is important that you take care in checking the Schedule of Condition/Inventory at this stage, as it will form the basis of any claim for damages by your Landlord at the end of the tenancy.

Tenants Obligations

You should read through the obligations set out in the tenancy agreement carefully to ensure that you fully understand these. If you have any questions about these, please ask us as soon as possible.