Tenants

Renting a property for the first time can be a daunting prospect, but Geo. Hallam & Sons endeavour to make the process as simple and as pleasant as possible.

Once you have found a suitable property, you will need to complete an application form.

Click here for an application form.

We will need to carry out a credit reference check, to ensure that you have no County Court judgements, and we will also need a reference from your current Employer and previous Landlord (where applicable).

Rental & Deposit

Before you move into the property, you will need to pay a deposit, one month’s rent and our fee.  (You may be asked to pay your deposit in advance of signing the lease).   We will hold the deposit until the end of the tenancy.

Rent is payable on the first day of each calendar, and to ensure that this is paid on time, we prefer you to set up a standing order with your Bank.  You will be responsible for paying all utility bills – Gas, Electricity, Water Rates, Council Tax and Telephone.  You will also need to ensure that you have a valid television licence for the property.

Lease

We will ask you to have a brief interview at the office, so that we can discuss the tenancy with you and outline your responsibilities.  The Lease is an Assured Shorthold tenancy and is usually for an initial period of six months. 

Once the initial period has expired, the tenancy will become ‘periodic’ and it will continue until such time as either parties gives notice.  The Landlord will need to give you two months written notice and the tenant is required to give one month’s written notice.

If you wish to leave the property at the end of the six-months period, we still require you to give one month’s notice of your intention to leave.

If for any reason you need to leave the property before the lease has expired, you are still legally responsible for payment of the rent until the expiry of the Lease, or until such time as the property is re-let.

As a tenant, you will be expected to act in a responsible manner by keeping the property clean and maintaining the garden.  We do carry out regular inspections of the property, normally every three or four months, so that we can ascertain if you are looking after the property and if any repairs are needed.

Insurance

Whilst the owner of the property insures the building and any furnishings that are supplied, it is important that you insure your own belongings and also obtain insurance to cover you for any damage that may occur at the property.

Repairs & Maintenance

We would ask that you contact us immediately if you have any problems at the property.  We will then discuss the matter with the Landlord and take instructions.