Tenants
Renting a property can be a daunting prospect, but Geo Hallam & Sons endeavour to make the process as simple and as pleasant as possible. Once you have viewed a suitable property, you will need to complete an application form which you can download at the bottom of this page.
Processing the application
We will ask you into our Office for a brief interview, so that we can discuss the application for tenancy with you and outline your responsibilities. We will need to carry out a credit reference check and also request a reference from your current Employer and previous Landlord. At this point you will be asked to provide your Passport or Driving Licence as proof of your identity and also pay £20 to cover the Credit Reference fee. We will contact you to arrange a lease signing date once we have received all appropriate references. The processing of an application usually takes 10 working days.
Rental & Deposit
Before you move into the property, you will need to pay a deposit (you will be asked to pay your deposit in advance of signing the lease) one month’s rent in advance and also an application fee. We will hold the deposit until the end of the tenancy, through a recognised Tenancy Deposit Scheme.
Rent is payable on the first day of each calendar month and to ensure that this is paid on time, we ask you to set up a standing order with your Bank. You will be responsible for paying all utility bills. (ie , Council Tax, Gas, Electricity, Water and Telephone) You will also need to ensure that you have a valid television licence for the property.
Lease
The Lease is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement 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 party 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 will be held legally responsible for payment of the rent until the expiry of the Lease.
Insurance
Whilst the owner of the property insures the building and any furnishings that are supplied, it is important that you insure your contents and also obtain accidental damage cover for any damage that may occur to the building.
Repairs & Maintenance
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 months, so that we can ascertain if the property is being maintained to an acceptable standard and if any repairs are needed. 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.
End of the Tenancy
You will need to give one full months notice of your intention to terminate your Tenancy, this must expire on the last day of a month. We will then arrange a Final Inspection of the property to ensure that it is given back in an acceptable condition. Once this has been done, we will arrange to refund your deposit.
