Tenants Information Guide
The following information is given for your guidance and contains all relevant requirements expected from prospective tenants should you wish to proceed with renting a property with Cedar Estates.
REFERENCES
It is a requirement that we take up references on all adults who are renting/occupying the property through Cedar Estates which we arrange through an online credit reference agency. Each Tenant will be required to provide one form of photographic identification i.e. passport/driving licence, and proof of residency for the previous three years, or any other permitted documents required by right to rent legislation.
The references normally include:
· A full credit search
· An employer’s reference, confirming salary
· A previous Landlord/Managing Agent reference
Please be aware that in order to pass our referencing criteria ideally you should be in permanent employment with an annual income in excess of 30 x the monthly rental. For example, on a property rental of £1,000 per calendar month you would require an annual income of £30,000 (30 x £1,000 = £30,000).
Should your particular circumstances differ from the above, please discuss the situation with a member of staff at Cedar Estates where solutions can often be proposed. Reference forms for completion will be forwarded to you by email. We ask that you complete the forms directly online within 24 hours providing any additional information requested. Should a problem occur with the application then we will notify you and a guarantor maybe required. Please note that if you have any adverse credit or CCJ’s, this is likely to affect your ability to pass the referencing process and it is therefore important you disclose this information to us.
RESERVATION FEE
Please submit your offer to us in writing. Once Cedar Estates have confirmed that your offer has been accepted (subject to contract and references), the equivalent of one weeks’ rent will become due and held by Cedar Estates until the commencement of the Tenancy; this fee is non-refundable in the event that the applicant(s) do not proceed with the Tenancy. When the Tenancy proceeds the reservation fee will be offset against the ‘first rent instalment’ due to be paid in cleared funds. Should you offer be rejected by the Landlord, any monies paid will become fully refundable (less any bank charges, if applicable) once we are in receipt of cleared funds.
If an application is declined by our referencing company, either with or without a guarantor, or false, or misleading is provided, or you fail to provide documentation to confirm yout right to rent in the UK, the property will be put back onto the market for re-letting.
INITIAL RENT PAYMENT AND SECURITY DEPOSIT
Subject to contract, once all relevant references have been approved, arrangements will be made for you to sign the Tenancy Agreement and other relevant documents prior to your move-in date and pay balance of moving in monies. You may be asked to sign the Tenancy Agreement and other relevant documents electronically.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING MONIES MUST BE REMITTED TO US WITHIN 5 WORKING DAY OF YOUR OFFER BEING ACCEPTED:
· First Rent Instalment – less Reservation Fee
· Damage Deposit – If the rent is less than £50,000 per year : Five weeks’ rent. This covers damages or defaults on the part of the tenant during the tenancy. If the rent is more than £50,000 per year : Six weeks’ rent. This covers damages or defaults on the part of the tenant during the tenancy.
Our bank details are as follows:
Barclays Bank
Sort Code: 20-71-64
Account Number: 33283402
Name of Account: Cedar Lettings Ltd Client Account
Reference: Please use the PROPERTY ADDRESS for reference purposes
Please be aware that we can only accept balance of monies via prior bank transfer.
We do not accept credit or debit card payments.
Please note, that only payments can only be accepted in cleared funds.
RENTAL PAYMENTS
If Cedar Estates manages or collects rent on the property then the rental should be paid directly from your bank to our bank account in the form of a standing order every month, four days in advance of the rent due date (a standing order mandate is available from our office). Cedar Estates has no control over the monthly standing order payments as this is under your instruction.
INSURANCE & OTHER SERVICES
The Landlord will be responsible for insuring the building(s) and the contents belonging to the Landlord. We strongly recommend that you have a suitable insurance policy to cover what you take into the property and also have accidental damage cover to pay for any damage that you may cause to the Landlord’s possessions. From our experience this can help to avoid conflict between you and the Landlord during and at the end of the Tenancy.
As you are responsible for you own contents in the property under the terms of the Tenancy Agreement we recommend that you purchase contents insurance from a reputable insurer.
MANAGEMENT SERVICE
Where we provide a full management service to the Landlord, the Landlord may require us to visit the property during the Tenancy. In accordance with your Tenancy Agreement, Cedar Estates will give prior notice of our intention to visit the property to carry out a written inspection report. This will be done by email notification only so we would be grateful if you could advise us if your email address changes. Whilst it is preferred, you do not need to attend. Our management team will carry keys to your property which will be used to gain access if you are not present and have given consent for them to be used. The primary purpose of these visits is to keep us aware of any minor repairs and maintenance that may be necessary.
KEYS
One set of keys will be provided for each tenant. At the end of the Tenancy you must hand all keys back to the agent or the Landlord. If any keys are not returned then you may be charged for replacing locks and/or keys.
TAX
If the Landlord’s normal place of residence is not in the UK for a period of more than six months in any tax year and if you are paying rent direct to the landlord you may have a liability for deducting tax from the rent and forwarding these monies to the Inland Revenue on a quarterly basis. Further information can be obtained from their website (www.hmrc.gov.uk) or from your local Inland Revenue Enquiry Office.
Please note that it is not part of our normal function to forward on mail received at the property after your Tenacny has ended. We would recommend using the re-direction service, provided by Royal Mail.
COMPLAINTS
We are confident that you will be happy with our service. If you are dissatisfied in any way please advise us immediately. If the complaint is not rectified to your satisfaction please put this in writing addressed to complaints@cedarestates.com. Please click HERE to view a full copy of our complaints procedure.
TENANTS’ LIABILITY
If the Tenants are sharers then each individual Tenant forming the Tenancy renting the property will be responsible for all the rent and any costs incurred for any breach of the Tenancy Agreement. If a party wishes to vacate then that person will remain liable for all obligations of the Tenancy Agreement until the Agreement ends. The remaining party/parties will also be responsible for full payment of the rent and any other obligations under the Tenancy Agreement. At no time can a person be moved into the property without written prior consent, references being sought and a new Tenancy Agreement being signed.
Should a change of sharer be required and this is agreed by both parties, our fee is £50 INCLUDING VAT per replacement tenant or any reasonable costs incurred if higher. To cover the costs associated with taking landlord’s instructions, new tenant referencing and Right-to-Rent checks, deposit registration as well as the preparation and execution of new legal documents. Please note that each change in sharer is subject to contract, references and at the discretion of the Landlord.
UTILITIES
Unless written in your Tenancy Agreement you will have to pay for water (including sewerage) and environmental charges, council tax, gas, telephone and electricity. If Cedar Estates is managing the property we will inform all of these services regarding the occupation, however telephone and TV licence will be your own responsibility. If Cedar Estates is not managing the property informing all utility suppliers will be your own responsibility. Failure to do so may mean that a utility supply is disconnected or you could be prosecuted for non-payment of council tax.
REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE
It is your responsibility to promptly report any repairs or maintenance that may be required to the managing agent or Landlord direct if he/she manages the property. If the Landlord is managing the property you will be given contact details at the start of the Tenancy. You should not, except in an emergency, instruct any contractor to carry out any works to the property. If you do so without prior approval from the Landlord or the managing agent then you may have to pay the contractor’s invoice yourself; the amount may not be repayable to you by the Landlord nor be deductible from future rent payments.
If Cedar Estates is managing the property, repairs must be reported in writing to vicky@cedarestates.com, including providing photographic or video evidence (where applicable).
CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES
If your circumstances change during the Tenancy and/or you start to receive housing benefit, you must inform your Landlord or Cedar Estates of this immediately.
END OF THE TENANCY
Prior to the end of the Tenancy you must prepare the property. By the last day of your Tenancy you must have removed all your belongings from the property, leave the garden (if applicable) in a good condition with the borders weeded and the grass cut and clean the property. You cannot go back to the property after the end of the Tenancy to carry out any cleaning or gardening. If the property is not left clean or the garden is untidy then you may be charged for carrying out these works – this money will be deducted from the Deposit.
CLEANING
Whilst you are not obligated to paying for a professional clean at the end of the Tenancy Agreement, you must return the property in the same state of cleanliness that you took occupation of the property in. We can provide you with quote for an end of Tenancy clean, which is tailored to your property.
DEPOSITS
Provided the property is handed back as outlined as per the terms of your Tenancy Agreement and to the satisfaction of the Landlord, the Security Deposit will be returned to you within a practical period. However, we reserve the right to hold back any monies required to return the property to a satisfactory condition.
PERSONAL DATA SHARING
We undertake to process your personal data (which may be held electronically or otherwise) to the extent necessary and will treat it in an appropriate and lawful manner, in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations.
We will disclose your personal data, collected from you, to Helpthemove, and the appropriate Council Tax authorities and energy, water/sewerage utilities providers for the purpose of setting up accounts for your move in.