Some of the most commonly asked questions can be found in this section. Just select the questions from this page that you are interested in to view the answers. We will do our best endeavours to ensure that all your questions and queries are answered before agreeing to any heads of terms to let a property through us.
If you cannot find an answer to your question in this list then please contact us using the relevant contact number which can be found on this webpage. Rentwithus.online and its associated companies are a responsible landlord, and we aim to respond to all enquiries within the first 24 hours.
Before you start searching for your new home it’s a good idea to write down a budget. What are your current outgoings and what money do you have left each month to spend on rent? Take into account that, when you first move in, you will need to front a deposit as well as the first month’s rent and tenancy set up fees.
https://www.rentbarometer.com/london/all-prices/by-name.html
https://www.gov.uk/government/publica5ons/how-to-rent
All available properties can be viewed on a weekly basis. Information regarding the times/dates of viewings are available from our Head Office. Contact details can be found on this webpage. Viewing times can be booked in and all prospective applicants must meet outside the property and are accompanied by our representative.
If you haven’t already, make sure you go and view the property. The landlord will ask you to sign a Tenancy Fee Declaration form which lists the services they will provide and fees expected from you. The landlord will then begin the referencing process to ensure you’re in a position to rent the property.
The landlord needs to be sure that that their tenant won’t have any problems paying the rent on a monthly basis and that the tenant will take good care of their property.
Referencing is nothing to worry about. Tenants applying to rent need to give details of their employer and income, their previous address, and some bank account details. These will be checked to ensure they are able to commit to monthly rental payments.
As part of the referencing process we need to be sure a tenant is who they say they are. We will require a proof of residency (such as a utility or council tax bill form the last 3 months) and proof of ID (such as a passport or driving licence).
In some circumstances, a tenant may not be approved immediately via referencing. Obvious examples are students without regular income, or someone leaving their family home for the first time with no renting history. This is not uncommon, and there are still options for tenants in this position. They could pay the rent for the full term up front, or seek a guarantor.
If a tenant is not fully approved by the referencing process, they can ask a guarantor to support them. A guarantor (usually a parent or guardian) will agreed to take joint responsibility for the rent for the property if the tenant fails to. Guarantors are required to pay any rent arrears (if the tenant does not pay) and for any damages costing more than the deposit.
A guarantor needs to go through the same referencing process as a tenant. The normal requirements is that they are employed and a UK resident, with sufficient earnings to cover the tenant’s rental commitment.
It is normal standard practice for the applicant to apply to the landlord for a “Pet Consent” Form before allowing any pets into the property. This is subject to the usual due diligence and approval from the landlord. An Administration Fee will be applicable in this instance. Please contact your property manager for more information.
The landlord trusts the tenant to keep the property in good condition and in good order. The deposit is held to ensure that any damages (over and above fair wear and tear) can be corrected at the end of the tenancy.
From the 6th April 2007 all landlords holding deposits for Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement had to by law; registered the deposits with a Tenancy Deposit Scheme. Rentwithus.Online and its associated companies is registered with Tenancy Deposit Solutions Limited which is an insurance based deposit scheme offering full cover to all deposit taken.
A Tenancy Deposit scheme will protect the money for you (as the monies are held in ring fenced account) and can offer assistance should there be a dispute about the deposit at the end of the tenancy.
A tenancy agreement is a contract signed by both the tenant and the landlord. It sets out the rights and responsibilities to which both parties must comply and is legally enforceable. This keeps disagreements to a minimum because both sides know where they stand.
All properties are available furnished or unfurnished when applying for a rental property. Subject to contract, this will be agreed before the tenant moves into the property. However, it should be noted that all kitchen appliances, carpets/hard flooring, fixtures and fittings must be supplied by the landlord. Unless otherwise stipulated in the contract.
It should note that if the tenant decided that they want items of furniture removed from the apartment during their tenancy they must contact their property manager, who will make the necessary arrangements.
The inventory report is a record of the condition of the property and the items included in the tenancy agreement. Inventories are absolute essential documents that provide a written benchmark of the property. They are always carried out by a third party and never by the Landlord. This document minimises the risk of dispute between the landlord and tenant over the return of deposit at the end of the tenancy.
Please refer to your tenancy agreement to check the terms, if you would like to discuss this in full details please contact your property manager.
From the 1st October 2008 it became law for any property on the market to rent to have an energy performance certificate (EPC). If you moved in before this date, then this is not a requirement but all properties rented after this date will need one.
We aim to give tenants their deposit back to them via either by cheque or bank transfer within a month of moving out.
Your property manager should contact you at least one month before the end of your tenancy to discuss whether you would like to renew your tenancy or not. If you would like to discuss this before this point please do not hesitate to contact them.
If you are tied into a fixed term contract, you will be liable for the rent until the fixed term is finished. If you are no longer in a fixed term contract (i.e. a rolling contract) your tenancy agreement will define the notice you need to give.
It is always your responsibility to pay the rent, but circumstances change. What happens if you become unemployed or are unable to work due to sickness? The most important thing is not to let arrears pile up until they’re unmanageable. Speak to your property manager and see if you can reschedule your payments. It should also be noted that, you can get insured against sickness and unemployment to keep yourself protected.
A landlord has to give the tenant 24-hour notice before entering the property, unless it’s an emergency.
Your landlord will regularly schedule visits to the property to ensure that the property is being look after and maintained in a good condition.
A tenant can only decorate or make changes to the property with expressed permission from the landlord. It is strongly recommended that you contact your property manager for written permission.
Don’t worry – accidents happen. Contact your property manager as soon as possible. You are expected to cover the cost of putting it right. Don’t try to ignore or hid damage because it could get worse, and it will only come out of your deposit at the end of the tenancy.
You should contact Transco immediately on 0800 111 999. Transco have a pledge to get an emergency engineer to your property within two hours to test the supply. Please contact your property manager or head office management to keep them up to date on the situation.
The landlord is responsible for their items and the tenant is responsible for their own belongings. It is strongly recommended that all tenants take out contents insurance to cover themselves for any damage.
Please report the problem in the first instance to the property manager or to head office who will speak to the tenants and try to ensure that noise levels are minimised.
If you have a porter please speak directly with them and they should be able to help, if your property does not benefit from a porter please call our emergency number 0800 270 7001 and someone will help you.
Please contact your property manager or head office management team to arrange to get a further set of keys. The cost of replacing lost keys will usually be chargeable to the tenant.
Tenants do not have the right, to just go in and change the locks as a matter of course. Tenants who do this are, in breach of the terms of their tenancy agreement, are committing “criminal damage” by removing the lock without probable cause (especially if they then throw it away) and are at risk of being evicted at the end of the term. In addition, the tenant may get a bad references which, will make It hard for them to rent anyway else.
It all depends on the circumstances and on the general “reasonableness” of the tenants action. It will in most cases be a breach of their tenancy agreement. Even if there is no specific clause about changing the locks, it will usually have clauses forbidding making the changes to the property – which would include locks.