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Tenants


Your Rental Journey
Renting a property does not have to be complicated, at Aspire Letting we aim to help you as much as we can. Moving is a busy and exciting time and we're here to make sure that your move goes as smoothly as possible.

Viewings
If you would like to view one of our properties then give us a call or contact us via email. We are flexible enough to schedule viewings outside of normal working hours - evenings or on public holidays.

Application process
Once you have found a property that you would like to take, you will be required to pay a holding deposit (of no more than one week’s rent) to the agent. This will hold the property for you and will be used as part payment of your tenancy security deposit. In the event that you decide not to proceed after this point or if your references are declined this holding deposit is non-refundable.

However, in the unlikely event that the landlord pulls out before the tenancy commences this deposit is fully refundable to you. The balance of monies i.e. the first months rent and security deposit must be paid in full prior to the release of keys. All Monies must be paid in cleared funds i.e. cash, bankers draft, money transfer or by cheque (allowing 14 working days to clear)

References
You will be required to fill out an application form by an accredited credit referencing agency. We use an agency in order to ensure your confidentiality under the Data Protection Act. The credit referencing agency will check your credentials and in turn send a report to us either approving or declining your application. It is usual that they will ask you to provide details of the following;
  1. Bank account
  2. Employer or accountant details if self employed
  3. Contact details of previous Landlord
In situations where the applicant cannot supply these details or is declined after they have been credit checked a Guarantor may be required to guarantee the Tenancy on the Tenant’s behalf. Should you suspect that you may be declined (possibly if you are a student or only work part time) it would speed up the process if you provided a Guarantor when you first fill out the application.  The whole process usually takes between 48 and 72 hours.

Moving In
Once the credit checks come back we can arrange a move in date. Anyone over the age of 18 must be on the Tenancy Agreement. At the point of signing the Tenancy Agreement, you will be asked to pay (in cleared funds) the first month’s rent and the balance of the security deposit. You will also receive the following documentation:
  1. A copy of the annual Landlords Gas Safety Certificate if applicable
  2. A copy of the Energy Performance Certificate
  3. A copy of the How to Rent Leaflet
  4. A copy of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme Leaflet
  5. Inventory / check in Report
  6. Details of who you’ll need to contact for correspondence
Once you’ve moved into your property, you are responsible for paying the rent and utility bills at the property for the duration of your occupation. This usually means that you pay the council tax, electricity and gas, water, telephone, sky, TV and internet. We will take meter readings and inform the relevant utility companies and the local council authority of your new occupation.

Tenancy Agreement
A Tenancy Agreement is the legally binding contract between the Tenant and the Landlord that is signed by both parties at the commencement of the tenancy. This Agreement reflects the type of tenancy that we usually deal with, which is called an Assured Short-hold Tenancy (or AST for short).

This contract sets out the particulars of the tenancy, namely the address of the property, the rental and deposit amounts, the duration of the tenancy (usually 6 or 12 months) and both the Tenant’s and the Landlord’s rights and obligations during the tenancy.

Once you sign the agreement you are legally obliged to continue the tenancy for the duration of the Lease. Renewals are usually negotiated during the course of the tenancy. We advise that you take time reading through the Lease and either take legal advice or contact us if you are unsure about any aspect of the Agreement.

Security Deposit
In line with the new regulations under the Housing 2004 Act your security deposit will be protected under the Tenancy Deposit Scheme by a government approved body.

When you return the keys to us the property will be checked against the original inventory to determine whether there should be any deductions for missing items, damage or cleaning.  The deposit will be held until the property, and gardens if applicable, are returned to the Landlord in the same condition (excepting fair wear and tear) as they were when the tenancy commenced and all financial obligations on the property have been met.

If the property needs cleaning or maintenance (excepting fair wear and tear) these monies will be deducted from your deposit. Please note that this includes the laundering of all linen items supplied to you for the tenancy. Some of our tenants find that instructing a professional cleaner at the end of the tenancy works best for them.

We will work with the landlord to ensure that your deposit is refunded to you as quickly as possible. You may not offset your deposit against any rental payments due or transfer it from one property to another.
 

Online Property File

All tenants have access to their own online Property File.  Amongst other things, this gives you access to your rent account as well as the facility to report all maintenance issues online.

Property Inspections
The Landlord or his Agent will inspect the property during the course of the tenancy. There will be a clause in the Lease Agreement that refers to inspections. Inspections are usually quarterly and you will be contacted to arrange access. Inspections are a good opportunity for you to meet with your Landlord or his representative in order to discuss how the tenancy is progressing and also to highlight any maintenance or other issues that you may be concerned about.

What happens when the tenancy is coming to an end?
When the tenancy is coming to an end you have two options, either to negotiate with the landlord to renew the Lease or to vacate the property. Should you wish to renew the Lease it is best to contact the Landlord or the Landlord’s Agent at least two months prior to your original move out date. This will ensure that the Landlord does not start to re-market the property for another Tenant to take over from you, and will allow time for a fresh Lease Agreement to be negotiated, drawn up and signed by both parties.

Our Aim
We are here to help you through your journey.  Friendly, professional advice is available at the end of the phone or an email.  Communication is important – if you have a problem or query, no matter how small, at any time during your Tenancy please contact us.