Moving in

Discussing the interested tenants with the landlord

If once we’ve carefully considered the information on the form we think they are suitable we will get in touch with you to explain who they are and why we like them. If there is more than one application we talk you through the pros and cons and come to a joint decision as to who we agree will be best to move forward with.

Conducting formal application

At this point we take a commitment from the tenant in the form of a holding fee. This holds the property for them for the time it takes to complete the formal application. It includes credit checks, corresponding with previous landlords, employer checks, and anything else we can to properly check that our opinion of them is right. If there is any concern raised here we will discuss it with you again and if necessary reject the application.

How we will market your property

Once everything has been confirmed and agreed we will then finalise the tenancy and draw up the tenancy agreement.

Whether you opt for fully managed or let only, we will always collect the first month’s rent and the damage deposit.

The paperwork and invoice is sent to the tenant via email for them to read and sign prior to the tenancy. We require the payment to be cleared funds in our bank account before we will release any keys. If you would like to see a copy of our tenancy agreement, please ask.

A professional inventory will be done just before the tenancy is due to start so that the condition of the property at the start of the tenancy is recorded. This will be sent out once keys are collected from our office and the report is finalised.

Where possible we encourage landlords to create a handover pack for the tenants, to help them settle in quickly and start off the relationship on the right foot. The most common questions when a new tenancy starts are about heating and appliances, so manuals and instructions are invaluable to both us and the tenants in the first few weeks.

We use independent, local professional inventory companies for our inventories and checkouts. They are unbiased and accredited with ARLA.

It is mutually beneficial to both the landlord and tenant to have an inventory carried out. Without an inventory, deposit disputes are much more likely and can be impossible to resolve. It is important to protect all parties against unnecessary costs.

The inventory however is more than a list of items provided, it is a condition report of the entire property sometimes up to 100 pages. Details of the flooring, décor, bathroom, kitchen fittings and appliances will all be taken.

The inventory clerk will take photographs of everything to document the exact condition of the property and its contents, as well as a record of the meter readings for the start of the tenancy period. The report is then emailed to the tenant and landlord once the tenancy has started. A window of 7 days is provided for any observations or comments to be added.

The report is then finalised and is saved on the portal along with all the additional tenancy documents for the landlord and tenant to view at any time. The final report is used by the same company when the tenant leaves for the checkout. Again, they will make an impartial report and will note discrepancies rather than liability.