Rental Information

INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE TENANTS

Application

References will be required for all prospective tenants and will be taken up in part through a Credit Referencing Agency.  All prospective tenants will be required to complete an application form and provide proof of ID.  Non UK or EU nationals will be required to provide proof of residency.

A Landlord may also restrict children from occupying their property, tenants who are smokers and tenants that claim housing benefit.  Where possible, we will do our best to make any restrictions clear on our property adverts, however, it is advisable to ask when enquiring about a property. 

Failure to declare any of the above as part of an application may result in the tenancy not being granted and loss of holding deposit.   

Fees

In accordance with the Tenant Fee Act 2019, no fees will be levied upon tenants.  This includes application fees.  Instead, as part of a prospective tenants application, a holding deposit will be taken, equivalent to 1 weeks rent.  Although Collins and Butler never charged mid-term or end of tenancy fees, these are also prohibited as part of the Tenant Fee Act 2019. 

If a prospective tenant provides false or misleading information as part of their application or withdraws from the proposed agreement, the holding deposit is considered non-refundable. If the Landlord/Collins and Butler declines the tenancy, the prospective tenants holding deposit will be refunded.

If a prospective tenant provides false or misleading information as part of their application or withdraws from the proposed agreement, the holding deposit is considered non-refundable. If the Landlord declines the tenancy, the prospective tenants holding deposit will be refunded.
 

Deposits

A dilapidations/security deposit equivalent to 5 weeks rent is required.  This will be held during the course of the tenancy and will be protected through a government-authorised tenancy deposit insurance scheme.  Unless agreed otherwise, the holding deposit will normally be transferred to form part of the dilapidations deposit, thus a balance equivalent to 4 weeks rent is later paid.

 

Rent

Unless otherwise stated, rent is payable monthly in advance and should be paid in time to clear our bank by the rent due date.  Both the dilapidations deposit and first months rent must be paid in cleared funds by the start date of the tenancy.  Tenants will be asked to pay their rent by standing order.

A Landlord has the right to restrict pets from occupying their property.  In the instance that a landlord is willing to accept a tenant with a pet (or certain type of pet), they reserve the right to charge a higher monthly rent, which will be quoted on our property advert.     

 

Tenants’ responsibilities

The tenant is responsible for payment of the Council Tax, Water Rates, Gas and Electricity, together with the telephone service and the television license, unless otherwise stated. At the commencement and termination of the tenancy, the tenant must notify the relevant service providers.

Insurance of the fabric of the Building (and the Landlord’s contents where the property is furnished) is the responsibility of the Landlord.  Tenants should insure any items belonging to themselves. In order to protect a tenant's deposit against potential deductions for accidental damage, it is commonplace for tenants to insure the fixtures and fittings of the property.  For example, should a carpet need replacing as a result of spilling red wine on it.   

 

End of tenancy

The property will be inspected by Collins and Butler and/or the Landlord at the end of the tenancy.  The tenant is contractually obliged to return the property in the same condition (minus any fair wear and tear) and cleanliness as the property was at the start of the tenancy.  This will be recorded in the inventory/schedule of condition compiled at the outset of the tenancy.  Should there be any discrepancies, any deductions taken from the deposit will be agreed upon by both the tenant and Landlord.

If in the event of a dispute at the end of the tenancy, the disputed amount will be forwarded to the MyDeposits insurance scheme, where a decision will be made by an independent arbitrator. 

Collins and Butler is a member of the propertymark client money protection scheme and also a member of The Property Ombudsman, which is a redress scheme.  You can find more information by contacting Collins and Butler directly.