Tenant FAQs
Pre-Tenancy
I need to find a home to rent. What do I do first?
Before you start looking for a home to rent you should consider your current outgoings in order to work out how much you can afford to pay. Remember, you will need to pay for a security deposit along with the first month’s rent when you move into a new home, so you should take this into account when working out your budget. Below is an affordability chart that indicates how much income you need based on the rent payable.
Monthly Rent Tenant (2.5x) Guarantor (3x)
What is the security deposit?
A security deposit is held to protect the landlord against any breaches in your tenancy agreement including any damages and rent arrears. The deposit is a maximum of 5 weeks rent and is held in a government approved scheme. This sum will be returned to you if there are no breaches to your tenancy agreement.
What references will you need from me?
Most agents use a third-party referencing company who will contact you to confirm information such as income, identification, credit rating, employment history, previous landlord and character references.
Why do I need to be referenced?
By looking at your income, credit and employment history and character references from previous landlords, a reference check allows the landlord to be as sure as possible that you will be able to pay the rent on a monthly basis and take good care of the property.
Do I need to show ID?
Yes, we require all tenants to provide ID as part of the referencing process. We need to be sure that you are who you say you are. Agents and landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure all adults dwelling at the property that are over the age of 18, be they a tenant or a permitted occupier, have the right to rent in the UK. A valid UK passport, or a valid UK driving licence together with a UK birth certificate, are the standard methods of proving your right to rent in the UK. For non-British nationals, the Home Office’s website provides a service to prove a tenants right to rent.
What if there are problems with my reference?
It is not uncommon for a tenant not to be approved immediately via referencing. There are still options for you if you find yourself in this position; for example, we will contact the landlord to see if they are still prepared to accept you regardless of the referencing check. You could also pay the rent for the full term up front or seek out a guarantor.
What is a guarantor?
If you do not pass a referencing check, you can ask a guarantor to support you. The guarantor will agree to cover the responsibility of paying the rent for the property if you fail to do so. If you leave any arrears or damages to the property that amount to more than the deposit, the guarantor will be required to settle this debt.
What does a guarantor need to do?
A guarantor will need to be referenced in the same way that a tenant is referenced and to sign a legal agreement. The normal requirement is that they are employed and a UK resident, with sufficient earnings to cover the tenant’s rental commitment in addition to their own normal outgoings.
Why do I have to pay a deposit?
As a tenant, you will be trusted to keep the property in a good condition throughout the length of the tenancy. At the end of the tenancy, if there are any damages that are deemed to go beyond fair wear and tear, the landlord can pay for these repairs out of the deposit. The condition report prepared by the agent at the beginning of the tenancy (and any subsequent inspection reports) will be used to compare against any damages that may have occurred.
What will happen to my deposit?
All landlords and letting agents are required to register your deposit with an approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme. In line with legislation, landlords and lettings agents must register all deposits being paid by a tenant for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy with a recognised deposit protection scheme within 30 days of either the start of the tenancy or the date the deposit was paid to them, whichever is sooner. You should receive details of the scheme, explaining where the deposit is held and their terms and conditions. Fisks register deposits with the Deposit Protection Service (DPS).
What does a Tenancy Deposit Scheme do?
A Tenancy Deposit Scheme will protect your money. At the end of the tenancy the deposit cannot be paid to any party without both sides’ agreement. In the event an agreement cannot be met, the dispute goes to arbitration and the arbitrator’s decision is final.
What fees will I need to pay?
The government banned agents and landlords from charging tenants’ fees. Security deposits and a few other costs are still chargeable though, please see our tenant charges information below.
Tenant Charges
Security Deposit
A sum equivalent to 5 weeks’ rent to be paid before the tenancy commences. This deposit is to be registered with an approved Government authorised scheme and may be returned at the end of the tenancy depending on the scheme’s conditions.
Rent
A minimum of 1 months’ rent paid in advance.
Lost Keys
Lost keys will be chargeable to the tenant at the cost of replacement. Within your tenancy agreement the loss of keys is a breach of the agreement as the property has not been kept secure. This also includes the loss of other security devices.
Changes to Tenancy Agreement (requested by Tenant)
A tenant can request an amendment to a tenancy agreement, for example to add on a permitted occupier, at a cost of £50 including VAT.
Early Contract Termination
If a tenant wishes to vacate before the end of their tenancy, with the agreement of the landlord, the tenant can vacate once the property has been re-let. The tenant will be liable for the landlord’s re-let costs.
During The Tenancy
What is a tenancy agreement?
A tenancy agreement is a contract signed by both the tenant and the landlord outlining all the terms to which both the landlord and tenant have agreed to comply with.
What is a schedule of condition and inventory?
A fully prepared inventory will include a comprehensive description of the condition of the property along with accompanying photographs. This report will be provided to the tenant at the start of the tenancy and plays an important role in protecting both landlord and tenant. A detailed inventory will help avoid disputes; in the event any disputes do arise regarding missing contents or the condition of the property at the end of the tenancy, these can be more easily resolved by referring back to the inventory.
What access is my landlord allowed whilst I rent their property?
There will be times when the landlord or lettings agents will require access to the property to carry out tasks such as repairs, safety checks and to check the condition of the property. As a tenant, you must allow the landlord access to the property. However, the landlord must notify you in advance that they intend to visit the property. The landlord or letting agent will have a set of keys to the property to use only in the case of an emergency. Any other use of the keys to gain access must be with your consent.
What is a routine visit?
To make sure the property is being maintained and kept in a good condition, the landlord or letting agent will schedule visits to the property to carry out inspections and check for any maintenance issues.
Can I decorate or make changes to the property?
You can only decorate or make changes to the property with the consent of the landlord. You should have this consent in writing.
What if I accidentally cause damage to the property?
Immediately notify whoever is responsible for the property maintenance (either the landlord or letting agent) as soon as possible. You will be expected to cover the cost of fixing the damage if you are at fault. Always report problems as soon as you can, avoiding or ignoring the issue may cause the damage to get worse, and it will only come out of your deposit at the end of the tenancy.
What if there are property repairs?
Any property repairs that are proven to be the fault of the tenant through their negligence or misuse will be the tenant’s responsibility to fix. Usually, a tenant will be responsible for keeping the condition of the property up to the same standard in which they found it when the tenancy began, but you should always check the tenancy agreement to see what terms have been included. Tenants must pay for anything that they have broken or damaged in the property during the tenancy and the landlord can deduct the cost of any repairs from the tenancy deposit if the tenant does not pay for them at the time. Any damages and repairs that are not caused by the tenant’s negligence or misuse, such as leaks and any subsequent damage caused, boiler breakdowns, appliances included as part of the tenancy (e.g. the oven, shower, washing machine) becoming faulty etc, are the responsibility of the landlord to fix.
How do I pay my rent?
You will be asked to set up a monthly standing order with your bank.
What happens with late rental payments?
If you are experiencing problems that may involve the rent being paid late, this must be communicated to the landlord or letting agent immediately. Arrears texts and emails will be issued if rent remains outstanding after 24 hours of the rent due date. The landlord is entitled to interest on the outstanding balance.
What if I cannot pay my rent?
As a tenant, you have a responsibility to always pay the rent, but circumstances do change. The most important thing is that arrears are not left to pile up until they are unmanageable. You should speak to the landlord or letting agent to see if you can come to an arrangement to pay your arrears whilst keeping the current rent up to date with the landlord’s approval.
What will happen if I do not pay my rent?
If you do not pay your rent, you could lose the property. Upon signing a tenancy agreement, a tenant is entering into a legally binding contract with the landlord and agrees to pay the specified amount of rent on a certain day each month. Failure to make these payments will be a breach of these terms. The landlord may be able to serve notice asking you to move out on or after a particular date. If you are more than 2 months’ in arrears, the landlord may apply straight to the county court and request an order of possession of their property.
End Of Tenancy
How do I give notice to leave a property?
Usually a tenant on a fixed term agreement can leave on the last day of the agreement. If the agreement has lapsed and has not been renewed with a new AST and you remain in occupation without the landlord’s consent, the tenant must give 1 months’ notice before they can leave. However, you should always consult the terms of your tenancy agreement when giving notice to leave.
What penalties will be incurred if I break the tenancy agreement early?
If a tenant wishes to vacate before the end of their tenancy, with the agreement of the landlord, the tenant can vacate once the property has been re-let. However, you will be liable the landlord’s re-let costs.
What costs should I expect at the end of my tenancy?
We will use a schedule of condition and inventory that was taken at the start of the tenancy to compare the condition upon you leaving. Based on this evidence deductions may be taken from your security deposit for things such as damage to the property, any breaches of the tenancy agreement that have incurred a cost to the landlord, as well as any outstanding utilities and council tax bills.
When will my deposit be returned to me?
Once the check-out has been completed, the property has been cleaned to a satisfactory standard and we have received instructions from the landlord regarding the deposit, the money will be returned to your bank account (minus any agreed deductions) normally within 10 working days (and generally no more than 28 days).
How do I renew my contract after the first year?
You should inform the landlord or letting agent at least 2 months before the end of your tenancy that you would like to renew the agreement. This allows for enough time to make sure all the relevant administrative procedures can be carried out. If you continue to rent the property after the first year without signing a new tenancy agreement, the existing tenancy agreement will continue on a periodic basis, meaning you’re living month to month at the same agreed rent until either you give 1 months’ notice or the landlord gives 2 months’ notice.