Referencing

The agent will check references on all persons over the age of 18 who will be residing at the property. Unless otherwise agreed, reference checks will include a previous landlord's reference, bank or building society reference, employer or accountant's reference, and a credit check.

References will either be taken up 'in house' or through a reputable credit and referencing agency. It should be noted that each tenant pays a referencing and an administrative fee will become due when application is submitted. 

Applications

What information is required with the application form?

Before setting up a tenancy, we will take up references on you. We use HomeLet Referencing Service, the largest tenant referencing service in the UK, to do this. In order to assist you in finding the right property speedily, it is important that you supply us with mandatory information to reference you properly. It is essential that all the information requested is supplied and the form is fully completed and legible. Missing information will delay your application and may endanger your choice of property.

When completing the reference application form, you will need to have the
following information / supporting documents with you:

Guarantor

Will I need a Guarantor? Yes - if

a. You are a Student or unemployed
b. You are in receipt of Housing Benefit. A pre-tenancy determination which is equal to at least 85% of the rental figure will be required by Housing Officer.
c. You have not been working in continuous full-time employment for at least six months for a current or previous employer. NB Continuous means: without a break of more than 14 days during the previous six month period. Full-time means: a minimum of 30 hours per week.
d. Your rental commitment is more than 40% of your annual income.
e. You have recently arrived from overseas to take up employment
f. You have an adverse credit history.
g. Unless there is a legally enforceable guarantee, there will be no legal grounds to pursue the guarantor if the tenant defaults (this could invalidate an insurance claim for Rent Guarantee or Legal Expenses).

Agreement

Signing Of Tenancy Agreement

All tenants will be required to sign Tenancy Agreements relating to the renting of the property and a draft copy will be supplied prior to the Agreement being offered. For non-UK resident landlords, the tenancy agreement will be emailed for signature.  If the agent is to sign the tenancy agreement, they will require the landlord to have had sight of the tenancy agreement and that the landlord forward written instructions for them to sign that specific tenancy agreement.

Termination of Instruction

Unless agreed otherwise, an Agreement can be terminated by either landlord or agent giving two month's notice in writing to the tenant and a tenant giving one month's notice to the landlord to expire either at the end of the fixed term of the tenancy, or each period of a contractual tenancy. 

Deposits

As of April 06 2007, all statutory tenancy deposit schemes  apply to Assured Shorthold Tenancies where a deposit is taken in England and Wales.

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

There are two types of schemes, a Custodial Scheme and Insurance based.  For clarification, the Custodial Scheme (DPS) is free to landlords and tenants, whereby the deposit is paid into and held in a separate account managed by the Scheme.   The second scheme is an Insurance based scheme is paid by the landlord or agent, but is free to the tenant and allows the landlord or agent to hold the deposit for the term of the tenancy.  ChampionHolmes is registered with the DPS.

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Payments

What financial commitment is required should I rent a property?

Unless otherwise stated, a tenant is responsible for monthly rent, in advance, including water/sewerage rates, gas, electricity, oil, telephone, council tax and television.

How much will I need to apply for a rental property?

a. A holding deposit
b. An application fee per applicant over 18.  A married couple or couple living together for more than two years will be treated as one applicant. This is your contribution towards administration and credit checking cost. This is not refundable if you decide not to proceed with the tenancy or Information given on the application is false or you do not meet the Decrees (Scotland), Individual Voluntary Arrangements or Bankruptcies or A CCJ/CD totaling more than £300, disclosed or otherwise or More than one CCJ/CD, disclosed or otherwise or an adverse reference from your previous landlord, managing agent or employer.