Tenants Information & Fees
Listed below are the fees that will become payable by all tenants whilst you are renting a property through Brittons Lettings.
All fees include VAT at the current rate of 20%. All payments are prohibited unless the payment is expressly permitted under the Tenant Fees Act.
Viewing a property- If you would like to view one of our properties, you will be allocated an individual viewing slot with Lettings team. This gives you the opportunity to look around the property, and ask any questions you have, without pressure from other applicants. To book a viewing call 01553 692828 where a member of the lettings team member will arrange a convenient date and time. We will ask you a few basic questions to ensure that you are in a position to rent the property – we don’t want to waste your time!
Tenant Criteria/Requirements- If you wish to become a tenant, you will be required to meet certain criteria. We understand that every tenant and situation is unique, so please get in touch if you are unsure if you meet the criteria or if you have any further questions.
Tenants must have a combined annual salary of 2.5 x the annual rent. For example, if the rent is £800pcm, you must have a combined salary of £24,000 per year. If you do not meet the affordability, or if you are starting a new job, in a probationary period or have a casual contract, you may need a UK-based guarantor.
If you are self-employed, you will be required to provide 3 years’ worth of accounts, or a letter from your accountant to confirm your income.
If you are a student, you must be second year or above and have a UK based guarantor.
If you are a non-UK resident, you are required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK (passport/ VISA/ job contract). You may also be required to pay a proportion of the rent upfront
Fore move information please see the REFERECING STANDARDS GUIDE
Applying for a property- All applications are put forward to the landlord, it is not first come first served basis. Some properties attract several applications, so it is important to provide as much information as possible to ensure you stand out to the landlord. Please include full details of everyone who would be living in the property, including children and pets etc.
To apply for a property, you must complete the initial application passed to you at the viewing. The lettings team can email you a copy or feel free to collect one from the office.
When your application has been approved by the landlord, we require the holding deposit payment (1 week’s rent) before beginning referencing checks.
Tenant Referencing - All adult tenants are referenced before moving into a property. The reference checks are carried out by a third-party company; Rent 4 Sure. We send each applicant a link to complete online. Referencing checks assess the following:
Credit check
Bank validation check
Financial sanctions check
Current landlord reference
Employment check
Affordability calculation
Permitted Payments
The Tenant Fees Act prevents tenants being asked to make any payment as a condition of granting, renewing or continuing a tenancy apart from:
• Rent
• A capped refundable Tenancy Deposit: capped at five weeks’ rent where the annual rent in respect of the tenancy immediately after its grant, renewal or continuance is less than £50,000 a year. The deposits are held and protected in a Government approved deposit scheme.
• A capped refundable Holding Deposit: maximum 1 week’s rent- we request a Holding Deposit from a tenant to reserve a property whilst reference checks and preparation for a tenancy agreement are undertaken.
REPAYING THE HOLDING DEPOSIT- Brittons will repay the Holding Deposit if:
• The landlord and tenant enter into a tenancy agreement.
• The landlord decides before the deadline for agreement not to enter into a tenancy agreement.
• The landlord and the tenant fail to enter into a tenancy agreement before the Deadline for Agreement.
If one of the above applies, the Holding Deposit must be refunded within seven calendar days of the date of that decision or the Deadline for Agreement.
RETAINING THE HOLDING DEPOSIT- Brittons will retain the holding deposit if:
• The tenant fails a Right to Rent check regardless of when the deposit was accepted.
• The tenant provides false or misleading information to the landlord or letting agent, which the landlord is reasonably entitled to consider in deciding whether to grant the tenancy because this materially affects their suitability to rent the property.
• The tenant notifies the landlord or letting agent before the deadline for agreement that they have decided not to enter into a tenancy agreement.
• The tenant fails to take all reasonable steps to enter into a tenancy agreement.
• Payments in the event of a default:
Late payment of rent- A late rent payment will be charged when the rent has been outstanding for 14 calendar days or more since the full rent was due, as set out in the tenancy agreement, and has still not been paid. The fee is 3% above Bank of England base rate in interest on the late payment of rent for each day that the payment is outstanding.
Loss of a key or other security device- £15 plus the cost of the invoice
• Payment on variation, assignment or novation of a tenancy: £50.00
• Payment on termination (surrender) of a tenancy: POA- we will always need to discuss this with the landlord.
• Payments in respect of Council Tax
• Payments for utilities (electricity, gas or other fuel, water or sewage)
• Payments for a television licence
• Communication services (telephone other than a mobile telephone;
the internet; cable television, satellite television)
• Green Deal charge
Please note:
WE DO NOT ACCEPT CASH PAYMENTS
