Rental Tenant Information

Why rent a property through East Devon Lettings?

As a tenant it is important that you receive a knowledgeable service to find the most appropriate house for you. It is important that we as a company adhere to the strict policies that are in place to protect by you and your new Landlord. Your deposit money will be securely held in the DPS and will abide by all the laws and policies for this.

Holding Deposit

In order to secure a property you will need to pay a holding deposit which is equivalent to one weeks rental. The holding deposit will be off set against the first months rent following the completion and satisfactory outcome of the referencing procedure. The holding deposit will also be refunded to you if the landlord withdraws his property from the market.

The holding deposit is non-refundable should you chose to withdraw your interest in the property, or if any of the following apply:

You fail the Right to Rent Check regardless of when the deposit was taken
• You provide false or untrue information in order to pass the referencing procedure, it would then be up to the landlord if he proceeds with rental
• If you withdraw your interest in the property before the signing of the Tenancy Agreement
• You fail to take the necessary steps to enter into a binding Tenancy Agreement

Tenant Fees

• Holding Deposit – equivalent to one weeks rent
• First months rent – as per the agreed monthly figure
• Tenancy deposit – equivalent to five weeks rent
• Company application - £250.00
• Addendum to your contract during your tenancy - £50

Tenancy Terms

These will be laid out to you in the tenancy agreement and it is important that you read these thoroughly before signing, to let you understand any stipulations or restrictions regarding your rental.

Tenancy Agreement

Following the receipt of satisfactory referencing, we will prepare a tenancy agreement, which you will need to sign and date, this will lay out to you the start date, rental fee and the duration of your tenancy. It is important that you read this thoroughly. You will also need to pay the remainder of your first months rent and the deposit in full, these will need to be cleared funds before you receive the keys to your property.

Rent Payments

These will need to be paid into the nominated account on the same day each month, by your preferred method.

Deposit

The deposit money will be paid to the Deposit Protection Service following the payment to East Devon Lettings. This will be held until the end of your tenancy, and upon agreement with yourselves and the landlord will be returned to you in full or with the necessary deductions as agreed, no money will be deducted without your agreement. If no agreement can be reached the remainder of the undisputed money will be returned to you, and the Free Litigation within the DPS will be instructed to come to an amicable conclusion.

Schedule of Condition and Inventory

We will prepare a full and detailed record of the condition of the property and its contents before the start of your tenancy. This will be need to be checked by you at the start of your tenancy, signed and returned. This document will then be used to carry out the check out at the end of the property. We will also ensure that all Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Alarms are present and working.

Tenants Obligations

These are stipulated to you in the Tenancy Agreement, and are a detailed record of your responsibilities. Together with the Inventory, you will be able to see how the property should be returned to the landlord at the end of your tenancy, with all allowances made for fair wear and tear.

East Devon Lettings Obligations:

• Let only (no management)
• Letting the property and receiving rent
• Letting and fully managing the property

We will make you fully aware of the level of service we will offer to you at the start of your tenancy.

Property Visits

Your landlord will expect us to make regular visits to your property, usually every 3-4 months, during the course of your tenancy, if we are operating under a fully managed service. We will never attend the property unannounced and without prior warning, we will write to you with at least two weeks notice, and arrange a conveniently mutual date and time. If it is acceptable to you we can enter the property using the management keys held in the office.

Utilities and Council Tax

Unless otherwise agreed with your landlord you will be responsible for the payment of the utilities and council tax. The start meter readings will be photographed and included on the inventory.

Telephone and broadband connections

You are responsible for your own television licence, if there is a television within the property as part of the rental, you will still be responsible. Any connections for broadband would be the responsibility of you as the tenant.

Insurance

Your landlord will insure the property as a whole, however, you will be responsible for the insurance which covers your contents. It is important that you are insured against any damage which may occur to the landlords property.

Tenancy Renewals

It is not usual for tenants to ask for a further agreement that extends their tenancy. If you require the security of additional agreement, then there would be a fee to you as the tenants. However, it is usual for the tenants to remain at the property under a rolling Statutory Periodic Basis. This means that you would be required to let us and your landlord have one clear months notice of your intentions to quit the property.