If you are considering renting a property, our team at Livin are trained professionals and we are here to guide you through every step of the process. Below is our guide to successfully renting:
Work out your realistic budget
Arranging your finances is the most important factor to consider before you look to rent a property.
Below are a few important factors we suggest you look into:
- Security deposit: Properties with an annual rent under £50,000 can request up to 5 weeks rent, properties worth over £50,000 6 weeks
- Rental costs: How much can you afford to pay alongside bills and other expenditures while still having money left over?
- Household bills: This includes council tax, telephone, gas and electric to name a few.
Register your interest
Please get in contact to register your details and property requirements with us!
We will spend time getting to know you and understanding your requirements so we can match suitable properties to you. We will also check that you meet our six-point-criteria:
Adequate income (30 x monthly rental amount as annual household income) or savings, good credit history; positive previous landlord references (if applicable); positive character references; right to legally reside in the UK; and availability to move in within a suitable timeframe.
Finding the right property and conducting viewings
Our website and social media pages are updated with properties to rent before the property portals and our staff often have advanced knowledge of future listings before they reach our site so don’t be surprised if we call you to let you know about an ideal property before we have even taken pictures.
Viewing properties can be an exciting experience, and will help you to make a list of features you absolutely need so that you can base your decision on what you know is important.
Holding deposit
Once you have found that perfect property and your offer is accepted, you will be required to pay a holding deposit equivalent to one week's rent. The deposit will secure the property for you, and we will stop further viewings on the property. The holding deposit is refundable or acts as a down payment towards the dilapidations deposit or the one month’s rent in advance upon entering an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. Your holding deposit payment will be forfeited should you fail to comply with the terms set out within your holding deposit document.
Referencing
Once you have placed your holding deposit, reference checks to establish your identity, place of work and earnings will commence. We will confirm your right to reside in the UK and to avoid any delays in your application process, you should declare whether you have any unsatisfied CCJs or bankruptcies. We will provide you with a full list of documents that we will require from you to complete these checks.
Your tenancy agreement
Once we receive satisfactory references and checks we’ll then request you sign your contract; we usually do this via a secure electronic signature portal for your convenience. The tenancy agreement is the legally binding document that outlines your rights and obligations as tenants, alongside the obligations and expectations of your landlord.
The security deposit
Before you move in, you will need to pay a security deposit and your first month's rent.
This deposit will protect the landlord against loss of rent or to pay for any damage you were responsible for causing. The amount required is equivalent to five weeks' rent and protected by law in a Government approved deposit scheme such as the DPS (Deposit Protection Services) or the TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme). This, combined with a thorough inventory on check-in and check-out, gives you total peace of mind that no unfair deductions can be taken from your deposit when you vacate the property.
The inventory
On or close to the day you move in, you will be supplied with a Schedule of Condition for the property. This document records the condition of the property at the start of the tenancy, and will be used to compare the condition in which it is returned at the end of the tenancy. We use an independent company to compile this document to ensure that it is fair and impartial. You do have a period of time to review the content before it is deemed accepted.
Key collection and move in day
On the day that you move in we’ll meet you at either the property or our office to give you house keys and the inventory list. Once you’re all moved in, we’ll still be there to provide support whenever you need us, from a quick query to anything more complex. Depending on the service we provide to your landlord, either our management team or your landlord will be your first point of call, but we’ll confirm this before you move in.