At West Surrey Lettings, we offer a comprehensive service to all tenants. Acting on behalf of landlords, we manage a wide range of apartments, flats and houses in West Surrey. From furnished to unfurnished properties, our website is constantly updated with fresh to the market, ready to rent properties. As well as viewing available properties online, you can register with us too.
Renting a property
When you have found a property you would like to rent, our team will take you through the process from viewing to moving in.
Tenant Permitted Charges
Once you have found a property that you would like to rent, we ask for 5 weeks’ deposit and 1 month’s rent in advance. The tenant permitted charges are listed below and are paid to the agent before the start of the tenancy.
Before the tenancy starts | Payment |
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Holding Deposit One week’s rent is required to reserve a property. | This will be refundable unless: the applicant withdraws from the tenancy, fails a Right-to-Rent check, provides materially false or misleading information, fails referencing criteria or fails to sign their tenancy agreement with 15 calendar days (or other deadline as mutually agreed in writing). |
Deposit Rent under £50,000 annually requires a deposit total of five weeks’ rent | This is money held as security for damages or defaults of a tenant throughout the tenancy (secured in a government approved deposit protection scheme) and will be refundable at the end of the tenancy. |
Deposit Rent exceeding £50,000 annually requires a deposit total of six weeks’ rent | This is money held as security for damages or defaults of a tenant throughout the tenancy (secured in a government approved deposit protection scheme) and will be refundable at the end of the tenancy. |
Rent payment in advance | One month’s rent is due on or in advance of the tenancy start date. |
Once your tenancy starts, there are tenant permitted charges based on the following scenarios. These payments are made to the Agent, and are listed below.
During the Tenancy | Payment |
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Variation of Contract – (Tenant’s Request) including a request for a change of sharer | To cover the costs of taking landlord’s instructions and preparation of new contract, a charge of £50.00 or reasonable costs if higher will be due. |
Late rent payment | Interest at 3% above the Bank of England Base Rate for late payment of rent (i.e. more than 14 days overdue) from the due date until paid. |
Loss of key/security device | Tenants will be liable for the actual cost of replacing lost keys or other security device. A charge of £15 per hour may be applied in addition to the key or device replacement to cover the Agent or Landlord’s time in replacing keys or security devices. |
Early termination (Tenant’s Request) | Following the request of an early termination to the tenancy the tenant shall be liable to the landlord’s/agent’s reasonable costs in re-letting the property (including the rent due) until the start date of the replacement tenancy. |
The application process
Anyone over the age of 18 will need to complete an application form and will have to be listed on the Tenancy Agreement.
References
As part of the application process, each tenant will be asked to complete a reference form by an external company. Reference checks will include:
- A credit reference check
- An employer or accountant reference check
- Previous landlord reference, if applicable
- Identity check
Proof of Identity & address
As part of the application process, we must perform a series of identity and right to rent checks. We require one proof of ID and a further proof of address for each tenant.
Proof of ID that is acceptable include:
- Valid passport
- Valid visa if applicable
- Valid photocard driving licence
- Right to rent share code accessed through the UK Government website if applicable
Proof of address must all be less than 3 months old and can include:
- Bank statement
- Utility bill
- Council tax bill
We understand that some tenants may not be able to provide these. If you can’t, please talk to our team who will be able to help.
Tenancy deposit
In most cases, a tenancy deposit equivalent to 5 weeks’ rent on your chosen property is required. We hold this deposit securely in an approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme and this is held against any damage or expenses incurred as a result of your tenancy. Your deposit will be returned to you when you leave the property, minus any costs to cover damage, if necessary.
Inventory and Schedule of Condition
Before you move into your new home, an inventory and schedule of condition is usually made of the property’s contents. This happens for both furnished and unfurnished properties.
When you vacate the property, the inventory and schedule of condition is usually checked again. Providing everything is as it should be, your tenancy deposit is returned in full. Deductions are made for any damages incurred during your tenancy.
Making your first rent payment
With the deposit paid and the signed tenancy agreement in place, you will need to make your first rent payment.
In all cases, we require payment to be made via standing order or online bank transfer. You will be given the due date for rental payments and we suggest setting up the standing order for 3 days before the rent due date to allow for bank processing.
What if you get into difficulties paying your rent?
If at any time you are in financial difficulties, please call our team on 01932 349792 and we will be able to make arrangements to deal with arrears.