Dear prospective tenants

Firstly – agency fees to you. There are none. All you will need to pay in order to move into a property is the first month’s rent and Deposit of the equivalent of 5 weeks’ rent.

When you state an interest in taking a property, we talk to the landlord, give him or her your basic details then ask you for a Holding Deposit of the equivalent of 1 week of rent (this is an ‘advance’ on the 5 weeks’ Deposit mentioned above; it is part of it, not in addition to it.

VIEWINGS

Almost all agencies have a system in which staff are gauged to be working hard if they are doing lots of viewings – that’s why you end up quizzically trailing round properties that are just not suitable for you, and have you wondering why you are there; it’s because it ticks a viewing box for the agent. We do NOT work like this. When you call or email we will ask you 5 or 6 standard questions to find out for your sake as well as ours, if the property matches your needs and if you match the criteria the landlord has set. Then we will gladly progress to a viewing. But with us you will NEVER be taken somewhere unsuitable ‘just in case’...! It wastes your time as well as ours.

WHEN CAN WE SEE THE FLAT OR HOUSE WE LIKE THE LOOK OF?

We offer viewings outside office hours and there isn’t really any time we wouldn’t do if the tenant or owner was happy about it and one of us was available, although I suppose evenings would generally end at 8pm at latest and Saturdays 5pm. We can also do early mornings if it suits all parties. We do not as rule work on Sundays but sometimes do.

TENANCY TERM

Almost all are 12 months with option to renew on both sides. ‘6 month break clauses’ are negotiable. Our default is to a straightforward 12 month Fixed Term so if you really do require a break clause, tell us when you talk to us.

FURNISHED or NON-FURNISHED?

Most are non-furnished as that is what most tenants want. Rent levels are much the same whether furnished or not. If a flat being furnished is crucial to you then please tell us this before viewing.

CAN WE REGISTER WITH YOU?

Of course; contact us now and we will keep all your details and call when something comes in that may be suitable. If we don’t call don’t presume we have lost the information; we just won’t call unless we have something – but no harm you calling us again anyway!

WHY SHOULD WE GO THROUGH AN AGENT AND NOT GO STRAIGHT TO A LANDLORD THROUGH THE NET OR A SHOP AD?

Many private landlords know what they are doing of course, but the fact is that some don’t and will not go through an agent because apart from not wanting to pay us a fee, they know that we will demand full compliance with current regulations e.g. won’t want to pay for legal requirements such a Gas Safety Certificate / Energy Performance Certificate / deep professional clean. Also their tenancy agreement may not be extensive or up to date and they may also not register your deposit with a government agency, which is a legal requirement, so your deposit money may not be properly protected. Also they may go abroad and have no system here for managing any issues that occur. Lettings regulations have become much tougher in recent years and few landlords than ever will have the time or inclination to be up to date with their legal obligations.

There are NO agency fees now to tenants so no financial reason not to go with an experienced agent.

It wasn’t so long ago that we were renting ourselves so will we will always try to be empathic and helpful.

We are always happy to talk lettings and about the area we both live and work in, so if new to the area call in or call us; happy to help even if you go on to rent through someone else.

David