Landlords Information at Hackney & Leigh

Tenants Information

Whether you are an experienced tenant, or someone renting for the first time, renting a property can sometimes be a little daunting.

Firstly, What Do I Want?

  • Where do you want to be
  • What sort of property – flat, house, studio, room
  • Length of tenancy period
  • Furnished or Unfurnished
  • Number of bedrooms, bathrooms, reception rooms
  • Off-street parking
  • Garden

How Much Can I Afford?

Take a look at the local prices to make sure that your budget is sensible and to get an understanding of what you are likely to achieve in the current market.

Costs

Contact Hackney & Leigh and we can provide more detailed information about our Fees and Costs.

What Else Should I Budget For?

In addition to your monthly rental costs, you’ll also need to budget for other related expenses.

These might include:

  • Contents insurance – We ask you obtain insurance to cover the landlords fixtures as this will cover you for damage or theft against all moveable contents. You will need to consider insuring your own personal belongings.
  • Council tax – the tenant will be responsible for paying this, so ask for an estimated cost from the agent or landlord
  • Utility bills – unless otherwise agreed you will pay for your own services: eg Gas, Electricity, Water, Oil, Phone, etc. from the day you move in. Hackney & Leigh will read meters when you go in and when you leave a property
  • Service charges – occasionally, if the property is in a block of flats or is a services apartment, there may be a service charge to pay, so clarify with your agent or landlord whether it’s included in the rent or an additional charge
  • Removal costs – unless you are doing it yourself, you may need to obtain estimates from reputable movers  and will need to budget for this extra cost

Location

There are plenty of factors to consider when thinking about the location of a property. It is important that you prioritise what’s most important to you in terms of location before starting the search, as this will save time in the long run. For example, how important are the local amenities to you, the commute distance to work, quality of local schools and shops, accessibility to restaurants, bars or public transport, closeness to friends or relatives, crime rates, neighbours, etc.? All of these things will vary in importance but it pays to prioritise them and any other factors that may be relevant, to help you determine your ideal location and to make your search as efficient as possible.

Other Rental Considerations

There are plenty of options for those looking for property to rent in terms of the types of accommodation available but much will depend on your personal circumstances.

The types of property might include:

  • A house or flat with a sole tenancy – a person or family are the only tenants in the property
  • A house or flatshare – a person or couple may rent a room in a property also occupied by other tenants, or a group of friends may share occupancy and split the rent between them although at Hackney & Leigh we do not usually let to ‘sharers’
  • Studio flat, usually a single room containing bathroom, kitchen and bed
  • Furnished or Unfurnished

You will need to establish what will be included with the property from the outset. Some rental properties may be listed as being ‘furnished or unfurnished’ and  in some cases the landlord may be flexible about letting you decide which option you prefer. While a furnished property may take away the hassle of having to buy lots of new furniture, damaging the existing landlord’s furniture or fittings may increase the risk of your deposit being swallowed up.

Searching For A Property To Rent

Once you have a firm idea of what you’re looking for and where, it’s time to start searching for the right rental property for you. These days, searching for rental properties has never been easier and there are plenty of ways to track down the one for you.

Searching Online

Local Agents’ websites or a property portal, such as On The Market.com or Rightmove is often a good place to search for properties in your chosen area. In fact, property hunters rate the Internet as their preferred and most used source for finding property. At Hackney & Leigh all our available rental properties are shown on our own website. You can Search right now.

There are many advantages to searching online including:

  • Convenience
  • Greater choice
  • Access to photos and floorplans
  • Getting e-mail alerts
  • Saving time

By searching for property to rent online, you can save time by discarding properties you don’t want to view and quickly finding those you do want to view.

Other Ways Of Searching

In addition to the internet, there are a number of other ways you can search for property:

  • Local newspapers and classified sections – a useful source for finding properties, but be aware that by the time many papers are printed, some properties may have already have been let
  • Letting agents – walk into your local estate agent offices and ask for details of relevant houses and flats which you can look through at your leisure. It’s a good indicator of whether the agent has on their books a decent number of properties to rent that match your criteria. Registering your details with letting agents is one of the more common ways to source a property
  • ‘To Let’ boards in your area – drive around your designated areas and have a look at any ‘To Let’ boards that are up and make a note of which agents they are with

A Few Tips To Remember When Dealing With Letting Agents

  • Make sure the agents you deal with are members of a recognised professional body (eg RICS, NAEA, ARLA)  as they have a code of practice all their member agents must adhere to. Hackney & Leigh are bound by the strict rules of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
  • It pays to contact as many letting agents as you can find in your local area to give you the best chance of finding properties to rent
  • Keep in touch with agents regularly by telephone, as rental properties tend to come and go quite quickly, particularly in a fast-moving market – persistence pays!

Viewing Rented Properties

Before you begin the process of finding a suitable house or flat to rent, give as much consideration to your requirements as you would if you were buying. After all, the property will be your home for the next six months, twelve months or even longer. Be clear about the kind of property you’re looking for, where you want to live, what amenities you need to be close to and the budget you have available.

Houses and flats to rent are generally on and off the market more quickly than properties for sale so you’ll need to move quickly and be ready to pounce when the right property arrives on the market.

Being organised in advance will help make your search easier. Please feel free to use our checklist to help your decision making process. Remember, the property you are looking at may be your home for the foreseeable future so take time to make an informed judgement – work out whether you like the area and its amenities as well as the practical aspects of living in the property. Look at the condition inside and out and think about the costs that come with it. Your own priorities will vary depending on whether you’re viewing houses or flats but the checklist should act as a basic guide to help you keep all of your bases covered.

Obviously not all properties will be the same and some will be better or worse than others and will usually be priced accordingly. However at Hackney & Leigh, all our properties should offer a clean safe environment for tenants and all mandatory safety tests are carried out and properties regularly inspected.

The outside:

  • What does the outside look like? Is it well maintained?
  • Does the property seem secure with locks on doors and windows?  If the property is a flat or part of a complex, are external doors secure? Is there an entry-phone system? Depending on the area it may be more or less important to you considering security
  • Is there a garden? If so, who is responsible for its maintenance and what would your liability be?
  • What is the area like? Would you have ready access to the services and amenities you want?
  • What are the neighbouring properties like?
  • Are there any potential nuisances?

The inside:

Don’t be afraid of having a good look – after all, the property could be your home for a while and you need to be comfortable there! You won’t usually be able to test things on a first visit but you can ask questions!

  • Does the property seem in good condition? Are there signs of damp? What is the décor like?
  • Are there any obvious repairs needed?
  • Is there double glazing? The property’s EPC rating will give you an idea on the level of insulation. It will also give you a rough idea of the likely running costs of a property although these can vary between properties. (The EPC must be available to any potential tenants during marketing)
  • What is the method of heating? Do all the heaters/ radiators function properly?
  • Is there any sign of dodgy wiring or faulty plugs and lights?
  • Do kitchen appliances such as washing machines/dishwashers work?
  • Are there enough kitchen cupboards and work surfaces?
  • Is any furniture provided sound and in clean condition?
  • Are pots, pans and kitchen equipment in good enough condition to use?
  • Are the bedrooms adequately heated? Are there curtains?
  • Do taps and showers seem to work adequately? What do the sealants around the bath and shower look like?
  • Are you allowed to change the decoration in the property?
  • Are there enough electrical and telephone points?
  • Does it have decent broadband?
  • Is there enough storage space for your belongings?

The Inventory

This is one of the most important documents in the renting process and will often determine how much of your deposit you get back at the end of your agreement. You should therefore be extremely thorough and give it your full attention, while taking the necessary precautions to protect your interests during the tenancy.

How Is The Inventory Prepared?

The inventory can be a simple list detailing everything within the property and its condition on the day you move in. This may be prepared by either the letting agent or the landlord. Either way, you should go round the property, possibly with the landlord or agent and agree the state of each item. If necessary, take photographic evidence to give you extra protection and to avoid any unnecessary disagreement at a later stage. You will be expected to sign the inventory and initial every page, along with the landlord or letting agent.

At Hackney & Leigh, we will prepare a Photographic Inventory and Schedule of Condition which will form part of your tenancy documentation. You will be asked to check the property against the inventory and report any discrepancies to us within 48 hours. These will be noted on the inventory which will then form the basis of the check-out procedure when you leave the property.

When Will The Inventory Be checked Again?

It is not uncommon for landlords and letting agents to schedule in regular checks in order to assess the ongoing condition of the property. Find out if there are regular checks planned and when they are likely to take place. It is most common, however, for a final inventory check when you move out.

Hackney & Leigh will carry out periodic inspections of the property, usually every three months and a final Inspection will take place when you have left the property. We also do a Pre Move Out inspection for fully managed landlords. If there are any outstanding issues you will be given the opportunity to return to the property and put them right. The deposit will be returned at the end of the tenancy after the property has been checked over unless the landlord or agent want to make any deductions. Any deductions must be agreed with the tenant, who will have the opportunity to make a dispute application under the Deposit Protection Regulations if agreement cannot be reached.

Tenancy Agreements

The tenancy agreement is a contract between you and the landlord. It specifies certain rights to both you and the landlord, such as your right to live in the home for the agreed term and your landlord’s right to receive rent for letting the property.

Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement  (AST)

Since the late 90’s, AST has been the most common form of tenancy agreement and sets out the duties of both tenant and landlord. Assuming the tenant observes  the conditions of the tenancy and behaves in an appropriate way, the tenant is entitled to live at the property for the agreed period without  interference. The most important aspect of this agreement is that the landlord has the right to take back the property at the end of the agreed term if he wants to. Despite its name, the agreement does not have to be short and can continue as long as both parties are happy to do so. There is no minimum term specified either, although the renter has the right to remain in the property for at least six months.

If the fixed term is for three or more years, however, a deed must be drawn up and a solicitor employed to do so.

There are specific requirements linked to an AST that include:

  • The tenant(s) must be an individual (i.e. not a company)
  • The property must be the main home of the occupant
  • The property must be let as separate accommodation

The landlord is obliged to provide the tenant with two months’ notice if they want to terminate the agreement and tenant must give at least one month’s notice (sometimes more by agreement).

The agreement will most likely contain the following information:

  • Your name, your landlord’s name and the address of the property which is being let
  • The date the tenancy will commence
  • The duration of the tenancy from the start to the agreed finish of the occupation
  • The amount of rent payable, how often it should be paid, when it should be paid and when it can be legally increased
  • The agreement should also state what other payments might be expected, including Council Tax, utilities, service charges, etc
  • What services your landlord will provide, such as maintenance of common areas
  • The notice period which you and your landlord need to give each other if the tenancy is to be terminated
  • Any other conditions appropriate to the tenancy

Tenant & Landlord, Rights & Responsibilities

The responsibilities of both parties are likely to be detailed within your tenancy agreement, although some conditions may vary between properties and landlords.

Preparing To Move In

Once all the paperwork is completed and you have had the opportunity to inspect the proposed agreement, you will usually be asked to attend an appointment either at the property or the Agents Office to sign the Tenancy Agreement and make any final payments due. If there is anything that you are unclear about or don’t understand, do not sign anything until you have asked for clarification or taken independent advice, perhaps from a Citizens Advice Bureau.

At The End Of The Fixed Term Agreement

So, you’ve come to the end of your time at the property. Remember, you need to provide one or two months’ notice in writing (as agreed) to your landlord, stating either your intention to vacate the property or to ask permission to stay on beyond your initial agreement. Providing your landlord is happy with you and the condition of the house or flat, you may  be allowed to continue with your occupancy. At Hackney & Leigh will will write to you in good time to find out what you would like to do.

Depending on the decision of the landlord, you may now have three options to consider:

  • Create a New Fixed Term Agreement.
  • Continue to live at the property on a ‘Month to Month’ basis (A periodic Tenancy).
  • Move out.

If you decide you want to move out agree the move out date with the Landlord or Agent. It’s then worth putting in a bit of work to get the property up to scratch to maximise the chances of getting your full deposit back. As long as the condition of the property is the same as when you moved in (barring normal wear and tear), you’ll have no problem. Here’s what you should do:

Give the property a thorough clean, including carpets, skirtings, windows, walls and furniture and especially cookers.

If it’s your responsibility, tidy up the garden and clear away any rubbish.

  • Return all of the keys to the landlord
  • Remove all of your personal belongings inside and out
  • Be satisfied you’re leaving the property as you found it
  • Make sure that all your rent payments are up to date. You should not assume that you may use the deposit as the last rent payment!. Also make sure your standing order has been cancelled

Final Inventory Check

Take time to run through the inventory checklist on the day of departure. It’s important that this job is done before you leave the property to reduce the risk of you being accountable for any damage that occurs after you’ve left. Soon after you have vacated the property, because damage can occur between a tenant actually leaving and an inspection, Hackney & Leigh will visit the property to make a final inspection, checking the condition against the original Inventory and taking dated photos of any damage or deterioration). If there is any damage, you should agree with the landlord/agent the cost of repairing or replacing such items.

If an agreement cannot be reached as to the damage of particular items, which items have been damaged, or repair costs, then you should make sure you have taken photographs. Get your own repair cost estimates and write to the landlord with your findings and work towards a mutually agreeable solution. If you cannot agree then you will be given the opportunity of submitting a dispute to arbitration under the Dispute Resolution Scheme.

If both you and the landlord are satisfied the property has been left in an acceptable state and you have made your final rental payment, there should be no problem getting your deposit back.

Tenants Insurance

As a tenant, you would be responsible for insuring your own furniture and personal possessions.

For this you will should consider ‘Tenants Insurance’ which is not just the same as ordinary ‘Contents Insurance’.

‘HomeLet’ specialise in lettings insurance and we are can provide information on request. Alternatively, there are several specialist providers available and information is widely available  online.

General Data Protection Regulations – Tenanted Property

Hackney and Leigh Limited act as Letting Agents for the Owners/Landlords of the properties we managed, and any reference to the Landlord includes us as the Landlord’s duly Authorised Agent. For the purposes of GDPR, we and your landlord are ‘Data Controllers’ and this notice is provided to you regarding the data and information we hold relating to you and your potential tenancy or occupation of our property.

How we obtained your data

This has been/will be provided by you when completing our application forms as part of the tenancy application process. Where data has been provided to us, note that this is taken on behalf of the landlord of your property and that we are required to inform them as part of the terms of terms of agency.

We may also hold additional information which has been provided by you or by third parties to us at a later stage in connection with any Tenancy which may arise as a result of this application.

The data we hold

The information we hold about you, whether you are a tenant or household member, may include (but will not be limited to) all or part of the following:-

Your name, e-mail address, telephone number, Date of Birth, address (including any previous addresses), marital status, National Insurance Number, Passport, Driving Licence or other Personal Identification, nationality, next of kin, name of university or college where you are studying (if applicable), the name of friends that you are staying with (if applicable); any property you are (or will be) renting from us (or are occupying); along with the term, rent, deposit, utility and service responsibilities.

We may also hold details of your employment status and the address, contact details (including email, phone and fax numbers) of your employer/accountant, payroll numbers, length of employment, salary information (including any regular overtime or commission), and any other income received;

our bank account details, including the account number and sort code, any bank statements you have provided to us or our referencing agency, any hire purchase/loan agreements/credit cards or store cards that you have and any welfare benefits that you may be eligible for, or are currently in receipt of.

Children’s Information

We will not normally hold information about children living at the property other than their name and date of birth. We require this information so we can show it to the Home Office if required under the Right to Rent regulations in order to prove to them that it was not necessary to carry out a Right to Rent check on the child, and also to show to the Local or any other Authority if we are required to provide them with information about the occupiers of the property.

Why we need to hold your data

We need to hold your data for the following purposes:

    • To allow us to carry out due diligence on prospective tenants and occupiers of our properties including checking whether there are any money judgments or history of bankruptcy or insolvency
    • To allow us to contact you and perform our duties to you under the terms of our contract with you
    • To help us manage your tenancy and occupation of the property
    • To enable us to provide you with any services and information which you have requested
    • To analyse so we can administer and improve the service that we provide and develop our business, and For all other purposes which are consistent with the proper performance of our business and service to you.

Sharing your data with others

Your information may be shared in the following circumstances:

      • To allow us to carry out checks and obtain reports and references in connection with carrying out due diligence on you as a prospective tenant or occupier
      • To provide such information as is necessary to any contractors who may be employed by us to carry out work or inspections at the Property, including (but not limited to) periodic gas safety inspections, electrical safety inspections, contractors carrying out repair work needed at the property and inventory clerks
      • To provide details to any utility or similar company in respect of invoices which relate to your use and occupation of the Property for the period of the tenancy (including any new services which may be developed or provided after this notice is given to you)
      • To provide details to any tracing agents or legal firms we may employ if you vacate the property owing money to us
      • To provide to the Home Office if we are required to do so under the Right to Rent regulations
      • To any official bodies such as Local Authorities, tenancy deposit scheme administrators, service or utility provider, freeholder or other relevant person in connection with the creation or termination of your tenancy or occupation of the property where you are not a tenant
      • To HM Revenue and Customs or other government department under any legal duty we may owe to them
      • We may also need to share information with solicitors, agents, mortgage brokers, financial advisors, court agents, surveyors, valuers and/or new owners should we decide to sell the property or enter into a joint venture or merge with another business

Where your data is held:

Your data may be held in hard copy folders or archives at our offices or electronically within our CRM Software or at one or more of the following secure locations, Jupix; VanMildert; Etsos; Integrated Interest; GoogleDrive, Your data will be mainly held within the UK. If we or third party contractors used by us store data in a cloud server outside of the UK, this will only be in circumstances where safeguards have been put in place for its protection, in compliance with the Data Protection legislation in the UK.

How long we will hold your data

If you do not proceed with your application or are unsuccessful, your application will be destroyed but there will be an electronic footprint which will be obliged to retain in the event of any further query or legal issue arising. We are required to retain tenancy data for up to 12 years (where your tenancy has been signed as a deed) or otherwise up to 7 years after the end of your tenancy. This is in case of legal issues arising or in case we are required to provide information to HMRC or for some other official reason. After this period of time has ended you will be entitled to ask us to delete your data from our systems and from any data processors we have used to store your data.

Your Rights

These include:

        • The right to ask for a copy of the information we hold about you in our records • The right to ask us to correct any inaccuracies in the information we hold
        • The right to ask us to stop sending you any marketing information

(Subject to our right to retain information under contract or where we have a legitimate interest in retaining it or as required under law) the right to delete your personal data from our systems

Further, if after first making a complaint to us, you consider that we have not dealt with your data correctly, note that you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office at www.ico.org

Updating this Information Notice

Details of the Hackney and Leigh Limited Privacy Policy which may be updated at any time may be found on our website at www.hackney-leigh.co.uk/pages/privacy