Tenants! Worry not! RedRoof’s Tenant Guide is here!

The rental market moves at a very fast pace and quality properties are often snapped up very quickly. If you are moving in with others, ensure you are all in a position to make a decision promptly after viewing the property.

So, once you have found a property you want to move into, this is the ‘let agreed’ stage of the process, however this stage still remains subject to contract. This is when you will go through all reference checks and pay a holding deposit, have your references checked and sign your tenancy agreement.

Once you have agreed the let in principal you will next be required to provide documentation to confirm your identity and where you currently live. This will include providing an original document from each of the following lists:

Personal Identification

• Valid passport
• Valid full UK photo driving licence
• National identity card
• EU shotgun license
• Birth certificate
• Marriage or civil partnership certificate

Proof of Address

Proof of address documents must be not older than three months and the address must match your current address or as supplied on the reference application form.

• Credit card statement
• Recent bank or building society statements
• Council tax bill
• Utility bill
• Mortgage statement
• Current tenancy agreement(signed within the last six months)
• Home service provider bill (for example broadband, digital TV statement) – homeowner’s insurance schedule
• Letter from employer confirming address(signed, dated and printed on headed paper)
• Correspondence relating to local housing allowance or benefit

Before the tenancy starts

Deposit: A refundable Tenancy Deposit. This covers damages or defaults on the part of the tenant during the tenancy

Tenant protection

RedRoof Online is a proud member of The RICS Client Money Protection Scheme (CMPS) which is a client money protection scheme, and also a member of The Property Ombudsman, which is a redress scheme.

Referencing criteria for UK and Non UK resident may include:

• Financial background checks
  • Up to three years address history check
  • List of CCJ and any other adverse credit history
  • Voters’ roll check
  • Undisclosed address check
  • Tenancy application score and fraud score
• Bank details check (account and sort code verification)
• Referencing company’s default database check
• International Credit Bureau check
• Income verification/employer’s reference
  • How long have you been employed?
  • Full time and permanent job
  • Earnings – can you afford the rental amount, which is usually x2.5 the annual rent or x30 the monthly rent?
• Future employment reference if require
• Affordability check
• Current landlord or managing agent reference
  • Has the rent been paid on time
  • Has the tenant looked after the property
  • Would the landlord let to the tenant again in the future?

Circumstances when a reference company may suggest guarantor may be needed (agreed at the landlord’s discretion). A guarantor is someone who guarantees financial payments on your behalf – if you fall behind with your rental payments, your guarantor will be contacted for payment. If you think you might need a guarantor, you might want to ask a parent or close family member. The criterion for a guarantor is similar to that of a tenant (refer to ’personal identification section’), but will include proof of property owned within the UK. The guarantor should permanently live in England and Wales. It includes:

• You have an Individual Voluntary Agreement (IVA)
• You are a first time renter
• You are a student
• You are unemployed
• You are self-employed
• You do not hold UK citizenship or having been living outside the UK
• You cannot provide the required proof of earnings

Once your reference checks are completed you will be required to pay the initial funds, this includes the first month’s rent in advance and a months rent as deposit. All deposits for Asssured Shorthold Tenancies (AST) in England and Wales must be protected by one of the government approved Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme (TDS). The landlord or agent will hold the deposit for the duration of the tenancy.

When you have paid the holding deposit / admin fee and secured the property subject to contract, Gold Key Consultants will draft the tenancy agreement. Once issued, it is important that you read it carefully and ask any questions you have before signing and returning it. It is always good practice to seek independent legal advice before signing the contract.