Before you start looking for your new home you need to know how much you can afford and how much you need available to ensure you can complete the process smoothly and without any surprises. The team at Carters are here to help and are more than happy to talk this through with you to ensure you do not over extend yourself financially. Please do not just rely on filling in an affordability calculator online’ 

 Once you have found the property you would like to rent, you will need to complete an application form. The details and requirements can then be agreed, including occupancy date, duration of the letting, etc. Any offer made is subject to satisfactory references being received and a tenancy agreement being completed.

We will request the following:-’ 

• Bank reference/Credit and affordability check using an independent referencing company 

• Previous landlord reference 

• Employers reference 

• Right to rent checks 

A holding deposit is charged to enable the property to be taken off the market, the deposit is one week’s rent. Once this deposit has been paid, we will commence with the referencing process. If the application is successful then the holding deposit is deducted from the monies due at the start of the tenancy. The holding deposit is non-refundable if the prospective tenant pulls out of the deal, or the prospective tenant fails on their referencing. 

The Tenants Fees Act 2019 strictly regulates what Landlords and Lettings agents can charge tenants. 

All tenants fees are clearly shown within Carters Application form, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further queries.

Once your reference has been accepted and returned to us, you will be required to sign an assured shorthold tenancy agreement. All our tenancy agreements are Assured Shorthold Tenancies (AST’s) unless otherwise stated. 

Before your tenancy begins, we require: – 

• The first month’s rent, 

• Deposit in cleared funds. 

On, or before, your move in date you will receive or have access to: – 

• A copy of the AST 

• How to rent guide 

• Agreed Inventory 

• Landlords / lettings agents contact details 

• Keys 

• Gas safety certificate 

• Evidence that the carbon monoxide and smoke alarms work 

• Properties energy performance certificate (EPC) 

• A report showing that national electrical safety standards have been met (EICR certificate) 

• Meter Readings 

Your letting agent or Landlord must register your deposit with an approved government scheme within 30 days of your moving in and once registered you will receive the relevant documentation. 

Move in check list: – 

• Register with relevant utilities including broadband/Wi-Fi where relevant 

• Have the necessary insurance in place 

• Redirect mail 

• Update the electoral register 

• Register your TV licence 

• Inform your bank 

• Inform your credit card providers 

• Update your car registration logbook 

• Contact DVLA 

• Contact HMRC 

• Register for Council Tax 

• Register for a parking permit where needed 

• Register with doctors, dentist and opticians 

• Check public transport links 

• Removal companies 

We can point you in the direction of companies that will offer contents insurance and liability insurance which should be in place before you move in. The landlord’s insurance will not cover your items. 

All deposits must be protected by law. Carters Lettings will hold the deposit with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) in accordance with government regulations. This means that it is protected both during and after your tenancy. 

Carters Lettings are registered members of the  Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) 

Carters Lettings are a member of The Property Redress Scheme, which is a scheme dealing with consumer complaints. 

Please ensure you know what you are fully responsible for maintaining during your tenancy. 

Please ensure you check the following on a regular basis: – 

• Your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working. It is your responsibility to replace batteries. 

• You are not drying clothes etc inside without it being well ventilated, to stop any mould issues developing. 

• That sanitary products or nappies etc are not flushed down the toilet. 

• You conform with the requirements of your tenancy agreement. 

• All defective light bulbs are replaced by yourself 

• You report any minor repairs, if you do not and these then become major repairs, you may be liable. 

If your property is managed by Carters Property Management then you have a number of ways to get in touch: 

• Phone Carters Surveyors main phone line on 0121 663 1182 between 9-5pm Mon-Friday. If you have an afterhours emergency then please ring this number, follow the instructions and you will be diverted to the emergency team who will be able to handle your call. Please ensure it is a valid emergency that you are reporting i.e. not your responsibility, before you ring, otherwise you may incur a charge. 

• Email pm@carterssurveyors.co.uk 

• Fill in and send the contact us form on www.carterssurveyors.co.uk website. 

So, you are ready to move on from the property you are renting, there is a lot to tick off the list before you leave. These include: – 

• Remind yourself of the terms of your tenancy agreement for specific end-of-tenancy requirements. It is in your own interests to ensure you leave the property in the same good condition in which it was found, as detailed in the Inventory. 

• Clean – The property’s cleanliness is one of the most common reasons behind tenancy disputes. According to the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS), over half of the disputes it adjudicates concern cleaning. By ensuring the property is as clean as when you first moved in, refer to your inventory and photos, you are more likely to get all of your deposit back. This means the property will need to be thoroughly cleaned including carpets, windows and all kitchen and bathroom fitments. If carpets are stained, it is suggested that they are professionally steam cleaned prior to your moving out. 

• Please note deposit deductions can be made for soiled ovens, fridges, washing machines etc. Fridge/freezers should have all food removed and the door left open to prevent moulding. 

• Gardens should be left in a tidy condition, lawns mowed, rubbish removed etc. Should this not be up to standard it may be necessary to instruct contractors and the cost deducted from your deposit. 

• All household rubbish should be removed, bagged appropriately and disposed of. If any items are left behind, you will be charged for the removal of the items. 

• Please make sure you contact your telephone and internet providers, read your utility meters, take photographs, and notify the services accordingly of your final readings including forwarding address 

• If the property was let furnished and there are items from the inventory missing or damaged, inform your agent or landlord before the check-out to see how best to replace/repair the items. 

• ALL keys to the property will need to be returned at the point of check out, including keys to window locks, padlocks and to external buildings as well as operational manuals 

• If applicable have chimneys swept, septic tanks cleared and LPG tanks filled. 

• Inform all utilities and council tax 

• Once the last rental payment has been made you should ensure that you cancel the standing order mandate with your bank. The bank will only act on your instruction and if you fail to advise them, they will keep making the payment, an administration fee of £20 + VAT is deductible for any payments that we may have to return to you 

• If you check out between October and April, leave the central heating thermostat turned to 16 degrees on a constant setting. Also ensure that electric immersion water heaters are turned off. 

• Ensure all your belongings have been removed from the property. 

• Do not forget to have your mail re-directed by the post office as we are not responsible for your post. 

• Cancel/amend your contents and liability insurance depending on whether you are transferring to another property. 

• Inform your bank and credit card providers of change of address 

• Contact DVLA and change the logbook of your vehicle if relevant 

• Inform HMRC 

• Update the electoral register 

• Change TV licence 

• Cancel parking permit if relevant 

• It is important you inform us of your forwarding address so we can deal with the return of your deposit as appropriate. 

• Replace all light bulbs that are not working. 

Deposit return – The deposit cannot be released unless both the landlord and tenant are in agreement and confirm the same to the agent. In the event of a dispute the undisputed amount will be released to the parties as agreed and the remainder held until such time as a satisfactory conclusion has been achieved. 

Please note we are unable to do checkouts on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. 

Interest will be charged at 3% above the Bank of England Base Rate from Rent Due Date until paid in order to pursue non-payment of rent. Please Note: This will not be levied until the rent is more than 14 days in arrears. 

Tenants are liable for the cost of replacing any lost or broken key(s) or other security device(s). If the loss results in locks needing to be changed, the cost of a locksmith to attend, new lock and replacement keys for the tenant, landlord any other persons requiring keys will be charged to the tenant. There will be an additional cost of £15 for arranging this. 

£50 (inc. VAT) per agreed variation. To cover the costs associated with taking landlord´s instructions as well as the preparation and execution of new legal documents. 

£50 (inc. VAT) per replacement tenant or any reasonable costs incurred if higher. 

To cover the costs associated with taking landlord´s instructions, new tenant referencing and Right-to-Rent checks, deposit registration as well as the preparation and execution of new legal documents. 

Should the tenant wish to leave their contract early, which is at the Landlords discretion, they shall be liable for the landlord’s costs in re-letting the property, utility bills and all rent due under the tenancy until the start date of the replacement tenancy or the expiry of the fixed term, whichever is sooner. These costs will be no more than the maximum amount of rent outstanding on the tenancy. 

We are a registered member of Property Mark. This is a client money protection scheme to ensure your money is handled in the correct manner. 

All rented property must have one of these prior to being rented out. To find the EPC for a property: Find an energy certificate – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

You might have noticed the Housing Act 1988 when you received your tenancy agreement. It is usually mentioned in the documents you will have read through and signed and sets out the rights, remedies and rules concerning letting residential property, which is why you see it mentioned in the tenancy agreement documents. It is different to the tenancy agreement which sets out the specific details of your agreement with your landlord, such as how much rent you will pay and how long your tenancy will run. 

Your course of action depends on the type of tenancy you have. If the landlord is responsible for maintaining the property, then contact them direct, you should have been given their details. 

Carters Property Management can be contacted in a number of ways: – 

• Phone 0121 663 1182 between 9-5pm Mon-Friday. If you have an afterhours emergency then please ring this number, follow the instructions and you will be diverted to our emergency team who will be able to handle your call. Please ensure it is a valid emergency you are reporting i.e. not your responsibility, before you ring, otherwise you may incur a charge. 

• Email us pm@carterssurveyors.co.uk 

• Fill in and send the contact us form on www.carterssurveyors.co.uk website. 

A lot of helpful information can also be found on Landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities in the private rented sector – GOV.UK