Guide for tenants

Whether you are looking to secure a smart city centre pad, a cosy family home or well-located student accommodation, our friendly experienced Lettings team at Howard are here to help you find the right place.

We have a range of property available to suit your needs and budget. With our instant property alerts we will keep you updated when new rental properties arrive on the market. Simply call the office today on 0117 923 8238 and speak to our team to register.

Found something you like on our website? Please contact the office on 0117 923 8238 to arrange a viewing. Viewings are available Monday to Saturday only.


Useful Information for Tenants

How to Rent, the Checklist for Renting in England Guide


Offering on a Property and Right to Rent

Howard are legally required to carry out Right to Rent checks for all tenants. We will require sight of original documentation which proves your nationality and that you have a right to remain in the UK. The exact documentation we will require depends on your status and we will confirm to you at the appropriate time, but may include your Passport, National Identity Card, Birth Certificate, Immigration Status Document, Driving License, Biometric Residence Permit etc.

It will be necessary for you to come to our office in person where you can also complete the application forms as well as provide your photo ID and proof of address. Please note we can only accept the following as proof of address:

• Bank or Building Society Statements (not older than 3 months)
• Local Authority Council Tax bill (current year)
• Utility bill (Gas, Electricity, Water, not older than 3 months)
• Mortgage Statement (most recent)
• Current Tenancy Agreement
• Telephone Bill not older than 3 months (not mobile phone)

All offers are subject to contract and satisfactory references, ID and Right to Rent checks. Please declare anything which could impact on your credit scoring or receiving a suitable Landlord’s reference etc. If you are unsure about any of these aspects please do not hesitate to discuss with our member of staff on the viewing.


Applicant and Tenant Fees

As well as paying the rent, you may also be required to make the following permitted payments.

  • Holding deposits -a maximum of 1 week's rent on application (please see below regarding our refund policy on holding deposits)
  • Deposits (a maximum deposit of 5 weeks' rent for annual rent below £50,000, or 6 weeks' rent for annual rental of £50,000 and above)
  • Payments to change a tenancy agreement eg. change of sharer (capped at £50 or, if higher, any reasonable costs)
  • Payments associated with early termination of a tenancy (capped at the landlord's loss or the agent's reasonably incurred costs)
  • Where required, utilities (electricity, gas or other fuel, water, sewerage), communication services "telephone, internet, cable/satellite television), TV licence
  • Council tax (payable to the billing authority)
  • Interest payments for the late payment of rent (up to 3% above Bank of England's annual percentage rate)
  • Reasonable costs for replacement of lost keys or other security devices
  • Contractual damages in the event of the tenant's default of a tenancy agreement
  • Any other permitted payments under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 and regulations applicable at the relevant time.


Holding Deposit – Refund Policy

The Holding Deposit is refundable if you withdraw on the day of signing the tenancy application form (please note the tenancy application form is not the same as a tenancy agreement).  The Holding Deposit will be non-refundable and will be paid to the landlord in either of the following circumstances:

  • At your written request the landlord agreed to not consider any other application for a tenancy while references are obtained to prove your suitability, and you do not enter into a tenancy agreement with the landlord on the date agreed within your application for any reason or because of adverse references.
  • Having signed a tenancy agreement, you do not take up your tenancy and pay the full balance due on or before the commencement date.
  • The Holding Deposit will be refunded in full if the landlord does not proceed with the tenancy if the delay is not due to the actions or lack of action of the applicant. Otherwise, the whole of the holding deposit is non-refundable once referencing has commenced


Tenant Protection

Howard is a member of the Propertymark Client Money Protection Scheme, which means we comply with the strictest codes of practice surrounding holding clients’ money.

A Client Money Protection schemes like the Propertymark Client Money Protection Scheme, gives landlords and tenants peace of mind that their money is in safe hands and that the agent cannot misappropriate their money in any way.

Details can be found here.  Our CMP certificate is here.
 

Redress

We are regulated by ARLA Propertymark, and we are a member of The Property Ombudsman redress scheme.

Should you wish to raise a complaint about our services, our complaints policy can be found here