Information for tenants

Finding your property

Our experienced staff are here to help you to find your next home. We have an ever changing property list to suit a variety of budgets and tastes and will be happy to discuss them with you and register your interest in newly available properties. When a new property becomes available, our first step is to contact our waiting list of tenants so don’t risk missing out, register your interest with us today.

In order to register your details please click on the ‘Tenant Registration form’ button and to view our available properties please use the ‘Property Search’.

Viewings

Once you have identified a property which might suit your requirements we will arrange a viewing at a time to suit you. All viewings will be accompanied by one of our staff who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Offer / application

Having found your new home we will ask you to complete a tenant application form and will provisionally agree things like occupancy date, duration of the letting, etc.  On application, a Holding Deposit will be required. Assuming the rental proceeds, this will be deducted from the fees due before occupation. If we or the Landlord decline your application the Holding deposit will be refunded. It will however not be refunded if you decide not to proceed for any reason, or if the tenancy fails to proceed due to incomplete or inaccurate information provided in the tenancy application.

Debit / credit card fees

There is a mandatory surcharge of 3.7% on all debit and credit card transactions.

References

We will take references on behalf of the Landlord. The references will normally include financial, employment, character and / or former landlord references.  If you are unable to obtain satisfactory references or meet the required income or credit check requirements you may be able to use a Guarantor who will agree to underwrite any rent liabilities, the guarantor will also be subject to passing reference checks.

Administration / agency fees

A fee will be due to SOLOS residential prior to the start of the tenancy to cover the Tenant's share of administration costs, including preparation of the tenancy agreement and any legal notices, referencing and credits checks, and check-in and check-out.

Where an Independent Inventory Agent is used there may also be a fee from the Inventory agent for the check-in. Our fees will be explained to you by our representative.

Tenancy agreement

After satisfactory references have been secured we will invite you to sign the Tenancy Agreement for your chosen property. The Tenancy Agreement will be an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement and is a legally binding document between you and the landlord.

Rent

Rents are normally quoted on a calendar month basis. In addition to paying your rent, you will usually be responsible for Council Tax, Water Rates, Gas, Electricity and Telephone costs. Rents are payable by standing order (unless alternative arrangements are agreed in advance) to our Company bank account monthly in advance, with the first month's rent due before taking occupation of your new home.

Deposit

A deposit is normally required prior to occupation. This is usually equal to one month's rent, but may be higher depending on the property. Where we are managing the property for the landlord, your deposit will be forwarded to the government authorised custodial body DPS. We will confirm in writing the scheme which is used after the deposit has been protected. Where we are not managing the property any tenancy deposit which is required will be passed to the Landlord who will also secure it in a Government approved Deposit Protection Scheme.

The deposit is held to cover any breakages, damage, rent arrears or other tenant liabilities. Where we are managing, at the end of the tenancy we will check the property in your presence and assess any damages and deductions due.  Please note that the deposit cannot be used by a Tenant to cover rent.

Tenant insurance

As a tenant it’s important that you insure your possessions whether you live in a shared property or on your own as you won’t be covered by your landlord’s contents or home insurance policies.

Click here for an student possessions quote

Utilities

Once you have been checked into your new home one of our team will contact the gas, electricity and water suppliers to notify them of the meter readings at the start of your tenancy and we will also contact the local authority for council tax purposes.  We strongly recommend though that you also contact the above listed organisations to ensure that they are in possession of correct information.

Repairs

SOLOS Residential operate a 24 hour emergency helpline for tenants, the contact number will be provided to you when you move into your new property and will also be listed on any correspondence.  Full details of your repair and maintenance responsibilities will be outlined in your tenancy agreement as will those of the landlord.

Moving out

As long as the initial fixed term of the tenancy agreement has ended you can provide the landlord or agent with 1 month’s written notice prior to the end of your contract if you wish to move out.  If you do decide to move out we would recommend that you put some work in to get the property back to the condition that it was in when you moved in so that you maximise the chances of having your whole deposit returned to you.  Examples would include giving the property a thorough clean; having carpets, curtains and nets etc professionally cleaned, tidying the garden and disposing of any rubbish, cleaning windows, walls and furniture, removing all personal belongings and ensuring that you have all keys ready to return to the landlord. In short, be sure that you are leaving the property as you found it.