Q : Can I trust you?

We have over 20 years experience in the lettings industry. We are members of the UK Association of Letting Agents (UKALA), an accredited member of The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) and Milton Keynes Private Landlords Association (MKPLA). We are registered with the Property Redress Scheme (PRS), a government authorised consumer redress scheme for Property Agents and Professionals, MyDeposits, a government authorised tenancy deposit protection scheme and the Information Commissioners Office for Data Protection.

Most importantly all client funds are held in a separate client bank account and covered by Client Money Protection Insurance and we have Professional Indemnity Insurance, as well as being an accredited Safe Agent Member.

Q : Do I need to provide ID?

Please be aware that we are legally required to inspect your ID to satisfy the Government Right To Rent Checks and we will therefore need to see appropriate forms of photo ID, such as a passport. Other documentation may also be required. Appropriate forms of photo ID can be seen here https://tinyurl.com/R2R-Checks-Guide.

We also need to obtain references in support of each adult who wishes to enter into a tenancy, so you will be asked to complete our Tenancy Application form. This process may involve us requesting references from your employer, your current and previous landlords, your bank or building society, your accountant and a character reference.

Q : Do you accept pets?

This varies from property to property. Some landlords will consider pets, some will not. Unfortunately, some pets can cause a lot of expensive damage. Cats can claw furniture and decoration and dogs can scratch and chew doors and walls. Also, pet odours can become embedded into carpets and soft furnishings, making it difficult, or perhaps even impossible to remove the odour. Irresponsible pet owners don’t always clean up after their pets and sometimes gardens can become full of animal waste.

If a landlord is prepared to consider pets we follow the Dogs Trust guidance on Lets with Pets www.letswithpets.org.uk.

You may also consider taking tenant’s home contents insurance that covers accidental damage by your pet and we can help you to arrange appropriate insurance cover through our insurance partners.

We also recommend that you offer to pay a slightly higher rent to incentivise the landlord to accept your request to keep a pet and to cover the landlord’s risk of increased wear and tear.

Q : Do you accept tenants on housing benefit?

As a rule, most of our landlords cannot accept tenants in receipt of housing benefit under the terms of their mortgage provider and/or insurer.

However, if a landlord does accept housing benefit then you will be required to provide a creditworthy Guarantor, in permanent employment, earning at least three times the annual rent.

Q : Is my Holding Deposit refundable?

Your Holding Deposit will be refunded if your application is successful, but we are unable to offer you a tenancy for whatever reason.

However, your Holding Deposit is non-refundable if you decide not to progress your application, or if you decline an offer of tenancy, or if you delay providing any relevant information or documents requested by us that delays completion of your tenancy application beyond the 15 day Application Period, or if you provide false or misleading information as part of your tenancy application, or if you fail any of the checks that we are required to undertake under the Immigration Act 2014.

Your Holding Deposit will be credited against your first month’s rent if your tenant application is successful.

Q : What happens about maintenance?

Your landlord is responsible for maintaining the external structure of your home and any outbuildings, such as external walls, roofs, doors and windows (excluding glass), drains, gutters and outside pipes, together with the main paths that lead to your front and back doors. Inside your home, your landlord is responsible for water and gas pipes, wiring, heating systems, drainage, power and light fittings and any items originally provided by him or her, but not items that are your responsibility. Your landlord is also responsible for carrying out a gas safety check once a year, if your home has a gas supply.

We have our own in-house maintenance team that attend to the majority of our repair work. You should make all maintenance requests via our dedicated 24 hour maintenance voicemail service by calling 01908 904334 and choosing option 2. Your request will be processed and the most appropriate member of staff will call you during normal office hours to discuss the issue.

Not all routine maintenance is your landlord’s responsibility. Under housing and landlord and tenant law you are expected to attend to minor maintenance and repairs yourself, or to arrange and pay to get them done by someone else.

Full details of your responsibilities for repairs and maintenance are stated in our Maintenance Policy Tenants Guide, which can be found here.

Q : What is a security deposit?

A security deposit is held in case of any damage or dilapidation of the property during your tenancy. All our security deposits are protected by a government approved tenancy deposit protection scheme. At the end of your tenancy your security deposit will be returned to you in accordance with the scheme providers rules, after any agreed deductions.

We can also offer you a deposit free alternative, whereby you pay a non-refundable fee to our deposit replacement partner and in turn they cover the landlord for loss of rent and damages. Please note that you remain liable to our deposit replacement partner for the cost of any damages or loss of rent claimed by the landlord.

Q : What sort of tenancy agreement will I sign?

All our tenancies are normally Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) agreements. The initial fixed term of the tenancy is normally 6 months, after which time the tenancy becomes Periodic, which means it runs from month to month.

Q : When can I move in?

If you are interested in a vacant property, we expect new tenants to start their tenancy within two weeks of viewing the property, unless we have agreed a later starting date with you before you pay your Holding Deposit.

If you are interested in a property that is currently tenanted, then we will tell you the earliest moving in date before you view the property. In these circumstances, we expect new tenants to start their tenancy within one week of the property becoming vacant.

If you do not complete your tenancy application within these timescales, or if you do not accept the pre-agreed tenancy start date, then the property may be re-advertised and your Holding Deposit withheld.

Our accreditations and membership