FAQs Lettings

FAQs

General Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Unfurnished, Part Furnished, Furnished and Fully Furnished?

The table below lists the items that a landlord would normally supply. Please note however that this is only a guide and that some properties may vary from the description given.

Unfurnished

Part Furnished

Furnished

Fully Furnished

– Curtain poles or curtains
– Flooring ie carpets etc
– White Goods ie washing    machine etc
As with Unfurnished plus- Some items of furniture. This could be just one item such as a table and chairs or most furniture but not all. Please ask for specific details on the property.As with Unfurnished plus- Beds
– Sofa/Chairs
– Table & Chairs
– WardrobesIt is sometimes possible to have further items ie tv units and bedside cabinets. Please ask for specific details on the property.
As with Furnished plus- All items of furniture
– Crockery & Cutlery
– Cooking EquipmentA Fully Furnished property should only require you to bring a suitcase and personal possessions, however, it is unlikely that a landlord will supply expensive electric equipment such as TV & Stereo.

Landlords Frequently Asked Questions

What type of tenancy agreement is used and how binding is it?

In most cases an ‘Assured Shorthold Tenancy’ agreement written by ARLA (Association of Residential Lettings Agents) is used, which is protected by The Housing Act 1988. The tenancy agreement governs all rent payments and is a legal and binding document. Your tenant is committed to paying rent until the end of the agreed term.

What is a 'Break Clause'?

A Break Clause is used when a landlord and tenant have an agreement that allows either one of them to terminate the tenancy earlier than the end of the original term. A break clause can usually only be implemented after a fixed date ie during the last 6 months of the tenancy and two months written notice is normally required by either party which confirms their request to terminate the tenancy early.

Do I need insurance?

Yes! It is important that you insure your possessions at the property and continue with your buildings insurance. It is also important that you inform your insurance company that your property is tenanted.

What if my tenant stops paying the rent?

At Domans Residential Ltd we have an established procedure for dealing with this situation. We can offer a specially negotiated ‘Rent Protection & Legal Fees Warranty’ which will immediately cover your rental. This warranty would give you that peace of mind.

I am moving overseas for more than 6 months, what do I need to do about tax?

If you are moving out of the country and plan to be away for more than 6 months, it is important that you inform the Inland Revenue of your situation. You will be required to complete an Overseas Tax Form NRL1 which can be obtained from www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/nr_landlords.htm. This form will authorise us as your agents to release the full amount of tax to you as long as your taxes are in order.

Why use an ARLA Propertymark agent?

ARLA is the Association of Residential Lettings Agents, the governing body for Lettings in the UK.

As ARLA members, we follow the ARLA Code of Practice and are also subject to strict annual checks for the following:

  • Professional Indemnity Insurance
  • Client Money Protection Insurance
  • We must keep all client money in a separate client account
  • We must provide ARLA with an Accountants audit report of the client account

For further information on the benefits of choosing an ARLA member please use the following link – http://www.arla.co.uk/about-us/why-use-our-members/

Do I need an Energy Performance Certificate?

Yes, a current Energy Performance Certificate must be provided by law prior to the marketing of any property.  This can be organised on your behalf if required. Once carried out, the certificate remains valid for a period of ten years.

Do I need a Gas Safety Certificate?

Yes, a current Gas Safety Certificate must be in place prior to any tenants moving into a property which has gas heating or gas appliances.  This can be organised on your behalf if required. The certificate will need to be renewed every year the property is occupied.

Tenants Frequently Asked Questions

How much are Tenants letting fees?

Whilst no fees are taken from a tenant for securing a property, a description of our scale of fees are listed below for transparency and comply with the Tenant Fee act 1st June 2019. 

EARLY TERMINATION (TENANTS REQUEST) 

Should the tenant wish to leave their contract early, they shall be liable to pay the landlord’s costs in re-letting the property (up to One Month’s Rental Plus VAT) as well as all rent due under the tenancy until the start date of the replacement tenancy. These costs will be no more than the maximum amount of rent outstanding on the tenancy and will be subject to negotiations between both parties being agreed. The Tenancy in place is a contractual agreement and terms need to be agreed before any further action can be taken. All Early Termination requests are subject to Landlord approval.

Domans Residential costs would depend on the time spent negotiating and drawing up in writing what is agreed on behalf of the tenant. Standard Charge of £50.00 Plus VAT (£60.00).

CHANGE OF SHARER (TENANT’S REQUEST)

These costs are per replacement tenant for any reasonable costs incurred, such as; To cover the costs associated with taking landlord’s instructions, new tenant referencing and Right-to-Rent checks (£62.50 plus VAT (75.00), deposit registration and new insurance certificate (if traditional Deposit Scheme) at

£30.00 Plus VAT (£36.00) as well as the preparation and execution of new legal documents, £41.50 plus VAT (£49.80). Tenants on Nil Deposit Schemes would need to contact the insurer about costs and provide appropriate deposit cover prior to signing of any new Tenancy. The Tenancy in place is a contractual agreement and terms need to be agreed before any further action can be taken. All Change of Sharer requests are subject to Landlord approval.

LOST KEY(S) OR OTHER SECURITY DEVICE(S)

Tenants are liable to the actual cost of replacing any lost key(s) or other security device(s). If the loss results in locks needing to be changed, the actual costs of a locksmith, new lock and replacement keys for the tenant, landlord and any other persons requiring keys will be charged to the tenant. If extra costs are incurred there will be a minimum charge of £12.50 plus VAT (£15.00) per hour for the time taken replacing lost key(s) or other security device(s). Security device replacement costs depend on the supplier and will normally be paid directly.

VARIATION OF CONTRACT (TENANT’S REQUEST)

£41.50 plus VAT (£49.80). per agreed variation. To cover the costs associated with taking landlord’s instructions as well as the preparation and execution of new legal documents.

CONTRACTOR CALL OUTS

In the event a contractor is called to a property and the contractor reports that the cause of the problem was through the tenants misuse or tenants not checking the basic maintenance i.e trip switches, fuses, etc. then the full costs of the callout and repair would be at the tenants own expense and the invoice would be forwarded to the tenant for payment. In the event the tenant refuses to pay, then the Landlord would reserve the right to either claim the monies back through a debt recovery company/small claims court or via the dilapidation deposit on hold at the end of thetenancy.

RECOVERY OF FEES/OTHER CHARGES

The Agent shall be entitled to deduct from any deposit that may be paid by a Tenant of the Landlord’s Property any fees or other monies properly due and payable by the said Tenant to the Agent as described in the Tenancy Agreement.

UNPAIDRENT

Interest will be charged at 3%above the Bank of England Base Rate from the 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 inarrears.

HOLDING DEPOSIT

One weeks rent will be required to reserve a property. Please Note: This will be withheld if any relevant person (including any guarantor(s) withdraw from the tenancy, fail a Right to- Rent check, provide materially significant false or misleading information, or fail to sign their tenancy agreement(and/or Deed of Guarantee) within 15 calendar days (or other Deadline for Agreement as mutually agreed in writing).

SECURITY DEPOSIT (DILAPIDATIONS DEPOSIT)

A security deposit of Five weeks rent will be required at the start of the tenancy (Per Tenancy for rent totalling less than £50,000 per year)(Six weeks rent required over £50,000 per year). This covers damages or defaults on the part of the tenant during the tenancy. An alternative Nil Deposit scheme will also be offered at a cost of One Weeks rent plus VAT. Terms & Conditions apply.

UTILITIES, RENT, COUNCIL TAX and TV LICENCE

All tenants are responsible for the payment of the above and all other costs relative to the property and your personal choice (such as TV and Broadband packages) as described in the Tenancy Agreement.

REDRESS SCHEME and MEMBERSHIPS

We are members of ‘The Property Ombudsman’ No. DO3551. Members of ARLA Propertymark no. M0051060, together with Client Money Protection Scheme no. C0014803.

How much money will I need to move into a property?

On completion day you will be required to pay your first month’s rent and your deposit money amounting to 5 weeks rent in the form of cleared funds ie cash or bank transfer. Please refer to the tenants page on our website for our full list of fees.

What type of tenancy agreement is used and how binding is it?

In most cases an ‘Assured Shorthold Tenancy’ agreement written by ARLA (Association of Residential Lettings Agents) is used, which is protected by The Housing Act 1988. The tenancy agreement governs all rent payments and is a legal and binding document. As a tenant you are committed to paying rent until the end of the agreed term and could face legal action and hefty interest charges if you break the terms of the agreement. If your circumstances change for any reason during your tenancy, it is important that you inform Domans Residential Ltd as soon as possible.

What is a 'Break Clause'?

A Break Clause is used when a landlord and tenant have an agreement that allows either one of them to terminate the tenancy earlier than the end of the original term. A break clause can usually only be implemented after a fixed date ie during the last 6 months of the tenancy and two months written notice is normally required by either party which confirms their request to terminate the tenancy early.

How do I pay my rent?

Rent is paid monthly by standing order from your bank account. The standing order is set up to be taken from your account 3 days before the rent is due to allow for processing.

Do I need insurance?

Yes! Your contents need to be insured as your landlords insurance will cover the items that belong to the property and the buildings insurance but none of your personal possessions. Domans Residential Ltd will be happy to provide details on suitable cover.

Who should I contact if any issues arise with the property?

You will be advised of all contact numbers on completion day and they will also be detailed on your tenancy agreement. If the property is managed by Domans Residential Ltd you will be required to call us and we will then arrange for any necessary work to be carried out on behalf of the landlord.

When will I get my deposit back?

Your deposit will be returned at the end of the tenancy. However, this is subject to the property being handed back in a suitable condition and in line with the inventory that you were given at the start of the tenancy although general wear and tear will be taken into account. It is therefore very important that you read through the inventory very carefully and make any necessary amendments before signing, as this will be the document that determines the condition of the property when you moved in. All deposits are held by us under the ‘My Deposits’ backed insurance scheme and no deposit monies are released until all parties have agreed on the amount of deductions to be made, if any.  Domans Residential Ltd strictly adhere to ARLA rulings and we will advise your landlord on the refund of your deposit. It is advised that you take out contents insurance that also has cover for your deposit – please ask for further information.