Tenants

Tenant Application and Moving In Guide

When you have found a property with Pontings that you would like to make your new home, we will ask you to complete an application form and return it to the office with some photographic identification, proof of address and if needed, any additional documentation to prove that you have the Right to Rent in the UK. When we have checked your application form and discussed your circumstances with your new landlord, we will ask you to pay a holding fee equivalent to one week’s rent that will later be used towards the main deposit payable for the property. Please see our Terms of Business for more information relating to payment of the fee. Once the holding fee has been paid, we will stop all viewings on the property until your application has been processed.

We will use a third-party credit referencing agency to check your credit history for the last three years, contact your current landlord to see how you have conducted your tenancy, and your employer for confirmation of income.

Once satisfactory references have been received and discussed with your landlord, we will write to you to formally offer you a tenancy of the property. We will attach a draft Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement for you to check through.

We will ask you to come into the office to sign your agreements and to pay your first month’s rent and deposit – we like this to be a minimum two days prior to the start of the tenancy so that we have time to register your deposit.

Tenant Fees

Tenant fees can be chargeable in the following instances:

Holding Deposit

Please note that although not a fee, the holding deposit once paid may be non-refundable. If you make an application for a property and the landlord is unable to proceed with the tenancy due to a change in their circumstances, the full holding deposit will of course be refunded. This will be returned by bank transfer. If the application is not successful as a result of references received that are not favourable or the tenant decides not to proceed then the holding deposit will be retained. Please take the time to fully discuss your circumstances with us before making an application.

Replacement Keys

If keys are lost by the tenant and duplicates required or look changes needed then the cost for this will be passed on to the tenant.

Breaking A Tenancy – leaving a property prior to the end of a tenancy

If you have a change of circumstances and need to vacate the property prior to the end of the tenancy, then this may be permitted if an agreement is made between landlord and tenant. Tenants will be released from their obligation when suitable replacement tenants are able to take over. The outgoing tenant will cover the landlords agency cost for arranging a replacement tenancy which is currently £480 inclusive of vat if the property is fully managed. If the property is managed by the landlord directly and Pontings worked on a Find a Tenant Only basis then the fee is equivalent to one month’s rent plus vat.