Renting with us

Renting a property can be confusing and arduous. We can guide you from the initial search to moving in.

Why rent with us?

We are experts in the rental market and understand the needs of a tenant to live safely and peacefully in a well-maintained and affordable property.

We provide insight into the area and rental prices, negotiate fees with the landlords on your behalf, and ensure that all the contractual documentation is in place to ensure your full protection.

We inform our landlords of all changes to legislation and health and safety regulations affecting their rental properties, ensuring compliance with legislative standards.

The Rental Process and Tenant Advice

At Match a Property we will guide you through the rental process every step of the way.

1. Viewing a Property

When you enquire about any of our properties, we will take some details and arrange a time for you to view the property. We will also inform you of any other properties we have that may match your requirements. We will provide you with full details about the property including utility provider, council tax bands, schools and any history of the property we have.

2. Offer accepted

Should you wish to rent the property we will negotiate and agree this with the landlord on your behalf and ask you for a Holding Deposit (equivalent to one week’s rent) to secure the property and remove it from the market.

3. References

On provision of some ID we work with a leading referencing company to ensure your right to rent in the UK, as well as your affordability for the property. This not only ensures we meet government regulations, but also helps ensure you only ever move to a property that you can afford.

4. Tenancy agreement

We then complete an Assured Tenancy Agreement (AST) for both tenant and the landlord to agree and sign for the duration of the rental period. This is a contractual agreement that ensures the landlords fulfil all obligations to you to ensure the property is safe and maintained to a high standard, but also provides clarity on the expectations placed on a tenant whilst residing at the property.

5. Deposit registration

Most landlords require a deposit on the property (no more than 5 weeks rent) which we will register with a Government backed security scheme (the DPS) to protect it. This means that should there be any dispute between the landlord and the tenant then an independent 3rd party can review and make an appropriate decision.

6. Moving in

We then hand over the keys, send you all the relevant property compliance documentation, and any relevant information that may be useful (e.g. utility providers).

Landlords in England must serve their tenants with an up to date version of the government issued “How to rent: the checklist for renting in England” guide at the beginning of new tenancies that started.

At Match a Property we very rarely witness disputes between our landlords and tenants, but understand that they can happen. If you ever need legal guidance but are worried about the cost, there’s plenty of good advice for tenants available for free. All of the services we have listed below are reputable and established, which means you can contact them confidently to discuss any rental issues

The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

They are widely available throughout the country and the vast majority of towns and cities across the UK will have a local CAB office and their staff are especially good at handing out advice for tenants with benefit concerns or debt problems.

Shelter

Despite being known as a homelessness charity, Shelter also offers amazing housing advice services for tenants as well. Shelter is housing specific and probably the best place to get free advice if you’re a tenant in the UK.

Law Centres

Law Centres offer solid advice for tenants and specialise in social welfare law so they may be able to help you with any legal wranglings you may have with regard to housing. Unlike many other free advice services for tenants, Law Centres can also offer help with casework and representation free of charge, if required.

Local Authorities

By law, Local Authorities must provide residents within their borough with advice regarding the prevention of homelessness and many of the larger councils across the country will have a designated Tenancy Relation Officers (TROs) on hand to offer free advice to tenants when they need it.

Our services and fees

We believe in complete transparency so you can see exactly what your costs will be below.

The Tenants Fees Act ( 2019) aims to reduce the costs that tenants face and set a cap on deposits held.

Holding Deposit (per tenancy)

One week’s rent. This is to reserve a property. Please Note: This will be withheld if any relevant person withdraws from the tenancy, fail a Right-to-Rent check, provide materially significant false or misleading information, or fail to sign their tenancy agreement within 15 calendar days.

Security Deposit (per tenancy. Rent under £50,000 per year)

Five weeks’ rent. This covers damages or defaults on the part of the tenant during the tenancy. This is held by an independent government backed ‘Deposit Protection Scheme’.

Security Deposit (per tenancy. Rent of £50,000 or over per year)

Six weeks’ rent. This covers damages or defaults on the part of the tenant during the tenancy. This is held by an independent government backed ‘Deposit Protection Scheme’

Unpaid rent

Interest at 3% above the Bank of England Base Rate from 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 in arrears.

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 any other persons requiring keys.

Variation of Contract (Tenant’s Request)

£50 (inc. VAT) per agreed variation. To cover the costs associated with taking landlord’s instructions as well as the preparation and execution of new legal documents.

Change of Sharer (Tenant’s Request)

£50 (inc. VAT) per replacement tenant or any reasonable costs incurred if higher. To cover the costs associated with taking landlord’s instructions, new tenant referencing and Right-to-Rent checks, deposit registration as well as the preparation and execution of new legal documents.

Early Termination (Tenant’s Request)

Should the tenant wish to leave their contract early, they shall be liable to the landlord’s costs in re-letting the property 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