Here’s some Frequently Asked Questions that might help you.
WHAT REFERENCES DO I NEED TO PROVIDE?
Once you have paid your holding deposit you will be provided with a simple application form to complete. You will be asked to list details of your address history for the last 3 years and also details of your residential address for the last 3 years. Information that you provide will be used to carry out various checks to ensure that you meet our requirements as a prospective tenant. In addition we will also need to see the following for each individual applicant:
A copy of your employment contract or recent wage slip
A copy of your current tenancy agreement
You will also be asked to provide various forms of Identification. Two forms of ID must show evidence of name documents (one of which must be PHOTO ID such as a passport, driving license etc). The other two forms must be evidence of address such as a bank statement, utility bill or mobile phone bill.
Most tenants get nervous about the application process but there is honestly no need to worry, it is a standard procedure that every applicant goes through. The Application process typically takes anything between 24 hours but can take up to 7 days to complete. Our property management department will contact you as soon as referencing is complete to arrange a time and date to check in, collect your keys and sign the tenancy agreement.
DO I NEED TO CONTACT THE UTILITY COMPANIES?
We do notify the utilities with details of each change of tenancy but as per the terms laid out in the tenancy agreement that you will sign, as the tenant you are fully responsible to ensure that the various utility companies set up your account correctly. You will need to contact them to provide them with your bank details and meter readings when you move in and again when you move out.
WHAT IS A GUARANTOR?
A guarantor is needed for those tenants who:
(a) Have recently moved to the UK and therefore cannot provide previous traceable UK addresses
(b) Tenants that are not working in the UK
(c) Students
(d) Tenants whose annual salary does not satisfy the rental guarantee requirement of exceeding the property’s annual rent.
A guarantor is usually a parent or relative that is willing to sign a consent form stating that should you default on the rent for whatever reason they are then liable for the outstanding amount. The guarantor has to be a UK resident and will have to be referenced just like a normal applicant.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I PAY MY RENT LATE?
As per your tenancy agreement, any late rental payments will incur a late payment charge and interest will be charged. If you are experiencing problems paying your rent then you should contact a member of the team immediately as we may be able to help.
I’M HAVING MAINTENANCE ISSUES, WHO DO I CALL?
If your property is managed by Granite Lettings, you must call the office on 0161 236 6088 or send an email to propertymanagement@granitelettings.com.
If your property is managed by your landlord then you must call them direct on the contact numbers provided at check in.
HOW DO I END MY TENANCY EARLY?
You are legally responsible for the rent until the end of the term agreed. However, should the landlord agree to re-market the property then as per your tenancy agreement your liability will be reduced to covering any costs & expenses that the landlord incurs to re-let the property, this includes covering any void periods whilst the property is empty.
WHAT HAPPENS TO MY DEPOSIT?
Deposits are usually paid into Deposit Protection Scheme (http://www.depositprotection.com), this is in line with new government legislation introduced in April 2007 which states that all deposits paid by a tenant for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy must be registered with a recognised deposit protection scheme within 30 days. However some landlords use different deposit schemes, should this be the case full details will be provided on check in. The full deposit will be returned at the end of the tenancy should the property be left in a satisfactory condition.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET MY DEPOSIT BACK?
Once a check out inspection has been carried out and cross checked with the inventory you signed when you moved in we will authorise the DPS to release the full deposit to you, less any agreed deductions. This typically takes 10 working days and generally no more than 28 days.
CAN THE LANDLORD INCREASE MY RENT?
Neither ourselves nor the landlord can increase the rent during a fixed term period unless agreed before the tenancy started and therefore written into the tenancy agreement. If your tenancy is coming to the end of a fixed term or has already become a periodic tenancy then yes the landlord or the agent can propose a rent increase.
HOW MANY SETS OF KEYS WILL I GET?
We supply one set of keys for each tenant that appears on the tenancy agreement.
HOW DO I RENEW MY CONTRACT?
You will be contacted just before you reach the final month of your tenancy where you will be asked whether or not you want to renew your tenancy for another fixed term period or on a month by month basis.
DO I NEED TO TAKE OUT INSURANCE TO RENT?
We highly recommended that you arrange contents insurance for your own personal belongings and we can provide information on this for you, however it is not compulsory.
ARE PETS ALLOWED?
This is totally at the landlord’s discretion although most city centre developments have a clause in the head lease which stipulates strictly no pets. We advise asking the question before a tenancy starts because if you are found to be keeping a pet without the landlords permission then you could be evicted for breaking the terms of your lease.
