TTENANTS – GET A HEADSTART RENTING YOUR NEW HOME!

Headstart Letting Agents offer a first class service to all our applicants and tenants. From providing flexible viewing schedules to organizing all the relevant documentation, Headstart’s efficiency and expertise will enable you to concentrate on the moving day itself and not worry about the referencing, paperwork or change of utilities.

Once you have moved into one of our managed properties we will ensure that any maintenance problems are resolved quickly and efficiently with as little disturbance as possible.  We are contactable by telephone, Internet and email and you can be assured that we will respond to any queries without delay.

Headstart Letting Agents is a member of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme so you can be certain that your deposit is safeguarded from over zealous landlords upon your vacation.  Our check-in and check-out procedures are designed to ensure that dilapidation costs are only ever deducted from your deposit when necessary.

We have a close partnership with the Dorset Energy Advice Centre [DEAC] who provides all our Energy Performance Certificates, which will be required by law for all tenancies beginning from the 1st October 2008.  DEAC also offer free or heavily discounted energy saving schemes and products to properties in the private rented sector, which would increase your home’s Energy Performance Rating and therefore decrease your energy bills!

So if you have had enough of nightmare landlords, unsupportive agents and poorly maintained homes give yourself a Headstart and come directly to us!

TERMS & CONDITIONS OF RENTING

FORM OF AGREEMENT In the majority of cases, the arrangement will be an Assured Shorthold Tenancy and this will be for a minimum period of 6 months. The tenancy agreement, which the applicant will sign, will set out the basis of the arrangement between the applicant as the Tenant and Landlord of the property, and the agreement will fully detail the obligations to be undertaken. The tenancy agreement provides for rent payable monthly in advance and provides for the payment of a security deposit before the letting is created.

DEPOSIT  The deposit will be held by Headstart, as stakeholder, on behalf of the Landlord and Tenant.  No interest will be paid on the deposit money. Individuals should ascertain which service is to be employed prior to the commencement of tenancy. The deposit will be returned to the Tenant after settlement of any deductions required by the Landlord in relation to the matters for which the deposit is held and in accordance with the rules and regulations of Tenancy Deposit Solutions Ltd.  The deposit amount is set at one month’s rent plus £200.

GUARANTORWhere a guarantor is required, references will be taken on the guarantor as well as the prospective tenant and we will require the same reference criteria. The guarantor’s responsibilities are to undertake all obligations of the tenancy agreement, this will include unpaid rent, all outgoings i.e. service costs and dilapidations for the full term of the tenancy on a joint and several liability basis.

INVENTORY AND SCHEDULE OF CONDITION An Inventory and Condition Schedule will be prepared and the Tenant will be required to sign this document. The Inventory fully details the furnishings, fittings and equipment within the property and condition of the premises at the commencement of the letting. Care should be taken to ensure that the schedule accurately records the condition of the premises at the commencement of the term and is signed and returned with any amendments within 7 days of receipt. The Tenant will be held liable to return the property on termination of the tenancy in the same condition as it was at the commencement of the arrangement as evidenced by the document. No alterations will be accepted to the Inventory Condition Schedule, which are not notified as detailed above.

TENANCY CONDITIONS The Tenant will be liable for Council Tax, water and sewerage charges, electricity, gas and telephone charges in or as per the tenancy agreement in respect of those services supplied to the property. These suppliers should not be changed without prior reference to and the approval of the landlord (or Agent) and to be requested in writing. In addition to keeping the property in a clean tidy condition throughout, the Tenant will be expected to cut lawns, trim hedges, keep boarders weed free where appropriate and generally keep the garden and grounds of the property in a neat and tidy condition. Some Landlords are unwilling to accept pets or children or persons who smoke and the applicant will be asked for details regarding these matters before the commencement of the tenancy.

Headstart undertake to give advice and assistance to tenants, where properties are fully managed, during normal working hours. Should an emergency occur outside working hours, the tenants should use their discretion in calling a contractor on the understanding that in some circumstances the Landlord might not be liable for charges incurred.

TENANCY TERMINATION The Tenant should advise the utility service companies when vacating the property providing them with meter readings and a forwarding address for final accounts.

In cases where on termination of the Tenancy, dilapidation items are identified during the final check out, the Tenant will be required to bear the cost of remedying the defect by deduction from the security deposit. At the termination date the Tenant should leave the property in a clean and tidy state. The Tenant has no right to return to the property after the end of the tenancy to remedy matters identified in the check out report. Any work required should be undertaken before the end of the tenancy. All the Tenants possessions should be removed to enable the return of the keys to Headstart on the last day of the tenancy. Headstart reserve the right to dispose of any possessions remaining in the property. The Tenant should contact Royal Mail to arrange the redirection of post.