Tenants

Applying for a Property with Hutton Parker

Hutton Parker are proud members of both the Property Redress Scheme (PRS), and registered with UKALA as part of the Client Money Protection Scheme. The ALA certificate is displayed in the office, on the Hutton Parker website, or can be viewed directly here.

In line with the Tenant Fees Act 2019, applicants must enter into the tenancy agreement and sign within 15 calendar days. Failure to sign within the 15 day period means that the holding deposit may be withheld, and the property re-advertised. It is therefore advised that all tenants are in a position to sign all relevant paperwork and the tenancy agreements within the stated 15 calendar days.

The Application Process

You have viewed a Property; you like it and want to reserve it.

1. Pay the one-week reservation fee.

You can pay the one-week reservation fee by bank transfer or debit/credit card, either over the phone or by coming into our office. Before the Property is taken off the market, the fee must be paid in full, and as such it is recommended that no one pay the reservation until the whole group is able to do so or able to cover the full amount required. Please note that the one-week reservation fee will be withheld if any relevant person (including guarantor(s)) withdraw from the tenancy, fail a Right to Rent check, provide materially significant false or misleading information, or fail to enter into the tenancy within 15 calendar days of reservation.

2. Once the above criteria are satisfied, we will remove the Property from the market and cancel any other viewings.

3. You must complete the application forms, referencing forms and sign the tenancy agreement.

  • All members of the group MUST come to our office to complete the application forms.

Once all application forms have been fully completed:

  • We will send your details to our referencing company Rent4Sure. You must complete the referencing form as soon as possible. You are advised to contact your referees (manager, HR department, previous Landlord or letting agency to make them aware that Rent4Sure will be contacting them for a reference). The references also need to be completed within the aforementioned 15 calendar days of reservation. If your reference application is not complete by the 15 calendar day deadline, by either yourselves or your referee, you may forfeit your holding deposit and the property may be re-listed (in line with the Tenant Fees Act 2019).
  • We will send the tenancy agreements to you via Docusign. These MUST be signed within 15 calendar days of reservation or we may have to re-list the Property and you may forfeit all monies paid (in line with the Tenant Fees Act 2019).

4. Right to Rent Check.

As of the 1st February 2016, the Right to Rent Scheme (Immigration Act 2014) requires Landlords or their appointed Agents to check the identification of all prospective adult occupiers (anyone of 18 years of over) and establish if they can legally rent residential property in England. Failure to do would result in fines of up to £3000.00 per Tenant.

Hutton Parker cannot legally grant access to the Property until ALL tenants have completed the Right to Rent check. These checks will be performed on all prospective Tenants without regard to Race, Religion or proof of Nationality.

You will be issued with more information regarding the right to rent checks after you have paid the reservation fee.

5. We will send you a statement showing how much you paid as holding fee and how much you have left to pay before the tenancy can commence. The deposit and first month’s rent cannot be paid until the tenancy agreement has been signed by all parties.

6. Upon completion of the above conditions, you may come and collect the keys on the agreed Tenancy start date.

Fees

Holding Deposit

1 weeks rent (Monthly Rental x 12 / 52 = one weeks rent).

The holding deposit must be paid before we can take the Property off the market.

The holding deposit can be put towards the first month’s rent, but applicants will need to confirm they want the holding deposit to be put towards the first month’s rent. A separate form will be provided for this.

Cancellation by Applicant

In line with the Tenant Fees Act 2019, the reservation fee will not be refunded if you change your mind. If you fail to enter into the Tenancy Agreement within the 15 calendar day deadline, you may forfeit your holding deposit. Please see document regarding the “Tenant Fees Act 2019 info for Tenants” for more information.

Damage Deposit

  • Rent under £50,000 per year – five weeks’ rent.
  • Rent of £50,000 or over per year – six week’s rent.

The full deposit must be paid before Tenancy can commence.

Once the full deposit has been received, it will be protected using My Deposits.

Deposits are held in a designated ‘Ring Fenced’ Client Account without any interest payable to the Tenant.

You will be provided with a deposit protection certificate when you collect the keys for your Property. Deposits are held in respect of damage caused to the Property and cannot be used towards payment of rent at any time during the Tenancy or at the end of the Tenancy.

The deposit is refundable at the end of the Tenancy subject to compliance with all terms and conditions of the Tenancy Agreement.

Tenancy Agreement

A sample Tenancy Agreement will be supplied to you during the application process. This Agreement is a generic document.

Other Documents Relating to Tenancy

You will be provided with several documents relating to the tenancy at application and when you collect keys to the property. It is a legal requirement for us to provide you with some of these documents so you will be asked to sign a form to confirm receipt.

Signing Agreement

All persons making an application for Tenancy must be available to sign the Tenancy Agreement within 15 calendar days of application. In the case of joint Tenancies, tenants are signing as jointly and severally liable.

Rent Payment

In addition to the deposit, you will need to have paid your first month’s rent in in cleared funds before you are granted access to the property. Hutton Parker will provide you with bank details so that you can set up a standing order for the monthly rent to be paid. Proof that the standing order has been set up will be required before your collect keys to the property. Please remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that the standing order is set up. Hutton Parker have no access to your account, and we cannot withdraw the money as with a direct debit.

Utilities

You will be provided with meter readings and the names of the utility providers when you collect the keys to the Property. It is your responsibility to set up the utility accounts in your name.

Insurance

The Landlord will have buildings insurance. You are advised to take out insurance on your personal belongings. The Landlord will not provide this.

Inventory

You will receive two copies of the Inventory to take away with you when you collect the keys to the Property. You will then make any changes you feel necessary and return to Hutton Parker within 14 working days

Cancellation by Landlord

In the unlikely event that the Landlord withdraws the Property from the market, you will receive a full refund of all monies paid. We will endeavour to help you find alternative accommodation.

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