YOU MUST ENSURE EACH TENANT CAN PROVIDE THEIR OWN 'GUARANTOR':
Guarantors must be in full-time employment and a UK homeowner
(if any guarantors are retired/tenants OR if any tenants are International Students, please email us to discuss further, before reserving the property)
If you have reserved your property more than six months before the scheduled tenancy commencement date, it's now time to sit back, relax and wait for the next steps.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of the Lead Tenant's duties and responsibilities:
Payment of the Holding Deposit ensures that the Property has been reserved and will not be offered to any other applicant(s) by First 4 Lettings, awaiting the completion and receipt of all paperwork and documents as per the 'Holding Deposit Agreement'.
The 'Holding Deposit' will be applied towards the first payment of rental.
Extended Holding Deposit Agreement: Where the Holding Deposit is paid more than six months prior to the scheduled tenancy commencement date, an Extended Holding Deposit Agreement will be issued. This agreement will confirm the mutually agreed extended deadline for entering into the tenancy agreement and must be signed by all relevant parties.
The Holding Deposit and any other amounts paid will be forfeited as liquidated damages under any of the following non-exhaustive circumstances. If you:
Should any of the tenants fail to return their completed paperwork or sign the 'Holding Deposit Agreement' within the allocated time, the Holding Deposit will be forfeited and the property will be re-marketed.
All properties are let on an 'as seen basis' and any changes/clarification to the specification, furnishings, decorative condition and/or cleanliness of the property must be agreed upon at the time of reservation by email.
It is your responsibility to enquire as to what the exact furnishings are when you reserve the property, as some items you see at the property at the time of viewing may not be included when you move in.
A security deposit is paid to cover any breakages, damage or other tenant liabilities but not to cover rent. This is usually equal to £250.00 per tenant and is due 31/05. At the end of the tenancy, a property inspection is carried out to assess any damages/deductions due.
Where First 4 Lettings are managing the property, the deposit will be protected with 'The Deposit Protection Service' under their custodial scheme. More information on this scheme can be found at www.depositprotection.com.Not moving in until September? You could get a whole month's rent back!
Previously, we offered students a discounted rental period, with half rent payable during July and August. Due to changes introduced by the Renters' Rights Act, we've replaced this with our new September Rental Rebate, designed to offer students the same financial benefit in a different way!
How does it work?
Your tenancy starts on 1st July, with rent payable monthly throughout your agreement.
However, if you and your housemates choose not to collect your keys until September, we'll offer you a goodwill rebate equivalent to September's rent!
This means you can still benefit from the equivalent saving of one month's rent, just as you would have under our previous half-rent arrangement.
What if I want to move in earlier?
No problem! You're entitled to collect your keys and move in from the start of your tenancy.
However, if even one housemate collects their keys before September, the entire household will no longer qualify for the rebate.
Why have we made this change?
We've adapted our approach to reflect the new rental legislation while ensuring students can still enjoy the same financial savings previously offered through our July and August discounted rental period.
The choice is yours: move in early or wait until September and benefit from a month's rent back!
Please note: This offer is available on eligible Fully Managed properties only and is subject to our separate goodwill rebate policy.
All tenancies are periodic, with rent payable monthly in advance, commencing from the tenancy start date (typically 1st July).
However, we understand that many students receive their Student Finance payments termly rather than monthly. For this reason, students are welcome to voluntarily pay their rent in advance if this is more convenient for them.
In previous years, many of our students have chosen to follow the payment structure below, which broadly aligns with Student Finance England payment dates:
| DUE DATE | PERIOD |
|---|---|
| Signing of Tenancy Agreement | July |
| 01/08 | August |
| 01/09 | September |
| 01/10 | October, November, December & January |
| 01/02 | February, March & April |
| 01/05 | May & June |
Please note: This is simply an example of a payment arrangement previously chosen by students. It is entirely optional, and there is no requirement to pay more than one month's rent in advance.
Weekly rent × 52 ÷ 12 (rounded up to the nearest £ where applicable).
In the event of a tenant being unable to meet their obligations under the tenancy agreement, the guarantor is legally bound to accept the liabilities on behalf of the tenant.
A guarantor must:
Each guarantor will be required complete and sign a 'Guarantor Agreement' which must be emailed to us with a copy of their Photographic ID (UK Driver's Licence/Passport).
If suitable guarantors are not provided you may be required to use an independent rent guarantor service (e.g. Rent Guarantor).
A tenancy agreement is a legally binding contract between you and your landlord. It sets out the rules of the property, including rent, responsibilities, and what is expected from everyone living there.
Tenancies are set up as periodic agreements, meaning they roll on a month-to-month basis rather than having a fixed end date. This gives you more flexibility, but you’ll still need to follow the terms of the agreement and provide notice if you plan to leave.
MANAGED BY FIRST 4 LETTINGS:
The Lead Tenant will be responsible for arranging an appointment with the date and time (during our office hours) to collect the keys.
Failure to make an appointment to collect keys and/or failure to bring the relevant ID documents may result in keys NOT BEING ISSUED.
The tenant will be issued with all keys and emailed the 'Property Inventory/Schedule of Condition*', provided all conditions with regards to the reservation have been fulfilled.
*The 'Property Inventory/Schedule of Condition' is a full and detailed report of the furniture, contents and state of repair of the property.
Although we will register the tenants for utilities and council tax, it is the tenant's responsibility to ensure all relevant utilities and the council tax have the correct meter readings and details respectively.
NOT MANAGED BY FIRST 4 LETTINGS:
Tenants will have to contact their Landlord directly for key collection unless otherwise advised.
The 'Landlord's Contact Details' along with your ‘Tenancy Agreement’ will be emailed to all tenants prior to the tenancy commencement date.