Register for Property Updates
Posted on January 5, 2011 in Tenants by whiteslettings
Looking for Property to rent in Fareham and the surrounding areas? Then ‘Contact Us‘ with details of the type of property you require and we will give you a call to discuss your requirements and let you know when we have suitable properties available.
Or if you prefer, you can call us now on 01329 286545.
Tenants Insurance
Posted on January 5, 2011 in Tenants by whiteslettings
A range of insurance policies are available for property tenants:
Contents
Up to your selected sum insured for damage to your household furniture, equipment, furnishings, clothing and personal possessions whilst in your home (excludes business equipment).
Landlord’s Contents
Up to £2,500 for accidental damage to your landlord’s contents, fixtures & fittings for which you are responsible.
Personal Possessions
Up to your selected sum insured for loss or accidental damage to your clothing, watches, jewelry, spectacles, other valuables (excluding mobile telephones) and pedal cycles whilst away from your home anywhere in the UK or whilst temporarily elsewhere in the world. Theft from unattended vehicles must be from a locked boot.
About Fareham
Posted on January 5, 2011 in Tenants by whiteslettings
Fareham has a population of some 105,000 inhabitants and covers almost 30 square miles of southern Hampshire roughly midway between Portsmouth and Southampton.
The Borough is situated at the edge of the Hampshire countryside and lies at the foot of the beautiful Meon Valley. Today Fareham is a mixture of rural countryside and urban developments which cover the following wards:
- Fareham
- Portchester
- Stubbington
- Hill Head
- Locks Heath
- Titchfield
- Warsash
- Sarisbury
Information on the local area can be found on the Fareham Borough Council Website:
Fareham is easily accessible by public transport with a railway station and a bus station in the town. The area is also highly accessible by car due to the proximity of the A27 and M27. A cycle network is also being developed as part of the Borough Cycling Strategy.
Tenancy Deposit Protection
Posted on January 5, 2011 in Tenants by whiteslettings
The Housing Act 2004 introduced new legislation that has a major impact in the private rented sector. Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP) will apply to all new assured shorthold tenancies (AST’s) where a deposit is taken. It will not apply to assured or contractual tenancies (eg Company Lets).
Following pressure from the public and consumer groups, who were mainly concerned about tenants who had difficulty in recovering their deposits at the end of a tenancy, measures were introduced in to the Housing Act to prevent deposits being unfairly withheld by the landlord.
These measures commenced on 6 April 2007. All landlords and agents are required to join a statutory deposit scheme if they take deposits. This means that the deposits are safeguarded and tenants get all or part of their deposit back, if they have kept the property in good condition and are entitled to get the deposit back. Tenancy Deposit Protection offers alternative ways of resolving disputes which aims to be faster and cheaper.
How Does the Tenancy Deposit Scheme Work?
There are two types of schemes. Two insurance based schemes, each supported by Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service and one custodial scheme with ADR. Properties managed by Whites Independent Lettings have used the Custodial scheme since 6 April 2007.
The Custodial scheme works in the following way:
- The tenant pays the deposit to the landlord or agent
- The landlord or agent pays the deposit into the scheme within 14 days.
- Within 14 days of receipt of the deposit, the landlord or agent must give the tenant prescribed information about which scheme is being used and how it works.
- At the end of the tenancy, if the landlord and tenant agree how the deposit should be dealt with, the landlord and tenant write to the scheme who will send back the deposit according to the agreement.
- If there is a dispute, the scheme will hold the amount in dispute until the dispute resolution service or courts decide what is fair.
Rent, Fees & References
Posted on January 5, 2011 in Tenants by whiteslettings
Rents
Rents are normally quoted calendar monthly, and payable monthly in advance. The tenant is usually also responsible for Council Tax, Water Rates, Gas, Electricity and Telephone costs as well as TV licenses. All rents are payable by bank standing order to our company bank account.
Fees
Fees are charged to cover administration and referencing costs, a proportion of which is refunded if the tenancy does not proceed.
Reservation Fee
Once you have decided on a property, you will need to reserve it by paying a ‘reservation fee’. Assuming that the tenancy goes ahead, this will be deducted from the monies due before you move in. If the landlord declines to grant the tenancy, it will be refunded. However the reservation fee will be forfeit if you decide not to proceed for any reason, or if you fail to provide complete and accurate information in your application.
Deposit
A deposit will be paid by the tenant to to cover damage, breakages, and any other liabilities under the terms of your tenancy agreement. Please note that under no circumstances can the deposit be used by the tenant to cover rent. Deposits held under a Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement are held by The Deposit Protection Service in a custodial scheme and covered under the Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme in accordance with the Housing Act 2004.
References
As a minimum we will require satisfactory references from your employer (or college), and a previous or current landlord. We may also require a personal reference, and sometimes a guarantor. In addition a credit check will be undertaken. We may use the services of an independent referencing company to obtain and evaluate these references.