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Guide For Tenants
Finding somewhere to live can be time-consuming and sometimes stressful, especially if you are new to London. At Day Morris we listen to your requirements and aim to show you only the properties that can match them. We are happy to advise you on any aspect of renting a property. For a few basic tips see below. Whether you are looking for a family house or a studio flat, we hope to find you a property where you will feel at home. Many of our tenants come back to us when they are looking to rent again.
Please see our list of currently available properties and do feel free to contact us or come in and see us.
Renting a property – some tips
If you are new to renting, or to renting in London, the sheer number of properties and agencies may overwhelm you. Many people find somewhere to live through friends or through advertisements on websites, in newspapers and in shop windows. If you are looking for a flat-share, or want to rent a room only, these will be the best methods, as most agencies only let self-contained properties, with their own kitchen facilities and bathroom.
If you are using an estate agent or letting agent you should check that they are members of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) or Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA). This will ensure that they abide by a professional code of conduct. Check whether they charge an agency fee (most agents do) and how much it is. This is separate from the holding deposit, which an agent may ask for when you have found somewhere you wish to rent. Don’t hand over any money until you are sure you want to take the property and the owner has accepted your offer. Once the agent has taken a holding deposit they should not show the property to anyone else.
Renting through Day Morris
If you are looking for a property through Day Morris and find somewhere you like, we will contact the owner and tell them about you and how much you are offering to pay in rent. If they accept the offer and you agree on the move in date and the length of the tenancy we will then take a holding deposit from you of one week’s rent while we take up references. When you are ready to sign the contract and move in we take one month’s rent in advance, a further five weeks’ deposit (making six weeks in all) and our contract fee of £125.00 (plus VAT). After that you will usually pay rent monthly by standing order, either direct to the landlord or via Day Morris, unless other arrangements are agreed.
Deposits
The law has now changed to give tenants more protection and ensure that deposits are not unfairly withheld at the end of the tenancy. All landlords and letting agents must hold deposits in one of three protection schemes and inform the tenant within 14 days of taking the deposit which scheme they are using. Please click here for more information. We are advising all our landlords to have a professional inventory done at the beginning of the tenancy to minimise the risk of a dispute. The landlord pays for this. At the end of the tenancy a check-out inventory is done, and this is paid out of the tenant’s deposit. We believe this is in both parties’ best interests.
Please contact us if you wish to discuss any aspects of renting a property through Day Morris or click here to view our current list of rental properties. We look forward to hearing from you. |
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