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Guide to Renting for Tenants

Guide to Renting for Tenants

Renting a property through James Anderson is quick and easy, and with the help of our expert and professional Lettings Team, you will be reassured that all aspects of your tenancy will run smoothly and hassle-free.

Register your interest with James Anderson

Register your interest with James Anderson

We all live in a fast-paced environment and no one has the time to be wasting most of the day scanning the web and portals looking at the hundreds of properties to let, in the hope of finding the perfect property.

The reality is your dream property might not even reach the portals due to the large number of tenants registered with us. Therefore it is vital that you register your interest with us, whether via our online form or in one of our local offices, allowing you to be placed on the very first search we carry out to find the most suitable tenants for our many landlords. If you decide not to, you will miss out on the benefits this brings you and you will find yourself hunting for a property in a sea full of tenants doing the same.

Why use James Anderson to find your perfect home?

Why use James Anderson to find your perfect home?

With 30 years of experience and with six offices across South West London, we have a wide network that allows us to find you exceptional properties in Barnes, Mortlake, East Sheen, Richmond, Putney and Putney Hill areas.

All of our offices are registered with Propertymark, which provides the ethical and professional framework for our business.

Book a Viewing

Book a Viewing

Once you find a property that you are interested in, book a viewing online (if the property is being advertised on our website) or just by calling our local Lettings office. Make sure you view all the properties you are interested in, just so that you can get a real feel of how the property is and what it has to offer so that when you reach the point of making a decision you feel confident and well informed of your choice.

Our expert team will support you every step of the way, providing you with important details of the property and insights into the local area. We provide accompanied viewings seven days a week, until 9pm weekdays and 5pm weekends.

Agreeing Terms

Agreeing Terms

Once you have decided on the property you would like to move into, you will be required to complete and sign an Application To Rent document, in order to agree terms with your Landlord. This document is a written confirmation of your proposed terms, which will be submitted to the Landlord.

Please note that this document does not guarantee the Landlord’s agreement to your proposed terms; we will manage all negotiations between you and your Landlord. When the Landlord agrees we will carry out a credit check and references all named Tenants.

For more information on our lettings process, please speak to one of our Lettings Negotiators.

Contract

Contract

Once the terms of the tenancy are agreed, we will process your references and produce an Assured Shorthold Agreement detailing all aspects of your tenancy, including details of your deposit scheme which protects your tenancy deposit. After all the tenants have confirmed to have read and agreed with the documents involved, you will be asked to sign the Tenancy Agreement. At this stage, we will request for the completion of funds to be paid and for the confirmation that your standing order mandate has been set up. The amount of the invoice will include your first rental instalment, a security deposit, less the amount you have already paid to secure the property (one weeks’ rent).

Find out more information on the tenancy here.

Move into your dream home

Move into your dream home

Prior to your move, we will carry out a pre-tenancy check to ensure that the property is ready for your occupation. After that, we will arrange for an Inventory Clerk or the Landlord to meet you on the pre-agreed day and time to check you in to your new home.

Shortly after your move, we will contact you to ensure your move was successful and to provide you with access to “Property File” which is your property portal containing all your documents for your tenancy along with other useful information relating to your property. We will also provide you with the contact details of the person you should contact during your tenancy, should you experience any problems.

Tenant Responsibilities

Tenant Responsibilities

Starting from the day you move into your new home it is your responsibility to ensure that the payment of the rent and utilities are made on time. You are responsible for notifying your property manager or landlord of any maintenance issues during your tenancy and ensuring that the property is kept in the same condition that it was at the time of your occupation.

As part of the Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement, your Landlord will be obliged to carry out any essential repairs during the tenancy, to resolve any maintenance issues and to keep the property habitable for you. At the start of your tenancy, please notify the suppliers of gas, electricity and water, as well the local council, that you have moved into the property and that all utility bills and council tax should be in your name.*

*Where James Anderson manages the property, we will write to the utility suppliers on your behalf, however, it still remains your responsibility to ensure that the bills are transferred into your name. We don’t do this, but we do recommend the use of Vouch to assist tenants with appointing utilities as well as contacting the local authority for council tax registration.

Who to contact during your tenancy

Who to contact during your tenancy

Property Management: 020 8878 4277

James Anderson is here to help you through your tenancy, so please feel free to contact us at any time. Our local branches are open seven days a week, until 9pm weekdays and 5pm weekends to ensure that all your concerns are heard.

In cases where we manage the property (as instructed by the landlord), we are authorised to carry out repair work on the landlord’s behalf and offer a 24hr emergency repairs as stated in your tenancy agreement. Where the landlord manages the properties themselves, we will try to help as best we can but you may be directed to the landlord.

Moving Out

Moving Out

Three months prior to the end of your tenancy, James Anderson will contact you to discuss whether you wish to remain within the property and renew your existing contract, or if you wish to move out. You have about four weeks to provide us with an answer. If you are happy to stay, then we will inform your landlord of your decision and once the new terms are agreed we will issue a new Tenancy Agreement. On the other hand, if you wish to move out, our Letting Negotiators will be able to provide you the support needed to help you find a new home and secure a new tenancy. Once you have made the decision to move out, please inform your utility providers of the moving out date and close all your accounts and any standing orders you may have set up. On the move out day you will be obliged to return all keys to your local lettings office and provide us with your forwarding address and contact details in order for us to arrange your deposit return. We will also arrange for the check-out inventory, with an independent inventory company who will produce a report on the condition of the property in order for the security deposit to be returned less any agreed damages.