All of our tenancies last for 12 months with an option to extend at the end of this period subject to the landlords approval. If a tenancy is offered for less than 12 months it will say on our marketing and you will be advised upon an enquiry. The minimum tenancy term we can offer is 6 months.
When you sign a tenancy agreement you are entering a legally binding contract. The time period expressed on the tenancy agreement is expected to be observed and you are legally liable for payments until the expressed period ends. If an unavoidable change in circumstance occurs, it is entirely at the discretion of the landlord whether a negotiation of any kind will be accepted. The sooner you advise the landlord or agent of your issue, the faster a resolution could potentially be found.
Yes. All of our properties advertised are priced for rent including council tax rates, you will not receive a bill for this.
Yes. Before you move in to any of our properties, we will ensure that they have:
- • A valid EPC (energy performance certificate),
- • A valid Gas Safety Certificate (if the property benefits from gas)
- • A valid HMO licence where required
- • A landlords registration scheme number is supplied
We will also encourage the landlord to have the property undergo an inspection to gain:
- • A valid Electrical Installation Certificate (subject to the landlords approval)
Yes. To rent any of our properties you must supply a month’s rent for security against damages that could be caused during the tenancy. You will be asked to pay this deposit before you apply for a property and held in a government based protection scheme. When it is time for you to move out, the property will be checked for damages and dependant on everything being OK, the deposit will be released back to you in full from the scheme. If problems are
found and repairs are needed, the cost of this will be calculated and a charge will be requested from your deposit via the scheme.
If the landlord is looking after your tenancy for its duration then they will be responsible for holding and releasing your money at the end of your tenancy, they must register your deposit into an approved scheme.
If Lettings Company is managing your property for the duration of the tenancy then we will register and supply your deposit to TDS Northern Ireland. They will handle its release at the end of the tenancy with input from both the tenant and the agency.
You can find out who is looking after your tenancy by checking your tenancy agreement.
Yes. Of Course you can, it is your right to thoroughly read any documentation you are about to sign. You may even seek independent legal advice before signing the agreement if you wish.
Depending on whether the landlord is looking after your tenancy or whether Lettings Company has a management service in place for your property dictates whether you will call the landlord or ourselves. This will be detailed in your tenancy agreement. All of our managed tenancies have access to our dedicate online repair reporting system.
You must ask for permission from the owner of the property before any permanent changes, internal or external are made. Permission must be requested by written letter and in most cases landlords can be pretty flexible. The term Permanent changes’ covers many aspects, for example:
- • Erecting an aerial or satellite dish
- • drilling holes in the property
- • decorating of any kind
- • changing of any permanent fixtures, e.g. paving slabs, outside garages etc
This list is not exhaustive and your motto should be – “check before you do anything”.
No they cannot. It is a legal obligation that if access to the property is needed, permission from the tenant must be obtained. If permission cannot be obtained within a reasonable time period then notice must be served by written letter advising the tenants of the landlord or agents entry on a specific time and date, leaving ample time for a reply from the tenants before entry takes place.