Tenants

Renting a property can be a stressful time for anyone, especially in London where the market moves quickly and is competitive all year round. With James Hayes, you can rely on accurate and up-to-date information about the market and the properties we are marketing. We will take an in-depth look into your requirements to make sure that the properties we introduce align with what you are looking for. We are committed to finding the home that is right for you and will aim to show you as much as possible within your search criteria to allow you to make the most informed decision.

We will work around your busy schedules to arrange viewings at times that suit you and offer helpful and friendly advice throughout your search. We have fantastic relationships with all our clients, so should you wish to place an offer it's likely you’ll have an imminent response.

In agreeing on an offer and where we are responsible for drawing up the paperwork, we will issue the relevant documents (Tenancy Agreement, Reference Forms & Invoice) electronically on the same day. Completing the paperwork as quickly as possible will ensure you secure your new Tenancy and can then look forward to your move. Of course, we will be on hand every step of the way should you have any questions.

Information for Tenants

The following information is a guide for prospective tenants highlighting the process and costs involved when renting a property via James Hayes.

Down Payment

Any offer accepted by the landlord is subject to satisfactory references and a signed contract. We will send an email confirming the terms of the acceptance of your offer and requesting payment of the down payment. The downpayment amount is equivalent to one week’s rent.

The downpayment will be allocated towards the security deposit. The security deposit is either a maximum of 5 weeks’ rent if the yearly rental amount is under £50,000 or 6 weeks’ rent if it is over £50,000. We also collect one months’ rent in advance upon signing the tenancy agreement. The tenant will only be at risk of forfeiting their down payment if; a) they fail their Right to Rent checks. b) they provide false or misleading information to the landlord or James Hayes, which materially affects their suitability to rent the property. c) after signing the tenancy agreement, they notify the landlord or James Hayes that they have decided not to enter into a tenancy agreement. d) they fail to take all reasonable steps to enter into a tenancy agreement.

Statement of Account

A statement of account will be issued in conjunction with the tenancy agreement for signing and other associated documentation.

This is an invoice for funds that will need to be paid prior to the start of the tenancy, including the security deposit and advance rental payment.

Referencing

Referencing will be carried out by a third-party company. Once the referencing has been completed the final reports are issued to the landlord for their approval.

In line with the Immigration Act and ‘Right to Rent’ checks, we require all tenants to produce documents which show entitlement to reside in the UK, copies of relevant documents will be taken and retained.

Change of Occupancy

Should a change of occupancy occur during the tenancy, whereby a tenant is removed from the tenancy (and sometimes replaced by another), a fee of £50 including VAT shall be applicable per replacement tenant to cover the third-party referencing fee and administration.

General Information

James Hayes are members of the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA) and the Property Redress Scheme. Client money protection (CMP) is provided by Propertymark.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact our team on 0208 740 5678.

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