Procedure for Renting a Property Through John Dean LTD.

The Tenant Fees Act 2019 came into force on 1 June 2019. From that date it is illegal for letting agents to charge fees to tenants apart from a small number of exemptions that are referred to as ‘permitted payments’.

PERMITTED PAYMENTS are:
Rent, utilities, television licence, phone, broadband and council tax, installation of cable/satellite, security deposits, holding deposits, default fees e.g. replacement key or charge for late rent payment, fees for changing a tenant or ending a tenancy early, pet licence , permission to redecorate.

HOLDING DEPOSIT (PER TENANCY) – ONE WEEK’S RENT.
This is to reserve a property. Please Note: This will be withheld if any relevant person (including any guarantor(s) withdraw from the tenancy, fail a Right-to-Rent check, provide materially significant false or misleading information, or fail to sign their tenancy agreement (and/or Deed of Guarantee) within 15 calendar days (or other Deadline for Agreement as mutually agreed in writing).

SECURITY DEPOSIT (PER TENANCY).
Five weeks’ rent (or six weeks if the annual rent is over £50,000). This covers damages or defaults on the part of the tenant during the tenancy.

UNPAID RENT
Interest at 3% above the Bank of England Base Rate from Rent Due Date until paid in order to pursue non-payment
of rent. Please Note: This will not be levied until the rent is more than 14 days in arrears.

LOST KEY(S) OR OTHER SECURITY DEVICE(S)
Tenants are liable to the actual cost of replacing any lost key(s) or other security device(s). If the loss results in locks needing to be changed, the actual costs of a locksmith, new lock and replacement keys for the tenant, landlord any other persons requiring keys will be charged to the tenant. If extra costs are incurred there will be a charge of £15 per hour (inc. VAT) for the time taken replacing lost key(s) or other security device(s).

VARIATION OF CONTRACT (TENANT’S REQUEST)
£50 (inc. VAT) per agreed variation. To cover the costs associated with taking landlord’s instructions as well as the preparation and execution of new legal documents.

CHANGE OF SHARER (TENANT’S REQUEST)
£50 (inc. VAT) per replacement tenant or any reasonable costs incurred if higher. To cover the costs associated with taking landlord’s instructions, new tenant referencing and Right-to-Rent checks, deposit registration as well as the preparation and execution of new legal documents.

EARLY TERMINATION (TENANT’S REQUEST)
Should the tenant wish to leave their contract early, they shall be liable for the landlord’s costs in re-letting the property as well as all rent due under the tenancy until the start date of the replacement tenancy. These costs will be no more than the maximum amount of rent outstanding on the tenancy.

PET LICENCE
Consent to keep a pet will be £50 inclusive of VAT

PERMISSION TO REDECORATE
Consent to redecorate will be £50 inclusive of VAT

OTHER PERMITTED PAYMENTS
Any other permitted payments, not included in the above, under the relevant legislation including contractual damages.

EXISTING TENANCIES
While agents cannot charge fees to tenants (other than permitted payments) on tenancies starting after 1 June 2019, agents are allowed to charge fees on pre-existing tenancies until 31 May 2020.

We are members of The Property Ombudsman (TPO) redress scheme and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Client Money Protection Scheme. You can find out more details on our website or by contacting us directly www.johndean.co.uk

PLEASE NOTE. At the time of making your application, in order for us to comply with Right to Rent legislation, each tenant*, guarantor or anyone over the age of 18 years old who will be occupying the property, will be required to attend in person at our office between Monday and Friday with their passport or other acceptable documents as shown on the attached Guide to Global References. The application will not be able to proceed without this.

RENT PAYMENTS
Rent payments are due monthly in advance by single standing order payment, in accordance with the tenancy agreement. Payments must be made by single standing order payment to leave the tenants account by no later than the 27th of each month or we will levy a penalty charge of £30 inclusive of VAT each time the rent is paid by more than one payment. Furthermore a fee of £30 inclusive of VAT is charged in the event of a cheque / standing order being returned by the bank together with any interest accruing. The landlord reserves the right to charge interest (calculated from day to day) at 3% over the Bank of England base rate on payments which are 14 days or more overdue, interest will be charged from the due day and the landlord may recover the interest as though it were rent.

Rent is accepted from the TENANT only. No third party payments will be accepted.

MONEY LAUNDERING
All prospective tenants are required to attend at our office with the original of their Passport or Identity Card together with the original of either a Bank Statement or Utility Bill showing their name and address which we will copy and return in order to comply with legislation.

* ‘Tenant’ means either a single tenant, a group of tenants or a family who propose to live in the accommodation together.