TERMS
OF TENANCY - EXPLANATORY NOTES
A Shorthold Tenancy Agreement is issued for a period of six months and offers tenants security of tenure for this period. There is a minimum letting period of four months. There is a ‘two months notice’ clause within the agreement which means that tenants may, if they wish, stay for up to six months or longer, or should they wish to vacate before the expiration of six months, may do so by letting us have two clear calendar months’ notice in writing, posted to our registered office address.
Two clear calendar months means two complete calendar months. For instance, should a tenant wish to vacate at the end of April, they must contact us before the end of February. However, should we receive written notice, for example, on the third, seventh or perhaps tenth day of March that a tenant wishes to move, they can ultimately be held responsible for payment for the flat until the end of May. Of course, if a tenant wishes to move out prior to the end of the notice period, we will always endeavour to re-let the flat and in that event, let the tenant have an apportioned refund for part of the relevant period.
Regarding our quoted rentals, all payments are made in advance on a calendar monthly basis and are exclusive of all outgoings. That is to say the tenants are responsible for such items as Water Rates, Council Tax, telephone charges, gas and electricity charges etc. and must settle these directly with the relevant corporations. There is also a six-monthly service charge, currently £100.00, which is a contribution to the insurance, maintenance and administration charges incurred by the landlord.
Insofar as the ‘mechanics’ of payment are concerned, a £100.00 holding deposit is taken and in most instances secures a flat for a prospective tenant. The property is then taken off the market for twenty-four hours while the tenancy agreements are prepared and the tenants are organising their funds. The £100.00 payment is non-returnable should the tenant have a change of mind, but is deductible from the eventual initial substantial payment. If for any reason the tenant is willing to take the flat but the landlord is precluded from letting the property to him, then obviously the £100.00 is returned in full.
We do not take deposits but instead, ask for two full calendar month's rental to be paid in advance at the commencement of the tenancy, with the next payment being made at the beginning of the third month. This initial payment is either by cash, building society cheque, or certified bankers draft, and a receipt is issued for whichever method of payment is used. A personal cheque is not acceptable in this instance. This payment is either by cash, certified building society cheque, or certified bankers draft, and a receipt is issued for whichever method of payment is used. We would re-iterate that a personal cheque is not acceptable in this instance.
Thereafter rental is paid monthly in advance on the first day of each calendar month, by way of personal post-dated cheques which are taken from tenants on the signing of the agreement. Therefore, when signing the agreement we would have already taken the £100.00 holding deposit which is absorbed by the first six-month service charge. We would take the two month payment together with four post-dated cheques for the remaining period of the agreement. (i.e. four months). Post-dated cheques cannot be cashed until the date shown on the cheque and thus funds are quite safe and secure within the tenant’s bank account until the appointed date.
We issue a receipt for the two month payment as well as for the issued post-dated cheques. Should a tenant wish to vacate prior to the expiration of the agreement, as mentioned earlier, he has to write to us giving us two clear calendar months notice in writing. If for example a tenant wishes to vacate at the end of April, he must write to us towards the end of February at the latest. We should receive that letter by the last day of February, and by return of post, a letter is sent back to the tenant acknowledging that we have received his letter and therefore his written notice, and also returning the cheques to the tenant in respect of the period for which he is not responsible for the flat. Hence, if the tenancy was issued for six months from 1st January, and tenant was vacating at the end of April, the cheques returned would be for the months of May and June. We are obliged to return the cheques as it would be unlawful for us to present the cheques for payment once the flat had been vacated, and also of course, if we were not to return the cheques, they would be stopped by the tenant’s bankers.
Should the tenant wish to stay on after the initial six month period then they should contact us during the latter part of the fourth month and make the necessary request. It should be noted that even though the agreement is for a fixed six month period, the tenant is still obliged to give two clear calendar month’s notice even if he wishes to vacate the flat at the end of the six month term. Wherever possible we will always attempt to contact the occupying tenant to advise of a pre-arranged viewing with a prospective tenant. On those occasions where it is not possible to notify the tenant, or where the occupying tenant has been notified but cannot be available, then we will show the flat in the absence of the occupying tenant.
Insofar as decoration and repairs are concerned the tenant is responsible for maintaining the standard of the internal decoration, and the flat is expected to be surrendered in no worse condition than that in which the tenant received it: normal wear and tear excepted. All repairs are the landlord’s responsibility apart from such items resulting from accident or neglect on the part of the tenant, and excluding light bulbs and television aerials. Printed on all tenancy agreements are the telephone numbers of our ‘in house’ maintenance managers who are authorised to act upon a tenant’s request to carry out repairs.
When submitting a tenancy application form we will also require a PHOTO-COPY OF BOTH PASSPORT AND DRIVING LICENCE, and the ORIGINALS will have to be PRODUCED FOR INSPECTION, ON OR BEFORE THE SIGNING OF A TENANCY AGREEMENT AND COLLECTION OF KEYS. WE ALSO REQUIRE PHOTO-COPIES OF VISAS, WORK PERMITS AND OTHER IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTATION IF APPLICABLE.
As all our properties are furnished to a high standard, regrettably we cannot accommodate any pets.
We trust that the above explanatory notes answer your initial queries, but if there is anything you are uncertain about, please do not hesitate to telephone us.
A. B. Lynn & Company.
A Shorthold Tenancy Agreement is issued for a period of six months and offers tenants security of tenure for this period. There is a minimum letting period of four months. There is a ‘two months notice’ clause within the agreement which means that tenants may, if they wish, stay for up to six months or longer, or should they wish to vacate before the expiration of six months, may do so by letting us have two clear calendar months’ notice in writing, posted to our registered office address.
Two clear calendar months means two complete calendar months. For instance, should a tenant wish to vacate at the end of April, they must contact us before the end of February. However, should we receive written notice, for example, on the third, seventh or perhaps tenth day of March that a tenant wishes to move, they can ultimately be held responsible for payment for the flat until the end of May. Of course, if a tenant wishes to move out prior to the end of the notice period, we will always endeavour to re-let the flat and in that event, let the tenant have an apportioned refund for part of the relevant period.
Regarding our quoted rentals, all payments are made in advance on a calendar monthly basis and are exclusive of all outgoings. That is to say the tenants are responsible for such items as Water Rates, Council Tax, telephone charges, gas and electricity charges etc. and must settle these directly with the relevant corporations. There is also a six-monthly service charge, currently £100.00, which is a contribution to the insurance, maintenance and administration charges incurred by the landlord.
Insofar as the ‘mechanics’ of payment are concerned, a £100.00 holding deposit is taken and in most instances secures a flat for a prospective tenant. The property is then taken off the market for twenty-four hours while the tenancy agreements are prepared and the tenants are organising their funds. The £100.00 payment is non-returnable should the tenant have a change of mind, but is deductible from the eventual initial substantial payment. If for any reason the tenant is willing to take the flat but the landlord is precluded from letting the property to him, then obviously the £100.00 is returned in full.
We do not take deposits but instead, ask for two full calendar month's rental to be paid in advance at the commencement of the tenancy, with the next payment being made at the beginning of the third month. This initial payment is either by cash, building society cheque, or certified bankers draft, and a receipt is issued for whichever method of payment is used. A personal cheque is not acceptable in this instance. This payment is either by cash, certified building society cheque, or certified bankers draft, and a receipt is issued for whichever method of payment is used. We would re-iterate that a personal cheque is not acceptable in this instance.
Thereafter rental is paid monthly in advance on the first day of each calendar month, by way of personal post-dated cheques which are taken from tenants on the signing of the agreement. Therefore, when signing the agreement we would have already taken the £100.00 holding deposit which is absorbed by the first six-month service charge. We would take the two month payment together with four post-dated cheques for the remaining period of the agreement. (i.e. four months). Post-dated cheques cannot be cashed until the date shown on the cheque and thus funds are quite safe and secure within the tenant’s bank account until the appointed date.
We issue a receipt for the two month payment as well as for the issued post-dated cheques. Should a tenant wish to vacate prior to the expiration of the agreement, as mentioned earlier, he has to write to us giving us two clear calendar months notice in writing. If for example a tenant wishes to vacate at the end of April, he must write to us towards the end of February at the latest. We should receive that letter by the last day of February, and by return of post, a letter is sent back to the tenant acknowledging that we have received his letter and therefore his written notice, and also returning the cheques to the tenant in respect of the period for which he is not responsible for the flat. Hence, if the tenancy was issued for six months from 1st January, and tenant was vacating at the end of April, the cheques returned would be for the months of May and June. We are obliged to return the cheques as it would be unlawful for us to present the cheques for payment once the flat had been vacated, and also of course, if we were not to return the cheques, they would be stopped by the tenant’s bankers.
Should the tenant wish to stay on after the initial six month period then they should contact us during the latter part of the fourth month and make the necessary request. It should be noted that even though the agreement is for a fixed six month period, the tenant is still obliged to give two clear calendar month’s notice even if he wishes to vacate the flat at the end of the six month term. Wherever possible we will always attempt to contact the occupying tenant to advise of a pre-arranged viewing with a prospective tenant. On those occasions where it is not possible to notify the tenant, or where the occupying tenant has been notified but cannot be available, then we will show the flat in the absence of the occupying tenant.
Insofar as decoration and repairs are concerned the tenant is responsible for maintaining the standard of the internal decoration, and the flat is expected to be surrendered in no worse condition than that in which the tenant received it: normal wear and tear excepted. All repairs are the landlord’s responsibility apart from such items resulting from accident or neglect on the part of the tenant, and excluding light bulbs and television aerials. Printed on all tenancy agreements are the telephone numbers of our ‘in house’ maintenance managers who are authorised to act upon a tenant’s request to carry out repairs.
When submitting a tenancy application form we will also require a PHOTO-COPY OF BOTH PASSPORT AND DRIVING LICENCE, and the ORIGINALS will have to be PRODUCED FOR INSPECTION, ON OR BEFORE THE SIGNING OF A TENANCY AGREEMENT AND COLLECTION OF KEYS. WE ALSO REQUIRE PHOTO-COPIES OF VISAS, WORK PERMITS AND OTHER IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTATION IF APPLICABLE.
As all our properties are furnished to a high standard, regrettably we cannot accommodate any pets.
We trust that the above explanatory notes answer your initial queries, but if there is anything you are uncertain about, please do not hesitate to telephone us.
A. B. Lynn & Company.