Greenwood James Estate Agents

Register your property requirements with Greenwood James.
Allow as much lead in time as possible, particularly as the Lettings market is extremely buoyant and rental properties are quickly taken up.

The application fee can be paid by debit card or cash. This fee is NOT refundable.  
Payment of the application fee does not imply a tenancy; it simply allows us to incur expenditure and process your application with confidence whilst securing the property for you during the referencing period i.e.: no further applications will be accepted against the said property. 

The Landlord will want to be sure that you are able to afford your rental payments, are in permanent employment and that you have a good credit history (or an acceptable guarantor where necessary).
  Each Applicant Should:

• Be in full time continuous employment for not less than 6 months or in the case of graduates in new employment, be able to provide a formal contract of employment for our files. If work is of a temporary nature through a recognized agency proof of 12 months continuous earnings must be provided
• Have a good credit history
• Have good references from the previous landlord/managing agent, if applicable
• Earn a gross annual salary which equates to at least 2.5 times the annual rental commitment

An Applicant will need a guarantor when:

• He or she is a student
• He or she is unemployed or in receipt of Housing Benefit
• He or she has not been working continuously in full time employment for 6 months
• When the individual rental commitment is more than 50% of the annual gross income
• Has recently arrived from overseas for new employment. Each case will be treated individually and contracts of employment will be required
• Has an adverse credit history which has been declared

An applicant will be declined if he/she:

• Has any undisclosed adverse credit history (County Court Judgments, Individual Voluntary Arrangements and bankruptcies)
• Has CCJ's totaling an excessive amount, disclosed or otherwise
• He or she has an adverse reference from the Landlord, Managing Agent or Employer

Each guarantor must be:

• A property owner in the UK - if not then we recommend that they should have a monthly gross income of 3 times their monthly rental commitment
• Have a clean credit history - subject to appeal
• Be in employment or in receipt of pensions

Each applicant and guarantor will need to fully complete an application form.  
This list is not exhaustive.

Once you have settled on a property you will be asked for an application fee. (See application fee above).
Once your references have been approved you will be required to pay the balance of your move in monies and sign contracts the day your tenancy commences, before the Landlord will allow you to move into the property.

MOVE IN MONIES REQUIRED
. One month rent in advance
. One month rent as tenant deposit (bond)
. Administration fee to Greenwood James
The move in monies may change subject to the Landlords discretion i.e.: increased bond for pets.

All rent are collected by standing order from the tenant’s account.
Deposits and move in monies (see above) can be paid at our offices using most debit cards and some credit cards.  Please note a handling charge may be incurred when using a Credit Card.

Otherwise we can accept bankers' drafts or building society cheques made payable to Greenwood James Ltd. You can also pay by arranging a bank transfer of the funds at least three days before you are due to move in. Please notify us with your chosen method of payment.

Unfortunately cash or personal cheques are not an acceptable form of payment. 

Before you are able to move in, the contract must be signed by all the applicants (and guarantors where necessary).
We ask that you read through and check your contract before signing. 
You will be asked to provide photographic identification, the following documents are accepted, Passport, Driving License, National Identity Card, UK Armed Forces Identity Card.  No other forms of I.D are acceptable.

In addition we will require proof of residency for the last six months:
. Driving License showing current address
. A recent utility bill (no older than 3 months)
. A recent council tax bill showing the applicants name and current address (this will only be accepted until the end of June each year)
. Recent documentation confirming the applicant will be/is receiving housing benefit
. Letter from employer on headed paper, signed and dated.

Proof of Insurance Cover
:A copy of your Tenants Contents Insurance including Accidental cover will be required.

Your tenancy deposit (bond) where Greenwood James manage the property is held in accordance with your tenancy agreement. It is held with the  Deposit Protection Service.

Deposits held under this scheme will be protected during the tenancy so they are available to be returned to the tenants if they have met the terms of the tenancy agreement. Where there is no dispute at the end of the tenancy, the deposit will be returned promptly. Where there is a dispute about the allocation of the deposit it will be dealt with fairly and quickly by Greenwood James, failing this apportionment of the deposit will be sent to arbitration under the Deposit Protection Scheme for them to decide the fairest settlement.

At the expiry of the Tenancy Agreement, the Landlord has the right to deduct monies for the non-performance of the Tenant’s obligations and to pay and compensate himself for the tenant’s breach of any of those obligations. These include such things as arrears of rent, cleaning of the property not completed in accordance with the contract, breakages etc. 

The statutory rights of either the landlord or the tenant to take legal action against the other remain unaffected. 

Two sets of keys will normally be given to the tenants upon check in of the property. 

Due to the cost and inconvenience of cutting keys and/or buying additional electronic security keys, it will be your responsibility to incur the cost of this and arrange for the supply of the same should you lose the keys.

Protect your Deposit and your own Contents

We at Greenwood James realise how difficult it can be for tenants to arrange the right insurance cover for their contents, personal possessions and liabilities towards the landlord’s contents, fixtures, fittings and building. Often such cover is either very restrictive or provides more cover than tenants normally require and premiums can be prohibitive.
As tenant your personal possessions can be at risk from fire, storm, water-damage and possibly from theft during the time in your rented property. You may suffer loss or accidental damage to yours and your landlord’s belongings whilst at home.

Accidents do happen and as your tenancy agreement clearly states, you are legally responsible for them. Unfortunately they can quite often cost hundreds of pounds.
Protect yourself now with Homelet Tenants Contents Insurance, a policy specifically designed for tenants at an affordable price. Have peace of mind- Homelet can deal with these accidents for you – Protecting your deposit!

Greenwood James nor the landlord can accept any liability if you, the tenant, fail to obtain adequate covers.