Tenant Guidance Notes

The first step is to contact us to provide brief details about yourself and about the accommodation you require. We then search our database for suitable properties for you to view. If the property is not needed at that time, we will record your details so that we can contact you as suitable properties become available. It is wise to start looking about a month before you wish to move, to ensure you find the property that’s right for you.

Viewings will be arranged at times to suit you, including evenings and weekends, and you will invariably be accompanied by a member of staff, who can give advice and answer any questions you may have.

Once you have decided on a property, you will need to pay a non refundable holding deposit, usually of £300.00 preferably bank transfer, cash or a cheque providing it clears quickly. In addition you will have to pay the reference fee cost with the holding deposit. Assuming that the tenancy goes ahead, the holding deposit will be deducted from the monies due before you move in. If the landlord declines to grant the tenancy, the holding deposit will be refunded in full. However the deposit will be forfeit if you decide not to proceed for any reason, or if you fail to provide complete and accurate information in your application.

As a minimum we will require satisfactory references from your employer, and a previous or current landlord. We may also require a personal reference, and sometimes a guarantor in certain circumstances; in addition a credit check will be undertaken. We use Homlet, an independent referencing company to carry out the referencing. Each applicant over the age of 18 will need to be referenced at a cost of £25.00 + VAT per person, a short form will be given to you to complete when the holding deposit is taken. If the tenancy does not go ahead for any reason and the reference forms have been submitted to the referencing company, reference fees are non refundable.

Rents are normally quoted calendar monthly and payable monthly in advance and normally set up by standing order at the beginning of the tenancy. The tenant is responsible for Council Tax, Water Rates, Gas, Electricity and Telephone costs unless arranged differently before the start of the tenancy. All rents are payable by bank standing order to our company bank account, all utility companies and council tax departments will be notified by us at the start of the tenancy

A security deposit of a minimum of one month and half of the rental amount must be paid, and will be held with the government authorised Deposit Protection Services (DPS). This is held to cover damage, breakages, and any other liabilities under the terms of your tenancy agreement. Please note that under no circumstances can the deposit be used by the tenant to cover rent.

Orchard Property Services are able to offer a range of insurance policies for Tenants;

Contents up to your selected sum insured for damage to your household furniture, equipment, furnishings, clothing and personal possessions whilst in your home.

The policy will cover accidental damage to landlord’s contents and fixtures and fittings for which you are responsible.

Personal Possessions up to your selected sum insured for loss or accidental damage to your clothing, watches, jewellery, spectacles, other valuables whilst away from your home anywhere in the UK or whilst temporarily elsewhere in the world. Further details are available on request.

Non-Refundable Holding Deposit            £300.00

Referencing Fee                                           £25.00 + VAT (Per applicant over the age of 18)

Tenancy Admin Fee                                      £100.00 + VAT (Per applicant over the age of 18)

Dilapidations Deposit                                  (6 weeks of rental amount)

First months rent and dilapidations deposit will need to be paid before or on the start of the tenancy, the funds MUST be cleared before you can move into the property.

If you fail the referencing procedure an admin charge of £100+VAT for each person being referenced will be deducted from your holding deposit.

If references have been carried out and the tenancy does not proceed for any reason, only the holding deposit will be refunded in full, if the referencing applications have been submitted