FAQs for Tenants
What fees will I need to pay?
As is the law in England and Wales, you will not be charged any administration fees to rent a property. The only costs to you will be the deposit payment, which is equal to 5 weeks' rent and is held in a secure deposit scheme, and your ongoing monthly rent. There would however be a £50 admin charge where there is a tenancy swap.
Is my deposit protected?
Yes, as is the law, we protect our tenant's deposits using the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS). Some of our landlords who manage their properties themselves use other accredited schemes.
What about bills?
This depends on your tenancy agreement and whether or not some/all bills are included. Unless otherwise agreed with your landlord, you are responsible for setting up your own accounts and for paying your bills to the relevant places (typically gas, electricity, broadband, water and council tax) for the duration of your tenancy. Please get in touch with your landlord or your property manager if you have any questions.
What is the process for renting a property as a tenant?
Please contact us today if you have seen a property listed by Islington Properties that interests you. Otherwise, you can sign up for property alerts on our website. We will arrange for you to come and view the property and invite you to put in an offer, should the property be of interest. The landlord will consider your offer, and if accepted, we will take a holding deposit, which will secure the property, and ensure no further viewings take place.
All tenants are subject to affordability and referencing checks. When these are satisfactorily passed, we will issue a contract for all parties to sign, based on the agreed tenancy start date and then request the balance of the funds due to be paid – one month’s rent minus the holding deposit already paid, plus the tenancy deposit (five week’s rent) . A check-in inventory report will be carried out to protect both the landlord and the tenant. You can then collect the keys and move in from the first day of your tenancy agreement.
What are referencing checks?
Referencing checks are conducted to verify you as a tenant and to confirm you fit the affordability criteria. You will need to provide information about your employer, income, and previous addresses. You will also need to provide identity documents. We use a specialist third party firm to conduct these checks.
What is a guarantor, and do I need one?
A guarantor, often a parent or guardian, will be used to vouch for a tenant if referencing checks are not passed. They will need to go through referencing themselves and will be responsible for any rent arrears and damage should the tenant be unable to pay the rent on time.
What happens at the end of my tenancy?
The termination of a tenancy agreement will depend on your agreement. At the end of the fixed term in your Tenancy Agreement, you can allow your tenancy to end and move out of the property, or you can discuss extending your tenancy with your property manager or landlord.
What is the process of moving out?
After you have agreed on a move-out date, whether at the end of your tenancy agreement or another agreed-upon date, you will need to leave the property in good order. We expect properties to be returned to us clean and free of damage as they were provided initially. A check-out report will be carried out and compared against the check-in report, and it is at the landlord's discretion to charge for any damages.
FAQs for Landlords
What is the process of listing my property with Islington Properties?
- Agree a suitable marketing price and strategy
- Ensure that the property has a valid EPC, EICR, gas safety certificate (if appropriate) and any other certificates.
- Make sure all marketing material is fully compliant
- Commence marketing activity
- Agree a let and commence referencing
Do you offer property management as well as a lettings service?
Yes, we offer both standard and bespoke property management packages. Leaseholders in blocks that we manage are eligible for a discount on these packages.
What does your property management package include?
Our standard service includes the following:
• Dealing with day-to-day maintenance issues
• Dealing with refurbishment requirements
• Periodic rent collection, including full statements
• Efficient handling of rent arrears (if any)
• Six monthly property inspections
• Organising inventory, check-in and check-out reports
• Holding and dealing with Deposits
• Ensuring properties have all the relevant legally required certificates/documentation
What are my responsibilities as a landlord?
As a landlord, you are responsible for ensuring your property is kept in a liveable condition, which includes addressing problems and repairs promptly as they arise. Islington Properties is an independent boutique agency, and we pride ourselves on the quality of the properties we let. Providing a superb standard of living to our tenants is essential to us. If you choose Islington Properties to manage your property, we will ensure your property is well-kept, any repairs are dealt with efficiently and in good time, and the tenants are kept happy. After all, a happy tenant is a good tenant. The tenant is responsible for returning your property clean and undamaged at the end of their tenancy. You can find a complete list of responsibilities in your Tenancy Agreement.
What happens if I want to sell my property?
We can initiate the sales process for you, either when a tenant is still living in the property (subject to any clauses in the Tenancy Agreement) or when the property becomes vacant. We will offer advice as to the best approach to take according to the particular circumstances and we will market the property to achieve the best result for you. From this point, we would be happy to direct you to our sales service. You can read our Sales FAQs here.
