Tenant FAQ.
Questions:
- How do I view a property?
- How do I reserve a property?
- How do I apply for a property?
- What are the lease conditions?
Answers:
How do I view a property?
To view any of the properties, please contact the office on 0131 478 7222, during normal opening hours.
Monday – Friday 10:00am – 4:30pm.
By way of confirmation, you will be required to telephone the office, or a mobile phone number you may be given, at a prearranged time on the day of viewing.
Please note that if you do not confirm the appointment, the appointment will be cancelled and key holder will not be asked to attend at the appointed time.
Key holders are paid to attend viewings and work to a strict time schedule, please ensure you are present outside the communal stair or at the entrance to the property at or before the appointed time otherwise they will leave the property should you be late or fail to attend.
It is contrary to NAEA recommendations to provide transport to viewings; you are therefore required to make your own arrangements to attend each appointment.
There are links under the 'Links' section of the web site to Edinburgh's various transport authorities.
How do I reserve a property?
A property will be reserved for one week on payment of a reserve deposit, the minimum being £200, otherwise at least 50% of the monthly rent. This will be deducted from the total money you will be due to pay when you move into the property. It is important to note that if you decide not to rent the property for any reason or provide misleading or false information resulting in your reference being declined, the reserve deposits paid will not be refunded, compensating for losses incurred. However, if we consider your application does not meet our standards, or the Landlord withdraws from the proposed let we shall refund all deposit monies received.
This reserve payment does not constitute a rent or contribute to the reference fee, which is charged additionally.
How do I apply for a property?
You will be required to complete a reference application form and pay a one–off fee in respect of the referencing company's costs. The charge for this is £60.00 plus VAT per application. (£70.00 plus VAT for students with a guarantor) We regret that because these are administrative fees, charged to us, we are unable to consider refunds. This fee is due to be paid prior to submission of the application and is additional to any deposit sums.
What are the lease conditions?
Unless otherwise agreed, our standard 'Short Assured Leases' are offered initially for six–month periods that may often be renewable on an on–going two–monthly basis. Our normal requirements are payment of one month's rent that falls due on the first rent day and a deposit equivalent to one month's rent plus £100 to be paid on or before the date of entry. The Reserve Deposit contributes to this. In the case of unfurnished or part–furnished properties, the amount of deposit required may be negotiable and this should be discussed with a member of staff.
It is a condition of all our lets that tenants hold insurance adequate to protect personal possessions and accidental damage caused by the tenant to the furniture, fixtures and fittings. Tenants must pay the appropriate premium for inclusion in our block insurance scheme (the normal cost of which is £63.55 per 6 month period) or provide us with evidence of a current insurance certificate valid for the Landlords and Tenants possessions at the property they are due to lease prior to the commencement of the tenancy.
