Guide to Renting Property

This guide provides step by step advice on how to secure your ideal rental property

Finding a property

When looking for a property to rent, it is important that you choose a landlord and letting agent that is regulated by a Professional Body and that you can trust. Andrew Craig is regulated by RICS and Andrew Craig FRICS is also a member of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA). Being a member of both RICS and ARLA means that we are regulated and we adhere to the Rules of Conduct of both professional bodies.

The first step to finding a property to rent is to register your interest with us and tell us what your requirements are so that we can narrow your search and find the right property for you. To do this call your local branch or complete the ‘Arrange a Viewing’ field on each property details page. We will then keep you updated when properties that match your requirements come on the market.

Viewing a Property

Once you have found some properties that match your requirements, we will then arrange for you to view these properties.

We offer accompanied viewings to ensure that we are on hand to answer any questions that you may have. We will ask you questions about affordability before arranging any viewings. This is to save you wasting your time in viewing properties where you do not meet our referencing income criteria. If this is the case then we will work with you to find you a suitable property.

Placing an Offer

When you have found a property you want to rent, acting quickly is vital as the lettings market moves very fast. Speak to us about the best way to proceed with your chosen property and think about the information you’ll need to provide- move date, how long you wish to rent the property for, any conditions of the offer and background information about you. We will need to ask how much you earn each year so we can check that you earn enough to cover the rent. The more information we can give the landlord about your offer, the stronger that offer will be. Please remember that you will be required to pay a Holding Deposit and once this is paid, legislation dictates that you must sign a Tenancy Agreement 15 days later, on the Deadline for Agreement Date, unless a different period is agreed.

Securing a Property

Once you have placed an offer on a property and the Landlord is willing to accept your offer, you will be required to sign a Holding Deposit Agreement and pay a Holding Deposit. Upon receipt of this deposit, we will mark the property as ‘Under Offer’ and will not accept any more holding deposits, whilst your offer is proceeding.

Before you move into a property, we carry out a reference check on you, anyone else living in the property and possibly any guarantors too if applicable. Once you have paid your Holding Deposit, our referencing supplier will contact you with an application form. It is vital that you complete and return this immediately, to ensure that you are in a position to sign the Tenancy Agreement on the Deadline for Agreement Date.

Signing the Tenancy Agreement

If there are no problems with your reference checks, you will sign your Tenancy Agreement (normally electronically), on the Deadline for Agreement Date and you will have to pay one month’s rent (less the Holding Deposit paid), plus a Tenancy Deposit of up to five week’s rent, or alternatively use our optional Deposit Replacement scheme, provided by Zero Deposits.

A Tenancy Agreement is a legally binding document that sets out the terms of the tenancy. Your Tenancy Agreement will be an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement which will include the tenancy start date, the duration of the tenancy, how much rent you will have to pay and how often, your rights as a tenant and your landlord's responsibilities.

Move In

Once the Tenancy Agreement has been signed and the monies detailed above have been paid, you will then be given the keys to your property and you will be able to move in.

Property Management

After you have moved into the property, if the property is managed by us then you will deal with us if you have any queries or problems. You will be allocated a dedicated Property Manager who will be your point of contact throughout your tenancy. If the property is not managed by us then you will be in direct contact with the Landlord.

Money Protection

As we are Regulated by the RICS all Client monies are protected by the RICS Client Money Protection Scheme. The maximum per claim is £50,000. We are members of the PRS redress scheme.

Leading Technology

To get you moved into your property as quickly as possible we use an electronic signature system so tenancy agreements can be signed on a computer or hand held device, such as an iPad or mobile phone. We also offer Virtual Livestream viewings on our lettings properties, enabling you to view properties quickly and without having to worry about your or our schedule.