Securing a Property to Rent
In Sussex, the property market moves quickly for buyers and renters alike. If you are looking to move into a rented property with a partner or friends, you must all decide as soon as possible after a property viewing if you are likely to move ahead.
Once you have agreed on a property, the 'let agreed' stage will begin, but this doesn't mean you have secured the property, which is subject to contract. During this stage, you will pay a holding deposit, undergo reference checks and sign the tenancy agreement. Failing to do so may mean that your desired property is rented to another tenant.
In England, anyone over 18 who wishes to rent or live in a property with another tenant must provide evidence of their Right to Rent before the tenancy can begin.
As with any property, you will be required to show legal documentation to confirm your identity (usually a passport) and your residence. For both UK and non-UK residents, you will be required to show evidence of the following:
Current driving license
Credit card statement
Mortgage statement
Current tenancy agreement
Letter from employer confirming your address
Utility bill
Council tax bill
Bank statements
Reference checks are carried out on prospective tenants to confirm that they have previously rented without any issues and are currently employed. Credit checks are also carried out to ensure rent will be provided each month.
If you are concerned that you may fail the checks, it may be worth considering a guarantor, subject to your landlord’s consent.
If your tenancy is not an AST, you will be asked to pay for the total costs of the reference checks.
Once the holding deposit has been paid, referencing is complete, and you have secured the property, the tenancy agreement will be drafted. We advise seeking legal advice before signing the contract.
All deposits for Assured Shorthold Tenancies (AST) must be protected by a government protection scheme. At Chesworths, we use the Tenancy Deposit Insured Scheme (TDS) if the landlord asks us to hold the tenancy. Some landlords may choose to hold the deposit themselves, in which case Chesworths are not involved.