• Name
• Contact number (preferably a mobile number)
• Best time to call
• Number of bedrooms required
• Details of the proposed tenants (number of adults, their occupations & whether they smoke or not, number of children & their ages)
• Preferred area(s)
• Any specific requirements (for example parking, garden, floor in apartment block)
  
• Maximum rent
• When you would like to move by & any flexibilitly on dates
• An email address is also useful but not essential
  

Prospective Tenants are also encouraged to provide Beckets with copies of the documents used for the reference checks when they register as this will often be viewed favourably by the Landlord and speed up the checking process when you make an offer.

The documents we require are:

• Confirmation of Identity – normally a copy of your Passport (and visa, if applicable).
• Employment Reference – this must state the position held, place of employment, current salary, length of employment and whether it is a permanent or temporary position.
• Landlord’s Reference – stating length of time at the property, the condition of the property at the end of the tenancy, whether or not the rent was paid on time and if they would recommend the tenant.
• A copy of their current, or most recent, Tenancy Agreement.
• Proof of current address (normally bank statement, payslip or recent utility / mobile phone bill).
• Bank Statements for your principal Current Account for the previous three months.
• Payslips for the previous three months.
• A completed Tenant Application Form (the form will be supplied by Beckets).

Different documents are required if the prospective tenants are self-employed, students or require a guarantor.  Please ask for details.

No fee is charged for registering with Beckets.

When a property matching your requirements has been identified Beckets will arrange an accompanied viewing for you.

Making an Offer

Once you have viewed a property that you would like to rent Beckets will contact the landlord with details of your offer. Most properties will be rented “as seen”.

We recommend that you pay the holding deposit when making an offer as this will demonstrate to the Landlord that your offer is a serious one.

Holding Deposit

Once your offer is accepted, and before the tenancy can start, we will require the following documents and references for each person over 18 years of age who will be named on the Tenancy Agreement:

• Confirmation of Identity – normally a copy of your Passport (and visa, if applicable).
• Employment Reference – this must state the position held, place of employment, current salary, length of employment and whether it is a permanent or temporary position.
• Landlord’s Reference – stating length of time at the property, the condition of the property at the end of the tenancy, whether or not the rent was paid on time and if they would recommend the tenant.
• A copy of their current, or most recent, Tenancy Agreement.
• Proof of current address (normally bank statement, payslip or recent utility / mobile phone bill).
• Bank Statements for your principal Current Account for the previous three months.
• Payslips for the previous three months.
• A completed Tenant Application Form (the form will be supplied by Beckets).

If you are self-employed we will need the following documents and references:

• Confirmation of Identity – normally a copy of your Passport (and visa, if applicable).
• Business Reference – from your Chartered Accoutant or bank
• Landlord’s Reference – stating length of time at the property, the condition of the property at the end of the tenancy, whether or not the rent was paid on time and if they would recommend the tenant.
• A copy of their current, or most recent, Tenancy Agreement.
• Proof of current address (normally bank statement, payslip or recent utility / mobile phone bill).
• Bank Statements for your principal Current Account for the previous three months.
• Bank Statements for your principal Business Account for the previous three months
• Satisfactory proof that you will be able to pay the rent for the entire duration of the tenancy..
• A completed Tenant Application Form (the form will be supplied by Beckets).

Companies seeking properties for their staff will need to provide references from their bank, chartered accountants and solicitors.

Guarantors

Student will need a guarantor such as a parent, relative or close friend who will guarantee the rent and adherence to the Terms and Conditions of the Agreement. The guarantor must live and own property in the UK and will be required to provide a copy of their passport, an employment reference and bank statements and payslips for the previous three months.

Tenancy Agreement

After the references have been checked an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement will be drawn up. This Tenancy Agreement must be signed by the Landlord and all the named Tenants before the tenancy can begin.

The Tenancy Agreement will identify the length of the tenancy, the amount of rent payable each month, the day the rent is due each month, the amount of deposit payable and the terms and conditions of the tenancy.

Tenancy Agreements are normally drawn up for a period of six or twelve months, and may contain a break-clause after a specific initial period. The length of the Tenancy Agreement for a particular property will depend on the specific wishes and circumstances of the Landlord and Tenants.

Before your tenancy can commence the following payments must be made to Beckets:

• Advance Rent – normally one month's rent (students and new arrivals may be asked to pay more)
• Security Deposit – normally between an additional one or two month’s rent depending on the landlord
• Arrangement Fees – based on the advertised monthly rental figure and the number of people being referenced

These payments must be received, in full, in cleared funds before the tenancy can begin.  Please allow three working weekdays for the funds to be received if you are using internet or telephone banking, or five working weekdays if you are paying by personal cheque. 

The Security Deposit will be placed in a tenancy deposit protection scheme at the start of the tenancy by the landlord or by Beckets if it is a managed property.

In certain circumstances the Landlord may require an additional Security Deposit.

The Administration Fee is charged to cover the costs associated with reference and credit checking, drawing up the tenancy agreement, postage and the other activities involved in setting up your tenancy.

Paying the Rent

The Tenancy Agreement will identify the amount of rent to be paid each month and the day it is due to be paid on. The rent will be paid to the Landlord using a Standing Order or a Direct Debit unless an alternative method of payment has been agreed, in writing, with the Landlord.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the rent quoted to a Tenant by Beckets on behalf of the Landlord is inclusive of all outgoings that the owner of the property is responsible for (for example ground rent and service charges) with the exception of gas, electricity, fuel oil (where there is an independent oil fired heating system), telephone services, water charges and council tax.

Before moving in the new Tenant must transfer all the utilities into their name. This is the Tenant’s responsibility as the utility companies will not accept third party instructions from an agency.

Insurance

The Tenants are responsible for insuring their personal possessions in the property, while the Landlord is responsible for insuring the building and any contents provided by the Landlord. However, the Tenants remain liable for any damage caused to the Landlord’s contents.

Two months before the end of the tenancy period, Beckets will contact the Landlord and the Tenants to ascertain both parties requirements for a further letting or the continuation of the existing tenancy.

If both parties wish to extend the letting period a new Tenancy Agreement will be drawn up for the Landlord and all named Tenants to sign. A Renewal Payment will be required from the Landlord and Tenants when the new Tenancy Agreement is signed. The Renewal Fee for Tenants is equal to half of one week’s rent.

Alternatively if the Landlord has decided not to re-let Beckets would be happy to look for another property for you.

Tenancy Check-out

The Tenants will normally be checked out of the property by either the Landlord or staff from Beckets.

As part of the check-out process you will be asked to return all the keys to the property and provide evidence that all utility bills for the period of your tenancy have been paid.

Refunding the Deposit

The Security Deposit will normally be returned to you within 21 days of the end of the tenancy, as long as all the final utility bills have been received by that date. The Security Deposit will not be returned on the day your tenancy ends.

End of Tenancy Payments