Tenant Guide

At Rawlinson and Webber, we aim to provide a high-quality, stress-free renting experience for our tenants. Here is an outline on the general process once you have found a property that you would like to proceed with.

1. Securing the property

In order for the property to be reserved, once your offer has been accepted, we will require a holding deposit of 1 week’s rent. (rent x 12 / 52 = 1 weeks rent). Once we have your holding deposit, current legislation stipulates that the necessary paperwork should be completed within 15 days.

If at any time during that period you decide not to proceed with the tenancy, then your holding deposit will be retained by our firm. By the same token, if during that period you unreasonably delay in responding to any reasonable request made by our firm, and if it turns out that you have provided us with false or misleading information as part of your tenancy application or if you fail any of the checks which the Landlord is required to undertake under the Immigration Act 2014, then again, your holding deposit will not be returned.  It will be retained by this firm.

However, if the Landlord decides not to offer you a tenancy for reasons unconnected with the above then your deposit will be refunded within 7 days. Should you be offered and you accept a tenancy with our Landlord, then your holding deposit will be credited to the first months’ rent due under that tenancy.

2. Referencing Process

All offers are accepted subject to references. Once we have received the Holding Deposit we will submit the reference applications to Homelet. Homelet will send you an email with a link to their portal. Here you will fill out the application in full. Once received please complete and submit as soon as possible.

Part of our reference criteria is checking your affordability. The combined earnings of the tenant/s must equal or be greater than 30 x the monthly rent. For example – rent is £1,500pcm so salaries (before tax) must be a minimum £45,000.00 per annum. (Please note you are not permitted to register a business at the property).

If you are self – employed, we require tax returns for the last tax year or an accountants reference showing income after expenses to be 30 x the rent level.

If you do not meet the required affordability, you might need a guarantor. If this is the case the guarantor will be referenced as above. In order to obtain successful references, the guarantor would need an annual income of 36 x the monthly rent.

County Court Judgement/s / Bankruptcy: Having a County Court Judgement of any amount, settled or unsettled or having to have declared bankruptcy within the last 6 years will result in a failed reference. Unfortunately, the tenancy will not proceed.

Please inform us if you have a CCJ or have ever declared bankruptcy before paying the Holding Deposit.

Should the reference checks or return of papers delay the start date then you hereby agree that the tenancy shall still commence at the date agreed on these terms but you are not permitted to occupy the property until the satisfactory paperwork is completed.

3. Deposits and Rent

Given satisfactory references you will be offered the tenancy of the property subject only to the terms of the Tenancy Agreement.

Rent is always paid calendar monthly in advance, the first payment being made before you commence, all subsequent payments are to be made by standing order no later than your rent day. All payments are to be made by bank transfer; we do not accept cash or card payments. If the payment of rent is late for any reason, interest may be payable.

The deposit (which is capped at 5 weeks’ worth of the rent) acts as security for the performance of your obligations as a tenant under the tenancy agreement. This deposit will be returned to you at the end of the tenancy terms without interest, and subject to dilapidations or any deductions that may be necessary to compensate the landlord for any breach of the tenancy agreement. Please see our Tenancy Agreement for complete details of how the Tenancy Deposit will be dealt with at the end of the Term.

Rawlinson and Webber are a member of the Deposit Protection Service.

4. Tenant fee schedule

Holding Deposit (per tenancy)
One week’s rent.This is to reserve a property. Please Note: This will be withheld if any relevant person (including any guarantor(s)) withdraws from the tenancy, fail a Right-to-Rent check, provide materially significant false or misleading information, or fail to sign their tenancy agreement (and / or Deed of Guarantee) within 15 calendar days (or other Deadline for Agreement as mutually agreed in writing).

Security Deposit (per tenancy, rent under £50,000 per annum)
Five weeks’ rent.

This covers damages or defaults on the part of the tenant during the tenancy.

Security Deposit (per tenancy, rent over £50,000 per annum)
Six weeks’ rent.

This covers damages or defaults on the part of the tenant during the tenancy.

Unpaid Rent
Interest at 3% above the Bank of England Base Rate from Rent Due Date until paid in order to pursue non-payment of rent. Please Note: This will not be levied until the rent is more than 14 days in arrears.

Lost Key(s) or other Security Device(s)
Tenants are liable to the actual cost of replacing any lost key(s) or other security device(s). If the loss results in locks needing to be changed, the actual costs of a locksmith, new lock and replacement keys for the tenant, landlord any other persons requiring keys will be charged to the tenant. If extra costs are incurred there will be a charge of £15 per hour (inc. VAT) for the time taken replacing lost key(s) or other security device(s).

Variation of Contract (tenants request)

£50 (inc. VAT) per agreed variation. To cover the costs associated with taking landlord’s instructions as well as the preparation and execution of new legal documents.

Change of Sharer (tenants request)

£50 (inc. VAT) per replacement tenant or any reasonable costs incurred if higher.

To cover the costs associated with taking landlord’s instructions, new tenant referencing and Right-to-Rent checks, deposit registration as well as the preparation and execution of new legal documents.

Early Termination (tenants request)
Should the tenant wish to leave their contract early, they shall be liable to the landlord’s costs in re-letting the property as well as all rent due under the tenancy until the start date of the replacement tenancy. These costs will be no more than the maximum amount of rent outstanding on the tenancy.

5. Moving Process

Once references are completed and accepted, the Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement will be sent. This can be signed online electronically (with adobe reader, on your apple device with markup) Once we receive the Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement signed from both parties, we will require the remainder of the funds clear in our account. Upon receiving these monies, we will confirm the time of the check in/key collection.

On the day of commencement, you will meet at the property at the allotted time. You will meet our inventory clerk who will conduct the check in with you. She will read all the meters and go through the inventory with you; she will then release all the keys to you.

It is the responsibility of the landlord to ensure the building and their contents, however it is the responsibility of the tenant to insure their own contents. Rawlinson and Webber can refer you to Homelet who specialise in Tenants and Landlords insurance and they can provide you with a no obligation quotation as one of the options in the market.

Rawlinson and Webber are a member of the Property Ombudsman and the Client Money Protection Scheme. We are also the only licensed and Regulated Estate Agent in East Molesey.

If you have any further questions or would like to talk to a member of our lettings team, please ring 020 8941 6554