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© 2017 Dwellworks
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Discovering the U.K.
Securing Rental Housing
The U.K.’s selection of housing is extremely diverse. Properties may be rented on a
furnished or unfurnished basis, although the supply of furnished property tends to be very
limited outside major towns and cities.
Unfurnished properties usually include carpets, curtains, an oven, and hob (stovetop). They
may also include “white goods” consisting of a fridge-freezer, washing machine, and
dishwasher, but this is dependent on the landlord.
Properties are normally rented for a term of six to 12 months. Options to renew are
commonly written into a lease but it is up to the landlord to agree to a further term unless
stated otherwise in the tenancy agreement. Short term lettings of less than six months are
difficult to obtain, but there are now some landlords supplying this sector. Once a property is
sourced, a lease has to be signed by both the landlord and yourself (or your employer if it’s a
corporate lease). Rental payments are made monthly in advance. Most letting agents will
require a direct debit or standing order arrangement with your bank for the ongoing rent.
Typically, the initial process and the costs involved once a rental property has been found
are as follows:
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The referencing company will carry out employment and credit checks, which can
take a week or so. To expedite the process, it is wise to have your employer’s HR (in
the U.K.) contact details on hand. There is usually an administration charge that can
range from £150-300 for a single applicant, with an additional charge of £70-100 for
each additional adult who will be living at the property.
This is non-refundable in
the event that referencing is not passed
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The letting agent may require a “holding deposit” whilst they arrange for references to
be carried out. This is usually the equivalent of two weeks rent. The amount will
subsequently be deducted from the remaining costs payable for the tenancy (see
below). This is an important payment to make as it will remove the property from
marketing with the agent. Other parties are still entitled to offer on the property if they
viewed the property before with the letting agent, or if a different agent is conducting
viewings still
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Once the referencing has been completed, the agent will forward a draft Tenancy
Agreement for review
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Once terms are agreed by all parties, the tenancy agreement can be finalised and
the balance of remaining monies must be paid to the agent by the start date of the
tenancy
Funds due are as follows:
1. Agent's fee (this is usually equivalent to the holding fee – as above)
2. First month’s rent in advance
3. Security deposit (generally the equivalent of six weeks rent). This is a sum of
money that is held by an independent party to cover the cost of any repairs of
damages to the premises at the end of the tenancy