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Tenants
Bruce and Partners are dedicated to offering a high level of service to both landlords and tenants.
Please click below to be guided through the services available for tenants.
Revision Date: 22/02/2006
Viewing a property
Call or email Bruce & Partners to arrange to view the property of your choice. A member of our team will take your name, address and telephone number for security purposes. A mutually agreeable time will be arranged to view the property and normally a representative will carry out an accompanied viewing.
Reserving a property
By reserving your Bruce & Partners' property you, as a potential tenant, are required to pay £200 plus £25 for each person named on the lease to be credit checked (if a guarantor is required, this is an extra £15). After the credit check is carried out, we would require one month’s rent in advance, plus another month’s rent as a security deposit less the £200 initial reservation fee against breakages and damages. The deposit is refundable after an inspection of the property has been completed less any dilapidations when you have moved out. The inspection is carried out by an independent company.
Tenant credit checks
All potential tenants must complete a reservation form detailing their financial and personal details. This information is then sent to a reputable referencing agency, chosen by Bruce and Partners, who will provide an independent financial assessment on the prospective tenant/s.
Negotiation and Preparation of a lease
Our standard lease agreement has been developed such that it covers the problems which we know exist in the rental market. The tenant will be required to read the lease before initialling each page and signing.
Inventory
Prior to the tenant taking occupation of the property a full inventory of the furniture and furnishings in the house is carried out by independent company and this includes a record of the condition of the decoration and repair of the house. The tenant is provided with a copy of the inventory and is required to check or amend as necessary and sign and return to Bruce and Partners within 7 days. At the end of the let the inventory is checked to ensure that there is no damage or loss either to the furniture or to the property itself. If there is damage or loss (fair wear and tear excepted) then the cost of any repair or replacement is charged to the tenant. Bruce & Partners will also carry out regular inspections during the term of the lease.
Collecting Rent
If managed a standing order will be set up between Bruce & Partners and the tenant. If non-managed a standing order will be set up between the landlord and the tenant. The tenant is required to pay one months rent in advance and on the same date every month depending on the entry date. A penalty will be charged if the rent is not received by the agreed due date. If a tenant refuses to pay by standing order and pays cash then an administration fee of £10 + VAT will be charged.
Property Inspections
Bruce & Partners will carry out regular routine inspections and provide the landlord with a detailed report.
Property Maintenance
The landlord is responsible for all the maintenance and repairs, except where repairs are directly attributable to the tenant whether due to accidential or negligent damage. Many of these repairs can be minor, in which case Bruce & Partners will instruct work as necessary. For any major repairs, quotations will be obtained and will require to be approved by the landlord.
Under the Gas Safety Regulations 1994 (Installation and Use) all landlords have a legal obligation to ensure all the gas appliances (boilers, cookers, fires etc.) have passed a safety test every 12 months. If there is a service charge associated with the property, the landlord maintains the responsibility for these accounts.
Utilities
In addition to the rent, the tenant will be responsible for and have to pay all gas, oil, electricity, telephone and water bills used during the leasing period. The tenant will also be responsible to pay all council tax.
Insurance
The insurance of the building and any furniture, fittings or furnishings which belong to the landlord will remain the landlord’s responsibility. The tenant is responsible for insuring his own belongings in the property and it would be advisable for the tenant to insure the contents.
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