Our Process
After your viewing please see below a guide to help you through the application process and what to expect in the lead up to move-in day. Most questions will be answered below however if you have any other queries please do get in touch.
It is important that you read this guide carefully so as not to delay securing your chosen property. We aim to be as transparent as possible when disclosing our services, procedures and fees. Whilst every care is taken, changes such as seasonal promotions do occur so contact your local letting branch directly for an accurate assessment of your rental needs.
T S Lettings Ltd is a member of and covered by the Deposit Protection Scheme. T S Lettings Ltd is also a member of a redress scheme. The PRS.
Request an application form
Once you have viewed a property and decided that you wish to proceed you will need to complete an application form.
Paying the holding fee and signing the tenant guide
If successful, all applicants will receive an email from Vouch our referencing provider. You will be asked to create a password (your email is your username) to set up a user profile. Once set up, you will be asked to enter your bank details to pay the holding deposit (one weeks rent). Once entered you will see a green tick appear, you will then be asked to view the tenant guide. Please read this carefully as it contains details regarding your tenancy. When you are happy with the details please sign the document. Once signed the holding deposit will be withdrawn from your account. In this email you may also see a draft copy of the tenancy agreement. This is not the final document so please do not print and sign this. Please remember your password as you will need this again to sign your tenancy agreement later on.
Referencing
After the holding fee has been paid, you will be able to submit your referencing details through the Vouch System.
They will require the following information:
- Bank details to complete a credit check
- Employment/income information
- Landlord information (if applicable)
- Additional information such as payslips, passport, visas, bank statements and Right to Rent checks may also be required.
- To help aid the financial checks, tenants can now opt in to an open banking check.
Photo ID and Right to rent
You will also be required to provide photo ID (driving licence, passport, UK ID card) and proof of current address (utility bill - excluding mobile phone bill, payslips or bank statement).
A driving licence can be used as proof of address if you have not used it as your photo ID.
We will require a ‘Share code’ to show your proof of residence. If you do not have a share code, please contact the agent to discuss.
IMPORTANT - For joint applicants the email you receive from Vouch will be unique to you so please DO NOT forward this onto any other applicant. If you have any questions relating to the reference you should contact Vouch in the first instance via their webchat.
If you provide false or misleading information which affects the landlord’s decision to let the property to you, if you fail referencing due to inaccurate information, fail Right to Rent checks, withdraw your application or you fail to complete referencing and signing of the tenancy agreement before the deadline for agreement date as set in the tenant guide, your application will fail and you will lose your holding fee which will be retained by T S Lettings Ltd.
Final invoice
After we have completed referencing you will be advised of the outcome. If successful you will receive an invoice directly detailing the remaining monies required. These include the first month’s rent (minus the holding fee you have already paid) and deposit. This invoice will arrive at least three days before the tenancy start date and before the deadline for agreement date. If there is a long period between completing referencing and the deadline for agreement your invoice may not be sent out straight away as they are filed in date order.
Signing the tenancy agreement and deadline for agreement
All tenants, the Agent and/or Landlord must sign the tenancy agreement before the ‘Deadline for agreement’ which is detailed in the tenant guide. The Agent/Landlord are only able to sign the tenancy agreement when the tenant has returned satisfactory referencing and cleared funds have been received for the first month’s rent (minus the holding fee) and deposit. If the tenant fails to complete referencing and the signing of the tenancy agreement before the deadline for agreement the landlord has the right to withdraw from the application, proceed with another applicant and you will lose your holding fee
Pre-signing the inventory
As moving day approaches, we will prepare an inventory. This is created as close to the tenancy start date as possible to ensure it is as accurate as possible and, because of this, it will be one of the last documents you will receive from us. A copy will be sent to you via email. Once received you have five working days from your tenancy start date to make us aware of any notes you would like to add. We would recommend taking additional photos alongside your notes and emailing them back to us where they will be reviewed. If we do not hear from you within five working day’s the pre-signed inventory will be filed and no further amendments will be accepted.
Keys Handover
We will meet you on the move in day to handover keys, please arrange a suitable time at least 3 days in advance of this start date. Please note before we can hand over keys we must have in our possession; completed referencing, cleared funds, signed tenancy agreement, photo ID and proof of address for all tenants.
You will be responsible for paying gas, oil (where applicable), electric, water and council tax for the duration of the tenancy unless otherwise stated in your tenancy agreement from the start date of the tenancy. Please note, as prospective tenants it is your responsibility to check and be aware of how utilities are provided to the property which may either be by the purchase of utility credits via a ‘key’ or similar system or payment based on the actual units used. Telecommunications companies will not accept instructions from third parties and therefore neither the landlord nor agent can be responsible for ensuring there is a working active line available to you.
If you are moving into a property that has not had a telephone line or television aerial connected previously, it has been vacant for three months or the property does not have digital television reception, then it will be your responsibility to pay the providers connection fee and arrange for the provision of these services. It is also the tenants responsibility to set up all utilities in their name (unless stated in the tenancy agreement). You will need to supply relevant companies with meter reads at both the start and end of the tenancy. You may incur additional charges from these companies if not set up or closed correctly.
Your rent, in cleared funds, is payable in advance and should reach our account on the rent due date as specified in your tenancy agreement. For example, if you move in on the 28th day of the month then the rent due date is the 28th of each and every month. Rent is paid by Standing Order. We DO NOT operate a Direct Debit system. Standing Orders are your instructions to your bank to pay T S Lettings Ltd. They cannot be cancelled or changed by T S Lettings Ltd once set up. Only one Standing Order is acceptable for payment of rent; we cannot accept split payments