Property Angels - Making a devil of a job simple

Once you have registered with us we will e-mail you secure log in details to your very own section of our web site, this will enable you to:

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Advice to Tenants

Looking for your new home - Property Angels Lettings team are all individual members of ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents), when dealing with the lettings department you will have peace of mind that you are dealing with professional experienced people, who endeavour to make sure that the properties they market are of good quality and are owned by informed Landlords, who are aware of their obligations to you, the Tenant. Most caring Landlords use ARLA agents to handle the letting of their property.

Management of the property - Properties that are managed by the Agent are preferable because you will know that any works needed to the property during your term will be attended to and your requests will not be ignored. You will also know that you will always be able to reach someone who can help and who is employed by the Landlord to do just that. Any contractors used by a good agent will have been properly referenced and will also have the necessary insurances in place should an accident occur. They will also have been checked to ensure that they are trustworthy and respectable. If the property is to be managed by the Landlord, ensure that any agreements made between you are confirmed in writing, so that they cannot be disputed at a later date. It is also important that any faults are immediately reported, so that they can be repaired swiftly - this will ensure that you cannot be held responsible for any further damage that occurs as a result of deterioration.

New legislation for tenancy deposits - New legislation for tenancy deposits - As from the 6th April 2007 Landlords will only be able to hold security deposits if they are registered with an approved scheme, giving tenants statutory protection in relation to getting back the deposit at the end of the tenancy. Should a landlord fail to register a deposit with an approved scheme the landlord will not be able to serve a valid notice of possession on the tenants; further the courts can award that the landlord pays the tenants up to 3 times the amount of the original deposit. Property Angels are members of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS). If a scenario arises where the letting agent is holding the deposit but cannot negotiate a settlement between landlord and tenant, all details of the dispute, along with the deposit money that cannot be settled will be sent to the Independent Case Examiner for the Scheme. This will then be subject to expert third party adjudication and the apportioning of deposit money. This is certain to ensure that disputes are resolved professionally and swiftly.

References & Identification - Along with copies of photo identification (Driving Licence or passport) to cover the money laundering regulations, You will be required to supply references for your proposed new Landlord and these usually consist of referees to include your current Landlord, current employer (and previous if necessary), confirmation of your current address and as well as a character reference. Please be aware that time is money to the Landlord and they will want to reference you immediately should you make an offer that is acceptable, so have this information to hand.

Our tenancy agreements have been carefully drafted using simple language and will clearly state what type of tenancy you have, and which party carries which responsibilities. If the Tenancy Agreement is supplied by us, you will normally be required to contribute half of the cost of this document. Always check and re check the Tenancy Agreement until you are happy that it reflects the agreement in place with your Landlord. Ask the Agent if you are not sure. This contract is between you and your Landlord and is legally binding. Should it be agreed that the Landlord will supply any additional items or take any items out of the property, please make sure this is stated on the contract, otherwise it could just be considered hearsay.

Inventories - It is always preferable to have a professional inventory on the property and you may be required to share the cost with the Landlord as the inventory will protect you both. When the inventory is agreed at the start of the Tenancy, ensure you are paying close attention, as you will be considered liable for any defects in the property and/or its contents that are not noted at this point. We would further recommend that you are completely ready for the check out at the end of the Tenancy so that you can again pay close attention to the document being agreed.

Safety Regulations - We ensure that all gas appliances are safety checked annually and you will be given a current certificate at the start of a tenancy. The electrical equipment must also be safe and we strongly recommend to our clients that the appliances are periodically checked by a qualified electrician. The furniture and furnishings must always comply with the safety regulations.

Utilities - The Tenants are usually responsible for Gas, Electricity, Telephone, Council tax and Water charges. These accounts should be transferred into your name at the start of the Tenancy. We would recommend that you contact the appropriate bodies to confirm these instructions. Ensure that you have noted the appropriate meter readings when you first take up occupancy and again on the last day of the Tenancy (noting them on the inventory if possible) so that any disputes can be sorted out at a later date if need be.

Giving Notice - The rules differ with tenancy type. If you are in any doubt, you should contact us & our highly trained staff will be able to advise you specifically.

Helping to Look After the property - Your landlord is liable for most maintenance and repairs to the property, but may have retained Property Angels to arrange these on his / her behalf. If so, you should notify us of any problems you notice. If we aren't managing the property, you should contact your landlord directly. Routine housework, such as cleaning, gardening, renewal of light bulbs etc will be your responsibility.

We also offer a comprehensive Contents Insurance policy specially designed for tenants which includes damage to the landlord's contents and alternative accommodation should the property become uninhabitable.