At Monnow Lettings, we look after our Tenants as well as our Landlords.

 

We like to get to know any prospective tenants, this helps us to find the right property that suits you and your budget.

 

With accompanied viewings, we are on hand to answer any questions you have about the property or matters relating to the tenancy

 

We will help guide you through the tenancy process from the offer stage, through to moving you in.

 

Our service doesn’t just stop once you move in, with our fully managed properties, we will continue to provide a friendly and co-operative service for all property management issues and tenancy queries.

 

Some Useful Information;

 

Affordability

As a rule of thumb you will need to prove earnings or savings of 30x the monthly rent.

 

Offer

We like to carry to initial checks on prospective tenants before an accompanied viewing is booked so the more information you can give us the better.

 

Once you have found the right property, we will put forward your offer to the landlord and then ask you to pay a holding deposit (one week’s rent).

 

Checks

You will need to provide relevant Identification Documents to ensure we comply with right to rent checks.

 

You will need to be 18 or over to sign a tenancy agreement and we undertake relevant referencing checks on all applicants which will include, financial, credit and employment checks.

 

Please note we reserve the right to retain the holding deposit if any misleading or false information has been provided.

 

Deposit and Rent In Advance

You should expect to pay a deposit equivalent to 5 weeks of rent. The deposit will be paid into a government backed deposit protection scheme.

 

The first month’s rent will also need to be paid before you move in and a standing order set up for future payments.

 

Inventory

A comprehensive Independent Inventory and Schedule of Conditions details the condition of the property/fixtures/fittings at the start of a tenancy and helps to assess the property/fixtures/fittings at the end of the tenancy (allowing for fair wear and tear).

 

During Tenancy

The cost of all utilities including council tax, broadband, tv licence is generally a cost to the tenant unless there are specific arrangements on the tenancy.

 

It is advisable that tenants take out contents insurance to cover their own belongings for the length of the tenancy.

 

It is a tenant’s responsibility to report all maintenance and repair issues to the agent, or their landlord where the landlord is managing the tenancy themselves, as soon as they notice a problem so that any repairs can be arranged in a timely manner.

 

Tenants are liable for any damage or negligence to the property caused by them including loss or damage to locks/keys.

 

If Monnow Lettings manages the property, our duty to the landlord is to carry out regular inspections, so they know their property is being looked after. These inspections also allow us to carry out our duty to tenants to check the property is safe and well maintained.

 

End of Tenancy

Tenants will need to hand all keys to the agent (or to their landlord) together with a forwarding address.

 

Any utility companies will have to be informed of the end of tenancy date to close accounts, along with meter readings.

 

The final checkout report will highlight any dilapidations ie/ damages, cleaning etc, which will determine any compensation and the amount of deposit to be returned.

 

 

Tenant Fees 

England

Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, landlords and letting agents can only charge permitted fees:

• Rent
• A refundable holding deposit (up to one week’s rent per property)
• Tenancy deposit - up to five weeks’ rent (rent under £50000 per year)
• Tenancy deposit - up to six weeks’ rent (rent of £50000 per year)
• Changes to the tenant (for example, introduction of a pet, other amends that change the contractual responsibility) (capped at £50 per variation)
• Payment in respect of Utilities 
• Early termination - liable to the landlord’s costs in re-letting of the property as well as rent due under the tenancy until the start date of the replacement tenancy.
• Unpaid rent - interest at 3% above the Bank of England Base Rate from rent due date until paid.
• Lost key or other security device - liable to the cost of replacing any lost key(s) or other security device. This may include the the cost of a locksmith, new lock and replacement keys for the tenant, landlord and any other persons requiring keys.

 

Wales

Under the Renting Homes (FeesEtc.)(Wales) Act 2019, landlords and lettings agents can only charge permitted fees:

• Rent
• A refundable holding deposit (up to one week’s rent per property)
• Tenancy deposit
• Payments in default - payment required arising from a breach of the tenancy agreement by the tenant, whether late payment or rent by it's due date or some other breach (missed appointments, purposeful or avoidable damage to property, replacement keys or emergency/out of hours call-out fees)
• Payment in respect of utilities, council tax, television licence and/or communication services 
• Payment for ending a tenancy agreement early