Tenants Guide

WHY USE CROWN HOUSE ESTATES TO FIND YOUR RENTAL PROPERTY?

INFORMATION GUIDE FOR TENANTS
If you’re looking to rent in London, then just ask Crown House Estates. We offer a flexible service to find your rental property with your specific requirements.

Crown House Estates offer a wide range of properties to let, all in and around the London area. For tenants looking to find a new home with us, this guide outlines the processes and procedures, including the fees.

We want to help you make the move to your new home as smooth as possible and that comes with clear communication channels between parties and setting out best practice for all to follow. We pride ourselves in the level of service we give to all our tenants, new and old. We understand that moving home can be a stressful time, so that’s why we have a well-managed process to alleviate the stress and make the move as smooth as possible for you.

BROWSE OUR PROPERTIES
Search our currently available properties to rent and when you find one you like, get in touch to arrange a viewing.

REGISTER
Sign up with Crown House Estates to get a head start on your property search, with early access and first viewings on newly listed properties.

ARRANGE A VIEWING
Our team will ask you the right questions to understand your requirements. We’ll help you choose the right property for you. We are able to arrange viewings around your busy schedule and we also offer virtual tours from the comfort for your own home.

MAKE AN OFFER
If you are certain about the property you have seen, then we recommend making an offer as soon as possible. You’ll need to put down a one-week holding deposit once negotiations have been agreed.

AGREEMENT WITH LANDLORD
Once an offer is accepted then we can move to the next stage and start your references. You will be asked to provide a valid form of photo ID, proof of current address dated within the past 3 months and complete an online digital tenant application form.

CHECKS
All applicant references are undertaken by an external specialist reference company. You will be asked to complete a form which will ask for confirmation of employment with proof of income, credit check and previous landlord references, alongside personal and photographic identification documents. If self-employed, you will be asked for accountants’ references, trading details and your filed tax returns.

DEPOSIT
A holding deposit equivalent to one weeks rent will be required. This will ‘reverse’ the property for you and no further viewing will take place at the property. The holding deposit will be deducted from the first month’s rent due, should the tenant withdraw from the proposed letting, through no fault of the landlord or the agent. All or a proportion of the holding deposit will be retained in order to cover any reasonable costs (which will be outlined in full). None of the holding deposit will be retained should the Tenant’s withdrawal be due to a breach of the proposed letting agreement by the landlord or managing agent. The holding deposit shows a willingness to proceed on the part of a prospective tenant which enables the landlord to take the next steps. The landlord now knows that the prospective tenant is serious and fully committed to the property.

TENANCY AGREEMENT

Before your tenancy begins you and the landlord will be asked to sign a tenancy agreement which outlines the responsibility of both the landlord and the tenant. You will be required to pay a security deposit and advance rent before moving in. Most tenancy agreements run for a twelve-month period and at the end of that period, we will contact you to see whether you wish to renew your agreement for a further period. We will liaise with you and the landlord to organise a new agreement and put it in place. It is important you note that the agreement is made between landlord and tenant, we act for the landlord only. If at any point during the tenancy you wish to change one of the tenants, there will be an additional fee to prepare a new agreement, pending references. By legal requirement, we will issue you with a sample template agreement which we ask you to read very carefully. If you have any questions regarding this legal document, then we advise you to seek independent legal advice. Please see the details below for a breakdown of all the terms and fees.

TERMS & FEES
Once your offer is accepted and your contract is signed you will be required to pay the following:

• Rent: First months’ rent as agreed on the tenancy agreement.
• Security deposit: 5 weeks of rent.

Additional fees which you may incur during the course of your tenancy may include:

• Inventory fees
• Damage fee
• End of tenancy clearing

* A full and comprehensive schedule of fees are available on request.

SECURITY DEPOSIT
Once the tenancy agreement has been signed by all parties, the initial monies in full will become due less any holding deposit previously paid. This is made up of the following:

• The Security Deposit is equal to five weeks rent.
• The first month’s rent in advance. 

N.B. Rent is worked out on a per calendar month basis, which is; the weekly rent, multiplied by 52 weeks and divided by 12 months to give the per calendar month rental figure.

The above monies need to be in a cleared funds before the tenancy can commence. Your payment can be made by bankers’ draft or directly into our client bank account.

All of our security deposits are held with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, a government-backed scheme for property deposits. Your security deposit will be returned at the end of your tenancy, subject to any damages, missed rental payments or charges against the property.

DEPOSIT RETURNS
When your tenancy ends, the property will be inspected either by the landlord or an independent inventory clerk instructed by the landlord.

INVENTORY
An inventory and schedule of condition of the property will be prepared before your tenancy commences. At the start of your tenancy, we will confirm the inventory with you at the premises.
The inventory is designed to avoid disputes at the end of your tenancy, so we advise for your own benefit that you are present for the check-in and check out.

RENT
Your rent will be paid as agreed on your tenancy agreement via a BAC’s payment. For any missed rent payments, you will be subject to additional fees which will be noted on the tenancy agreement.

DAMAGE
If there is any damage or problems with the structure of the property, please let us know as soon as you’re aware. We want to be able to fix any issues before they become a bigger (and more expensive) problem.

END OF TENANCY
If you wish to give notice of the end of your tenancy agreement you will need to do it within the timeframe agreed on your tenancy. You can also choose to exercise the break clause in your contract, if you have one.

Once you have ended your contract, we will complete the end of tenancy report and inventory check. If there are any costs incurred this will be taken from your security deposit which will be agreed through the Tenancy Deposit Scheme.

MANAGED PROPERTIES
We do get instructed to fully manage some of our landlord’s properties. If this is the case with your tenancy, then we will inform you of this in advance. If there are any faults or issues with appliances or problems within the property, then please inform us immediately so that we can deal with the problem as quickly and efficiently as possible. Failure to report an ongoing problem may turn the onus onto you.

PROPERTY INSPECTIONS
If we are instructed as managing agents for your property, we will carry out quarterly inspections to assess the condition of the property and that everything is being kept in a satisfactory condition. We will always arrange this with you at a mutually convenient time.

INSURANCE
The responsibility for your belongings is down to you. You must ensure you have adequate contents insurance for all your possessions and the landlord accepts no responsibility and cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage.

TENANTS’ OBLIGATIONS
The responsibility for the property lies with the tenant during the period of tenancy, always ensure that the property is fully secured and that during the winter months’ steps are taken to prevent freezing of the water and heating system.

COUNCIL TAX & UTILITIES
It is the tenant’s responsibility to inform all the utility companies that they have moved into their property on the commencement of the tenancy. It is your responsibility to pay council tax to the local authority. Students, who may be exempt from the payment of council tax, are responsible for informing the Local Authority of this. Wherever applicable VAT will be charged at the current VAT rate.