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At Home Sweet Home, we like to make things simple and straightforward, especially when it comes to renting.
The process can all seem very complicated and intimidating but we’ve unravelled it for you with our Tenant’s Guide:
Getting Started
Before embarking on your search for your new rental home, it’s important to work out your budget and must have criteria, including items such as:
Once you have decided to go ahead and start searching for your new home, it will speed up the search and application process if you register with us.
Not only can we help you with your search, but we can also help you pre-prepare an application form and complete some preliminary checks that will help your landlord decide whether to go ahead and approve you for the next stage. In a market where rental properties are in high demand, and there can be several applicants per property, this can help you secure a property, before anyone else beats you to it.
We can also let you know when a property is going to become available, often well before it comes to market.
Securing your new home
Once you have found your ideal new rental property, you will want to secure it as soon as possible.
To do this, you will need to complete an application form with some details about you and your financial position, when you could move in and any information that could affect your tenancy.
If the landlord accepts your application, you will need to pay a holding deposit, which will be the equivalent to 1 week’s rent and will be added to your full security deposit if you pass referencing and credit checks.
This deposit is not refundable if you fail these checks due to failure to disclose important information or providing false information. It is however refundable if the landlord chooses not to go ahead with the tenancy.
Referencing and Credit Checks
Before you can rent your new home, you will need to carry out several checks to assess your ability to pay rent, your character and reliability, as well as your legal right to rent. These will include:
Private Residential Tenancy (PRT) Agreements
Once you have passed tenant vetting procedures, you can now go ahead and sign your tenancy agreement. Please read this thoroughly before signing as this is a legally binding document.
Your Deposit
Before we hand over the keys to your new home, you will need to pay your full security deposit, which will be the equivalent of 5 week’s rent (less the holding deposit already paid).
Your deposit will be registered within 30-days of receipt with our Tenant Deposit Scheme (TDS), and you will be provided with details.
At the end of your tenancy, your deposit will be returned to you, less any agreed damages. In the case of dispute, this can be resolved by our TDS resolution service.
Paying your Rent
You would normally be expected to pay 1 month’s rent upfront, which you will pay along with your security deposit before receiving your keys.
Tenants will need to pay rent according to the agreed schedule within their tenancy agreement, which is typically monthly.
Check In
Before you move in, it is important to inspect the property and take note of any existing damage or issues in the inventory and have them verified by us if we are managing the property or the landlord. This will ensure that you are not held responsible for any damage that was already present at the end of your tenancy.
We also recommend that you familiarise yourself with where the stopcock and fuse box is, and check that all alarms are functioning, that gas and electric certificates are in date and that you have been provided with control manuals for boilers, heaters or any other equipment.
You will also need to take meter readings. If we are managing the property, we will also take them and notify the utility companies.
You are solely responsible for telephone and broadband connections.
Maintenance and Repairs
You must notify the landlord or Home Sweet Home promptly if you encounter any maintenance or repair issues straightaway,
Failure to do so could result in higher repair costs, of which you could become liable.
Relax and Enjoy your Home Sweet Home
Congratulation! You can now move in and start enjoying your new home.
Plus, if you ever have any questions or need us, we’re only an email or phone call away.
Register with us today.
For more information on renting, visit gov.scot.