Information for tenants in Chelmsford

Tenant Fees

In addition to paying the rent, you may also be required to make the following payments permitted under the

Tenant Fees Act 2019.

Before the tenancy starts (payable to Belvoir Chelmsford ‘the Agent’)

Holding Deposit: Equivalent to one week’s rent (annual rent divided by 52). This will be withheld if any relevant person (including any guarantor(s)) withdraws from the tenancy, fails a Right-to-Rent check, provides materially significant or false or misleading information, or fails to sign their tenancy agreement and if relevant a guarantor agreement, within 15 calendar days (or other Deadline for Agreement as mutually agreed in writing).

Deposit: Payable before the start of the tenancy and held under a Government approved scheme for the duration of the agreement. It will be repaid in full provided all tenancy obligations have been fulfilled. The deposit will be subject to a maximum of five weeks’ rent for an annual rent of up to £50,000 and a maximum of six weeks’ rent for an annual rent over £50,000.

Unpaid Rent during the tenancy (payable to the Agent)

Payment of Interest at 3% above the Bank of England Base Rate for late payment of rent from the due date until paid. (Not charged until the rent is more than 14 days overdue).

During the tenancy if permitted and applicable

Utilities – gas, electricity, water and sewerage

Communications – telephone and broadband

Installation of cable/satellite

Subscription to cable/satellite supplier

Television licence

Council Tax

Other permitted payments

Any other permitted payments, not included above, for breaches of contract or under the relevant legislation including contractual damages. These may include:

Lost keys – The actual cost of replacing lost keys or other security device. If the loss results in locks needing to be changed, the actual costs of a locksmith, new lock and replacement keys will be charged to the tenant.

Variation of a contract at the Tenant’s request – To cover the costs of taking landlord’s instructions and execution of new contract capped at £50.00 inc VAT or reasonable costs if higher.

Adding or removing a Tenant at the Tenant’s request, with the Landlords approval – To cover the costs of taking landlord’s instructions, new tenant referencing and Right-to-Rent checks, deposit registration and execution of new tenancy agreement capped at £50 inc VAT (per replacement tenant or any reasonable costs incurred if higher).

Early termination costs – This does not give a right to terminate a tenancy earlier than the end of the fixed term and any request will be considered on a case by case basis.  If the Tenant is granted permission to terminate the contract early, the tenant shall be liable to the landlord’s reasonable costs in re-letting the property including rent due under the tenancy until the start date of the replacement tenancy.

Belvoir Chelmsford is a member of Propertymark Client Money Protection, which is a client money protection scheme, and also a member of The Property Ombudsman, which is a redress scheme.

References

BELVOIR! will take references on behalf of the landlord. This includes: Credit history checks, employer checks, former landlord check. In addition, a search of the adverse credit register and a search of the electoral roll register will be carried out.

In some circumstances where a person feels they may not pass the references for reasons such as low income to rent ratio, a guarantor can be used, or the rent may be paid in advance.

Rent

Rents are normally quoted on a calendar monthly basis. Rents are paid, monthly in advance, by standing order to the Belvoir Chelmsford Client Account. The first months rent is to be paid, in cleared funds, prior to the start of the tenancy agreement.

Deposit

A deposit equivalent to 5 weeks rent is taken to cover any breakages, dilapidations or deductions due. The deposit will be protected by the Deposit Protection Service (DPS) in accordance with custodial terms and conditions of the DPS.

We hold client money protection through Propertymark.