A good property agent will help you with your search. You need to register your interest with an agent, ideally one that specialises in the area where you want to live. Decide on what you are (and aren’t) looking for, the area(s) you’d like to live in, and think about how flexible you are willing to be. For example, is a garage an essential, non-negotiable, or a nice to have? How far from public transport are you willing to be. Searches start online, and you can enter all your key parameters, such as number of bedrooms, location, type of property, to narrow down your list. If you haven't already done so, register your interest with us. Then use our website to search for a property that meets your needs - Click here to see the properties we currently have available.

Once we have found your suitable property, you can make an offer to the landlord for consideration. Any offer you make would be subject to you fulfilling our reference criteria. There can be quite a bit of competition for the most desirable properties, so do be prepared to make offers on a few before you are accepted. Once your offer is accepted however, you’ll need to provide a holding deposit. This ‘takes the property off the market’, and holds it for you. The holding deposit is $500. However, if you don’t sign the Tenancy Agreement within 14 working days after receipt of your application, the landlord does have the right to re-offer the property (and we reserve the right to charge a reservation/application fee).

As soon as your offer has been accepted by the Landlord, we will apply for references and draw up the relevant documentation. This forms the basis of the agreement between you and the landlord. You will be expected to provide identification/proof of residency and all tenants must show proof of address using:

• Utility bill (less than 3 months old)
• Full driving license
• Passport
• Council tax bill (less than 3 months old)

The landlord needs to be sure that you can continue to pay the rent, on time, for the length of the tenancy. So we’ll carry out a credit check and references, to ensure that we’re confident that you can meet your financial commitment. For references, we’ll contact people who can confirm your ability to pay:

• Your employer
• Your previous employer if you are new to your current job
• Your current landlord if you are already in rented accommodation
• Your accountant if you are self-employed, we will need to talk to your accountant.

We ask you to let the appropriate people know that we’ll be getting in touch - if they’re expecting our call, it makes the whole process smoother and faster. Our aim is to avoid delays in getting you into your new home.

There are some circumstances where you’ll need a guarantor - this is someone who commits to paying the rent if you cannot. A guarantor is required, for example, if

• You have not been continuously employed for the past 18 months
• You have been working abroad in the previous 6 months
• Your income falls short of our criteria
• Your employment is considered as changeable.

The guarantor must meet the same criteria as the tenant, and they must either earn the equivalent of 3 times the yearly sum of the rent, be in full time employment or be able to prove by bank statements that they have ‘independent means’. All tenants should be able to provide a guarantor and should the tenant be unable to provide one, we will decide that the tenant has withdrawn their application. The tenant will therefore forfeit their deposit.

The guarantor must be aware that they will stand as guarantor for you, (And your partner if you are moving in to the property with someone else), for the entire occupancy of the property, not just for the period of the initial tenancy term.

An appointment will be arranged with you to visit our offices to sign the Tenancy Agreement when all references have been received. The Landlord will also be asked to sign their copy of the document.

Before you can move in, you’ll need to pay the agreed deposit and advance rent that has been agreed.
The deposit is the landlord’s protection against loss, damage or charges payable at the termination of the tenancy. This will be the equivalent of one week’s rent.
The deposit will be held by The Property Tree in our designated DPS (Deposit Protection Service) account and is fully bonded. Assuming you return the property in the same condition it was in when you arrived (less reasonable wear and tear), you will have your full deposit returned. If there is any damage or the property is not returned clean, then we can make deductions from that deposit, to return the property to its original condition.
Rent is due monthly in advance, starting commencing on the first day of the tenancy and then on the same day each month. We prefer payment by bank standing order.
All the information above is provided in good faith, but we’re not legal advisors, and if you have legal questions we recommend to speak to a qualified legal advisor.