Information for Tenants - Northgate Estates

> COVID-19 - Valuations And Viewing Guidance

Are you a tenant looking to rent a property? We let and manage furnished and unfurnished flats and houses across Darlington, Newton Aycliffe and throughout the North East. To view all properties to let, click here. alternatively contact us for current availability or click here to register your requirements.

Finding a property

The first step is to contact us to provide brief details about yourself and about the accommodation you require. We then search our database for suitable properties for you to view. If not urgent, we log your details so that we can contact you as suitable properties become available. It is wise to start looking about a month before you wish to move, as the nicer properties are viewed and reserved quickly. Our tenancies are granted for a minimum term of 6 months.

Viewings

Viewings will be arranged at times to suit you, including evenings and weekends, and you will invariably be accompanied by a member of staff, who can give advice and answer any questions you may have.

Reserving the property

HOLDING DEPOSIT (PER TENANCY) — ONE WEEK’S RENT. Once you have decided on a property, you will need to reserve it by paying your holding deposit. This is to reserve a property. Please Note: This will be withheld if any relevant person (including any guarantor(s) withdraw from the tenancy, fail a Right- to-Rent check, provide materially significant false or misleading information, or fail to sign their tenancy agreement (and/or Deed of Guarantee) within 15 calendar days (or other Deadline for Agreement as mutually agreed in writing).

References

As a minimum we will require satisfactory references from your employer (or college), and a previous or current landlord. We may also require a personal reference, and sometimes a guarantor. In addition a credit check will be undertaken. We use a independent referencing company to obtain and evaluate these references.

Rents

Rents are normally quoted calendar monthly, and payable monthly in advance. The tenant is usually also responsible for Council Tax, Water Rates, Gas, Electricity and Telephone costs. All rents are payable by bank standing order to our client bank account.

Deposit

A security deposit of Five weeks’ rent. This covers damages or defaults on the part of the tenant during the tenancy.

Northgate are members of The Property Ombudsman and use the Deposit Protection Service to protect and hold tenant deposits.

Tenant / Guarantor Fees

UNPAID RENT – Interest at 3% above the Bank of England Base Rate from Rent Due Date until paid in order to pursue non- payment of rent. Please Note: This will not be levied until the rent is more than 14 days in arrears.

LOST KEY(S) OR OTHER SECURITY DEVICE(S) – Tenants are liable to the actual cost of replacing any lost key(s) or other security device(s). If the loss results in locks needing to be changed, the actual costs of a locksmith, new lock and replacement keys for the tenant, landlord any other persons requiring keys will be charged to the tenant. If extra costs are incurred there will be a charge of £15 per hour (inc. VAT) for the time taken replacing lost key(s) or other security device(s).

VARIATION OF CONTRACT (TENANT’S REQUEST) – £50 (inc. VAT) per agreed variation. To cover the costs associated with taking landlord’s instructions as well as the preparation and execution of new legal documents.

CHANGE OF SHARER (TENANT’S REQUEST) – £50 (inc. VAT) per replacement tenant or any reasonable costs incurred if higher. To cover the costs associated with taking landlord’s instructions, new tenant referencing and Right-to-Rent checks, deposit registration as well as the preparation and execution of new legal documents.

EARLY TERMINATION (TENANT’S REQUEST) – Should the tenant wish to leave their contract early, they shall be liable to the landlord’s costs in re-letting the property as well as all rent due under the tenancy until the start date of the replacement tenancy. These costs will be no more than the maximum amount of rent outstanding on the tenancy.

EXISTING TENANCIES – While agents cannot charge fees to tenants (other than permitted payments) on tenancies starting after 1 June 2019, agents are allowed to charge fees on pre-existing tenancies until 31 May 2020.

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