Finding a Property

As a tenant it is vital that you choose a landlord and letting agent that you can trust. Mary Stone Properties operate under strict standards of professional and ethical practice with complete transparency so you can avoid unwelcome fees or legal hiccups throughout your tenancy.

Our top tip: Budget carefully - allow for council tax and the cost of all utilities, which you'll normally have to pay for.
Once you have found a property you like we will arrange a viewing for you and give you full details.
 
The rental market moves much faster than the sales market so if you see the perfect property, you may have to act quickly to secure it. We recommend always being prepared with the relevant documents such as a form of identification and confirmation of your address.
 

Credit and reference checks

We will complete reference and credit checks on all tenants residing at the property over the age of eighteen.
 

Tenancy Agreement

Once reference checks are completed and the landlord is happy for the tenancy to go ahead. We will then arrange the tenancy agreement (this is a legally binding document that confirms  your moving in date and also the rights and obligations of both the tenant and landlord.
 

Schedule of Conditions

We will provide a written and photographic schedule of conditions that we need to be agreed. We find a full schedule will help prevent disputes during and after the tenancy.
 
We will then request from you the deposit and the first months rent payable in advance.
Once the deposit is paid in full, we will register your deposit with The Deposit Protection Service and the property is secured. This deposit is held as the landlord's cover for any excessive damages that need to be repaired at the end of the tenancy. Your deposit is released to you once the final property inspection has taken place.
 

Moving In

Once the tenancy has been fully agreed we will have the keys ready for you to collect.

Insurance

Please be aware that we do advise tenants protect themselves with a contents insurance policy and also  remember to advise utility companies and council tax office of your move.
 

Property Inspections

The property you are renting is a large investment for your landlord, so they may  arrange visit days to meet with you at the property and check that everything is in order, usually only a couple of times a year. Of course, if anything breaks down or needs repairing then the landlord will visit the property more often to ensure the property maintains in good condition for you to live in.

Your Property Manager

If your property is professionally managed by us, you'll receive a welcome call within 48 hours from your designated Property Manager, who will be your main point of contact during the course of your tenancy. They will advise you on any maintenance issues and if action is needed either by yourself or the landlord- depending on whether the issue is a long term fault or through 'wear-and-tear'.
A managed property will also receive regular inspections visits (carried out by your property manager) which will generate photographic reports. Both you and your landlord will receive copies of the report, so that everyone is aware of the property's current condition and disputes can either be avoided or easily resolved.
 

Tenancy Details

Once you are nearing the end of your tenancy period you will need to decide whether to extend your stay or move out (remembering to give one months' notice in writing).

1. Staying put
If you do want to renew the tenancy, we will liaise with you directly and send you all the necessary paperwork to complete. If your circumstances have changed, some new checks may be needed, but this will be advised on at the time. Remember the landlord at this stage will be within his/her rights to serve notice on your tenancy if they need the property back or there have been any persistent issues.

2. Moving out
If we manage the property on behalf of the landlord, we'll arrange a property inspection (carried out on the last day of your tenancy) to ensure the property is left in an appropriate condition - at this point, you'll hand back the keys.

Deposit

After serving your notice you'll need to ensure that the property is left in good condition in order for you to be entitled to your full deposit back. If there are no deductions or disputes and all the necessary forms are filled out correctly by you and by the landlord, your deposit should be returned ten days after the deposit release agreements have been received.
Pardoning normal wear-and-tear, if the property is in the same condition as when you moved in, getting your deposit back should be no problem.

Here's what to do next:

Give the property a thorough clean, including carpets, windows, walls and furniture (if necessary hire a professional cleaner)
If it's your responsibility, tidy up the garden and clear away any rubbish
Return all of the keys
Remove all of your personal belongings
If you need any help either before after your tenancy call us and we'll be happy to help.