A Guide For Tenants

Azure Property Solutions let and manage unfurnished flats, houses and bed-sits throughout Bath, Bristol, Banes, and South Gloucester. Our stock changes daily so please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for current availability or to register your requirements.

For your safety and peace of mind :-

• All our managed properties are 'Gas Safe' safety certificated and inspected for compliance with electrical safety and furniture fire safety regulations.
• All deposits collected by Azure are held in a  Client Trust Account in accordance with RICS and ARLA codes of practice.
• Azure subscribes to the Dispute Service (TDS), which means any unresolved issue over the allocation of a deposit can be referred to the scheme for independent third party adjudication. Further information is available at www.arla.co.uk or www.tds.gb.com .

Your first step is to contact us with brief details about yourself and about the accommodation you require. We will search our database for suitable properties for you to view. If not urgent, we log your details so we can contact you when suitable properties become available. All our tenancies are for a minimum term of 6 months.

Viewings

Viewings will always be accompanied by a member of staff, who can give advice and answer any questions you may have. They can be arranged at times to suit you, including evenings and weekends wherever possible, although we do not usually work at these times.

Reserving the property

Once you have decided on a property, you will need to reserve it by paying a 'holding deposit', the amount of which will depend on how long you need us to reserve the property. The holding fee is retained in full or in part if you withdraw from the application and services have commenced by Azure Property Solutions.

References

As a minimum we will require satisfactory references from your bank, 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 on both you and your guarantor, if applicable. We use the services of an independent referencing company to obtain and evaluate these references and make a charge for doing so.

Rents

Rents are quoted per calendar month and are payable monthly in advance.  However, we apportion the rent to the 1st day of the next month when you first sign your tenancy agreement. After your first month, we require the rent to be paid on or before the 1st of each month. All rents are payable by bank standing order to our company bank account.

Utilities

Unless you are renting a bed-sit, you will be responsible for council tax, water rates, gas, electricity and telephone costs directly with the suppliers.

Deposit

A security deposit of a minimum of one month's rent must be paid when you sign your tenancy agreement and will be held by Azure as stakeholders in a secure client account throughout the term of the tenancy. This is held to cover damage, breakages, and any other liabilities under the terms of your tenancy agreement and the agreement you will enter into with Azure. Your deposit is held under the terms of The Dispute Service – see www.tds.gb.com Please note that under no circumstances can the deposit be used by the tenant to cover rent and that no interest is payable to either party.

Inventory and schedule of condition

Before you move in, we will prepare a list of the fixtures and fittings within the property and produce a description of the condition of the property, room by room.  When we check you into the property, you will be asked to sign and agree the inventory and schedule of condition, making any amendments as necessary.  At the end of the tenancy, a check-out report will be prepared using the original inventory and taking into account fair wear and tear.

Insurance

Whilst the landlord is responsible for insuring the building, you will need to insure your personal possessions, furniture and fittings.  Just like owner-occupiers, tenants are at risk from fire, water damage, theft and other insurable losses.

Tenancy Agreement

Most tenancies will automatically be Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs), provided the property is let to private individuals. Tenancies are usually granted for an initial fixed term of between 6 and 12 months and can only be signed by people over the age of 18. When the fixed term has expired, the landlord is able, if s/he so wishes, to regain possession of the property provided he gives two months written notice to the tenant. In addition, if the tenant owes at least 2 months or 8 weeks rent on the property, s/he can apply through the court to seek a possession order. Failure to keep up rent payments may jeopardise your tenancy, affect your credit rating and your ability to obtain further rented property.

 Agency Fees

As with all reputable letting agents, Azure Property Solutions charge the prospective tenant fees for referencing and other administrative costs associated with renting a property to ensure that the tenancy is managed in a professional manner for all parties concerned. Full details of these charges are available on request.