Tenants' Frequently Asked Questions

The rental market can be confusing, especially as every letting agent has there own rules and regulations which a tenant need to obey. We've listed the answers to our most common questions here for you, which is split into different categories.

Viewings

How can I arrange a viewing?
Arranging a viewing is simple. Once you have found a property of ours that you are interested in, either complete an enquiry form on our website or call up our office and tell them you are interested in renting a property and the member of staff will take your details and arrange a convenient time.

When can a viewing take place?
Our viewing times are between 8.45am and 17.45pm on Monday to Friday and between 9.30am and 15.45pm on a Saturday.

How soon can I arrange a viewing?
This depends on whether the property you want to see is vacant or tenanted. Vacant properties can be viewed without notice subject to the landlord's approval, tenants are entitled to a 24 hour notice period of any viewing being made.

I've seen a property and I want it, what is the next step?
First of all details must have been registered with us and a viewing of the particular property must have taken place. If this has happened then give our office a call on 01403 210088 and we will contact the landlord and tell him/her your requested terms. If he/she agrees to your terms then we will require a £250 holding fee to secure interest in the property and take it off the market. This is non-refundable unless the respective landlord withdraws the property from the market.

Elegibility

Do you have any properties that accept pets?
At Lines & James we do not have a flat rule as to whether we accept pets or not. Each landlord is entitled to choose if they will or won't allow pets in their particular property, however please be aware that in the majority of cases pets are not allowed in our properties. Please call our office on 01403 210088 to find out if a pet will be allowed in a particular property.

Do you accept applicants who receive income support?
As with pets this is the decision of a respective Landlord. It is also dependant on the type of income support and the situation of the applicant. Please call our office on 01403 210088 to find out if your circumstances would be appropriate for a particular property.

Prior to Tenancy

What references do you require?
We use a referencing agency called Homelet to process all our new applicants. Once a holding fee is taken we will ask you to fill in a homelet form (we normally use this one here) and return it to us as soon as possible so we can send it off to Homelet.

Under what circumstances will a tenant need a guarantor?
Homelet will decide as to whether an application requires a guarantor and this can often be for a number of reasons. The most common reason will be if the monthly salary of a tenant(s) is under 2.5 times the monthly rent due.

What is the amount of security deposit that you require?
All of the properties at Lines & James require 1.5 months' rent deposit. E.g. For a rent of £600pcm Lines & James would require a deposit of £900.

Are you a member of a deposit protection scheme?
Yes, Lines & James is a member of the tenancy deposit scheme, an impartial third party who will be consulted in the case of a dispute at the end of the tenancy.

What are your pre-tenancy fees?
All of our fees can all be found using this link

What is a 'check-in fee'?
This is the fee for an inventory clerk to meet a new tenant at a property on the first day of a tenancy and create an 'inventory report' of the property.

Do I need to notify the relevant utility comanies of my upcoming tenancy?
No, Lines & James will contact the relevant utility companies to transfer the account names into the new tenant(s) name(s) from the commencement of the tenancy agreement.

Remember, you can find out all of our terms & conditions in full in our 'Tenants Guide to Renting' which can be accessed here.