Tenants

At Yorkshire Property Lettings we have a clear mission of providing a friendly and professional service. It is important to us that we provide our tenants with a comfortable stay throughout the year. We have tenants who have been staying at our properties for more than ten years, clearly showing the understanding we have and the personal touch we provide. We have a dedicated team of handymen, electricians, plumbers and decorators who provide a prompt service, when in need.

We aim to provide good quality accommodation for all tenants, if you are unable to locate a suitable property from our stock then please contact: info@yorkshirepropertylettings.com

We secure your ‘deposit’ with a government authorised scheme "My Deposits". We are members of the "My Deposits" scheme.

Finding a property

Specialist letting agent in Leeds.

First of all, decide on the type of property you would like to rent. This will depend on your family size and your lifestyle. If you are single and only there during the week, a small place such as a Studio may be adequate. If you have a family then a larger house or flat with a greater number of rooms would be required. If security is important, then a ground floor flat may not be suitable. If you have a car, then a parking space is a must. All this will depend on your budget. Rentals vary depending on the location and the size of the property.

Often it doesn't make much difference to the rent if you require furnished or unfurnished accommodation. In a furnished property your choice of furniture may be limited. If it's furnished you may lose some or all of your deposit to pay for damage if any at the end of tenancy.

Other key features to look for whilst looking for a property are:

  • What facilities are there for washing and drying clothes?
  • Does the property have all the appliances you need?
  • Do you need a garden?
  • Are you prepared to share with someone?
  • Is the property conveniently located?
  • Council tax and method of payment?
  • Nearby shops, superstores, bus and train station?

It's important to understand the legal aspects of being a tenant.

A tenancy agreement will typically be 6-7 pages long and lists your responsibilities so read it carefully. As a minimum, it will show:

  • The names of the landlord and tenant
  • How much the rent and deposit is
  • Bond required to be paid upfront
  • When the rent will be reviewed
  • The address for the landlord or agent who will be looking after the property.

Look for all the Dos and Don’ts in the agreement.



Advantages of Renting

  • Renting is cheaper than owning a property.
  • You can move somewhere else if there is change of circumstances.
  • You don't need to pay for property maintenance.

When you have decided on properties that you like, Yorkshire Property Lettings can arrange a viewing of the properties.

Viewing a Property

Arrive in the area early to get a good feel of the neighbourhood, and prepare any local questions you may wish to ask our staff. Do not make an instant judgement.
Make the most of this opportunity by:

  • Checking how well the property has been maintained, look at gutters, windows, roof and walls.
  • Decide if the storage space is adequate for you.
  • Checking to see how the place is heated as this will impact on your gas/electricity bill.
  • Checking to see the EPC (Energy performance Certificate), gas safety certificate and operating instructions for all electrical items.
  • Finding out which furnishings will be in the property when you move in. Do they meet the fire safety regulations?
  • Checking to see if the taps, bath and shower, and flush work. Ask to be shown how the heating and hot water works.
  • Assessing the general state of repair: roof, walls, windows and doors, plasterwork, wiring, plumbing and heating, kitchen fittings and bathroom sanitary ware. Do not forget to look in the garage if there is one.
  • Assessing the neighbours, the street and the general condition of other properties. Usually the cars parked can give you an indication of people living in the area.
  • Checking on the locks on the front and rear doors. Insurance may be less if there is a five lever mortise lock. Make sure the windows open and there are dedicated keys for all windows in the house/Flat.
  • For flats, asking if you have your own secure post box. How clean are common areas - how often are they cleaned and by whom? How are any common grounds maintained? If there is a vehicle space, what's parked in it now - ask when it will be cleared. Finally who is responsible for paying the ground rent and maintenance charges for the flat.
  • Finding out how close the transport links or other facilities are.
  • Visiting at different times to establish how safe/quiet the area is.
  • Asking if road works are planned or new houses are going up nearby - this will add to noise. Is there a pub or school nearby?
  • Talking to existing tenants, if any, and neighbours.
  • If in doubt always express your doubts to our Yorkshire Property Lettings Staff accompanying you or contact us on the phone number given below.

Renting a Property

Lettings agents offer greater peace of mind and security. Yorkshire Property Lettings have an experienced staff who will help you to find a suitable property and ensure your move in and stay is comfortable and hassle free. Budget carefully - allow for council tax and the cost of all utilities, which you'll normally have to pay for. You can find out the cost of council tax from your Local Authority and get quotes from insurers to cover your possessions. Make sure you always compare with like - most tenancies express the rent as £... per calendar month which is about 4.35 times the cost of a weekly rent.

EPC Advice for Tenants: EPC must be made available to all new tenants. Outlining the energy efficiency rating and the environmental impact rating of a property, potential landlords will be able to gain access to the estimated running costs of a property, the carbon footprint created by the property and also show any recommendations that could be made to improve the energy efficiency of a property. The rating offered by the EPC will range from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is very inefficient, with the typical rating for a home being either D or E. These simple ratings will allow potential tenants to compare homes of interest to gain an insight into the difference in potential running costs.

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  • Be sure to check the EPC rating before agreeing to rent a property.
  • Look into the possible grants and schemes offered by the Government to help tenants improve the energy efficiency of their home.
  • Make sure that the EPC assessment has been made by an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) - details can be found at http://www.epcregister.com/
  • Check how long the EPC has been in effect for, EPCs will be valid for up to 10 years.
  • For more tenant information on Energy Performance Certificates go to www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/epcsrentingtenants

In summary before you sign the tenancy agreements, you should:

  • Have Gas & Electricity safety certificate and instructions for all electrical items
  • Be satisfied that all the furniture is safe
  • Have keys for all exit doors and windows
  • Check the inventory carefully and note anything that has been missed or is incorrect
  • Ensure that your bond is securely deposited in a government authorised scheme.

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