博鱼体育集团

Find a property
Find a property
Find a property

From modern apartments to character country houses, start the journey to your dream home.

Sell or let
Sell or let
Sell or let

As local experts with global reach, we’ll help you find the right buyer or tenant for your property.

Services
Services
Services

We offer a full range of property-related services. From financing to interiors, we’ve got you covered.

People & offices
People & offices
People & offices

Our team of more than 27,000 people operates across 740 offices in over 50 territories around the globe.

Insights
Insights
Insights

Delve into our publications and reports for lifestyle trends and on-the-pulse market knowledge.

How to rent a property for tenants

FAQs and guides

How to rent a property for tenants

FAQs and guides

Home / Residential services / Guides and FAQs for tenants

A tenant's guide on how to rent a home.

Our useful how-tos and handy FAQs will set you on the path to a successful letting journey.

Renting a home in London or the UK needn鈥檛 be hard work. Here's our clear advice on how to rent a property.

Essentials including fees

How do I find the right rental property?

Register with us by calling one of our letting offices or visiting the My 博鱼体育集团 Frank section of our website. You鈥檒l then receive email alerts about new rental properties in London and the UK as they become available.

When can I view properties?

We do our best to arrange appointments that are convenient for you. This could be during weekdays, evenings and on Saturdays.

How do I make an offer?

You make an offer by completing a prospective tenancy form. We鈥檒l ask you for information such as who'll be living in the property, the offer amount, the start date of the tenancy, the length of tenancy, and any additional requests. Once an offer has been agreed, we鈥檒l take a holding fee which will go towards your final move-in costs.

What happens once my offer has been agreed?

The next step is introducing you to our Tenancy Progression team who'll send you a copy of the tenancy agreement. They'll also send you a link to provide your information for references. The referencing process includes confirming your income, obtaining a previous landlord reference, conducting a right-to-rent check, and any further checks required.

What does ‘let agreed’ mean?

A property marked as 鈥榣et agreed鈥� means a tenant has paid the admin fee or deposit and the landlord or letting agency is reviewing their references and conducting credit checks. If the tenant's application is approved, the property will usually stay listed as 鈥榣et agreed鈥� until the contracts are signed and it鈥檚 removed from the market. If the application is declined, the property will be re-listed and the 鈥榣et agreed鈥� status removed.

What happens if my referencing fails?

If you think your referencing is going to fail, it鈥檚 important to contact us as soon as possible as there may be an alternative option. This could be adding a guarantor to your application, or paying your rent in advance.

What do I need to do for a right-to-rent check?

To rent a property in England, you must prove you have the legal right to do so. The landlord or letting agent will conduct checks to verify your status. You have a right to rent in the UK if

  • You're a British or EEA citizen
  • You have indefinite leave (without restriction) to remain in the UK, or you have settled status
  • You have permission to be in the UK (for example, if you're currently on a work or student visa)
  • You have been granted a time-limited right to rent by the Home Office

Our checks require you visiting one of our offices with the correct documents as proof. Speak to your letting agent to find out exactly which documents you need to bring.

Please note that there's no right-to-rent requirement in Scotland.

What fees do tenants pay?

Moving in

What happens during an independent inventory?

Before the tenancy begins, an inventory is prepared detailing the contents and condition of the property. This is carried out by an independent inventory clerk and a copy is supplied to both landlord and tenant.

How do I supply the first rental payment and deposit?

We鈥檒l send you a statement outlining the initial payments due. This includes the advance payment (usually one month or a quarter of rent depending on the agreement), the tenancy agreement fee, and a deposit (typically six weeks' rent). All payments must be cleared before the tenancy starts.

When do I get my keys?

The keys will be given to you once we receive the initial payments, the tenancy agreement has been signed, and all other tenancy documents completed. We also need to have received all the compliance documents from the landlord, such as a valid gas safety certificate. We鈥檒l then arrange for an inventory to take place. Once completed, we鈥檒l send it over to you with the tenancy documents.

How soon can I move in after my offer has been agreed?

The process from making an offer to moving in can be as quick as three working days, providing you complete all references, sign all tenancy documentation, and the property is ready for habitation. If the start of your tenancy is more than three working days from the offer agreed date, we鈥檒l make sure the paperwork is completed as soon as possible.

What happens when I move in?

On the day your tenancy commences, an independent inventory clerk will conduct a check-in and you鈥檒l get the keys. If we manage the property, our property manager will introduce themselves to assist with any issues during your tenancy. If the property is managed by the landlord or a third-party management company, we鈥檒l provide their contact details for your reference.

Reporting an issue or emergency

What is defined as an emergency?

The most common emergencies are fire, criminal matters, uncontrollable leaks and gas leaks.

  • If you have a fire or there is a criminal matter, contact 999 immediately.
  • If you smell gas, contact the national grid who'll send out an emergency contractor.
  • If you have a water leak in your apartment that originates there, contact us as soon as possible.
  • If you have a water leak from the apartment above, ask them to stop using the water-related equipment and notify your property manager as soon as possible.
  • If you're a tenant in a property managed by us and have an out of office hours emergency, please call 020 3006 8334.

How do I deal with a maintenance issue?

For minor maintenance issues, we鈥檙e authorised by the landlord to instruct the work. The contractor will contact you directly and arrange access. Rest assured our contractors are vetted and have insurance and qualifications in place.

 

For more serious maintenance issues, we require approval. There could be a delay due to the location of the landlord or for the landlord to request further quotes. Once we have approval, we鈥檒l request funds from the landlord. When we have funds, we can instruct the contractor who鈥檒l contact you for access.

When would I have to pay a contractor’s invoice?

Tenants may be asked to cover the cost of contractor services. For example, if a kitchen sink is blocked from improper use, such as disposing of food waste or fat down the drain, the tenant is responsible for the cost of the contractor鈥檚 labour and parts to fix the issue.

We also provide user manuals to help you address minor maintenance issues yourself, which could prevent the need for a contractor. Your property manager will happily assist you over the phone too.

What do I do if my boiler isn't working?

If your boiler isn鈥檛 working it could be a simple fix, such as topping up the pressure. Your property manager can talk you through this over the phone. For more serious matters, your property manager will arrange for a qualified gas engineer to attend.

How do I clear the filter on my washing machine or tumble dryer?

To clear the filters in your washing machine or tumble dryer, refer to the user manual. If you require any further help, contact your property manager who can talk you through this over the phone.

Ending a tenancy

How do I end my tenancy?

Contact your property manager who'll run through the process with you as per the tenancy agreement. We鈥檒l then book an inventory clerk to do the checkout on the last day of your tenancy. The clerk will be in touch with you directly to book a suitable time.

What am I responsible for when leaving the property?

You鈥檙e responsible for leaving the property as you found it. This means in good condition with the allowance for general wear and tear. You鈥檙e also contractually obliged to do certain tasks, such as cleaning and informing utility companies you鈥檙e moving out. You should also arrange for any mail to be forwarded as it won鈥檛 be possible to pick up your post once the tenancy has transferred.

What happens after the checkout?

After checkout we鈥檒l email the checkout report to both you and the landlord. We鈥檒l also update the utility providers with the final meter readings, so they can send you a final bill.

When do I get my deposit back?

To get your deposit back an agreement needs to be reached between yourself and the landlord. If the landlord has given us confirmation they鈥檙e not looking to make any deductions, you鈥檒l receive your deposit back in full. If there are any dilapidations, such as cleaning or damages, we鈥檒l list these, send them to the landlord to approve, and then forward them on for you to review.

What happens if there is a disagreement?

If there鈥檚 a disagreement between you and the landlord and you have an assured shorthold tenancy, either one of you can refer this to the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS). The TDS will ask us to send them the disputed funds which they鈥檒l hold until the report has been completed. The TDS will investigate, create a report which is binding, and then release the money. If the tenancy is not an assured shorthold tenancy, your property manager will explain the process to you.

How quickly will I receive my deposit money?

Once an agreement has been reached between you and the landlord, you鈥檒l receive the money within 10 working days.

What happens if 博鱼体育集团 Frank doesn't manage my property?

If we don鈥檛 manage the property, the processes are slightly different. Get in touch and we鈥檒l be happy to explain them to you.

Renewing a tenancy

Will I be contacted when my tenancy is nearing an end?

Three months before the end of tenancy, we鈥檒l contact you to discuss the option of renewal. If the tenancy is an assured shorthold tenancy, a Section 21 notice will also be issued as a precaution, in case the tenancy isn鈥檛 renewed two months before its end. If neither the tenant nor the landlord wants to renew, an end tenancy coordinator will reach out to assist with the process.

What happens if I want to renew my tenancy?

If you want to renew, we鈥檒l contact the landlord to confirm their agreement to extend the tenancy. If there is the option to renew, the details will be outlined in the tenancy agreement, including any potential rent increase and the deadline by which you must notify us.

How do I start renewal negotiations?

We鈥檒l act on behalf of both the landlord and tenant. The renewals team consult with the office manager to assess current market conditions and negotiate between the parties until an agreement is reached. If there are any changes to the occupants of the property, we need to be notified.

Do I need to sign a new tenancy agreement?

The tenant and landlord aren鈥檛 required to sign a new tenancy agreement. However, an addendum will need to be signed. This is a 3-4 page document that is an extension of the existing tenancy agreement. It includes updated terms such as break clauses, rent increase and any other variations on the original agreement. We execute the addendum when we have an updated right-to-rent check and a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

Do I need to do a new right-to-rent check?

If your time-limited visa has expired prior to the start of the renewal, you鈥檒l need to come to a 博鱼体育集团 Frank office, with your visa and passport. We鈥檒l then carry out the necessary checks.

Renting with pets

How do I find a rental property that allows pets?

We鈥檙e members of the Dogs Trust Lets with Pets scheme. We do our best to match pet owners with pet-friendly landlords, actively encouraging landlords to consider responsible tenants with furry friends.

What are dog and cat-friendly lettings?

The Lets with Pets campaign encourages landlords to accept pets, offering pet owners the opportunity to keep their beloved companions while helping buy-to-let landlords secure regular rental income.

How can I improve my chances of securing a pet-friendly let?

  • Don鈥檛 leave your house hunting until the last minute - give yourself plenty of time and allow 6 to 8 weeks.
  • Be as flexible as possible and keep an open mind to solutions.
  • Write a CV for your pet, including information about training it鈥檚 had, or highlighting positive aspects of its temperament or behaviour. You can also use the CV to demonstrate your commitment to being a responsible pet owner.
  • Get a reference for your pet from a previous landlord or your vet.
  • Introduce your pet to your potential landlord.
  • For an AST tenancy, the landlord may ask for a higher rent.
  • For a non-AST tenancy, be prepared to pay a higher deposit.
  • Be honest, don鈥檛 sneak your pet in without permission.
  • If you have permission for your pet, make sure there is a pet clause in your tenancy agreement.

Still have questions? No problem. Contact your nearest office to speak to our agents about renting with pets in your area. Or search for a pet-friendly property on our website.

Get in touch

Thank you
for getting in touch

A member of our team will be in touch with you as soon as possible to discuss your enquiry.

We look forward to speaking with you soon.

We take the processing and privacy of your information very seriously. Your data is collected and used in accordance with our terms and conditions and global privacy policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and apply.

Sorry!
An unexpected error has occurred.

Please try again later.

Sending your message...
Sending your message...