When you have found a property that you want to make an offer to rent you will need to pay a holding deposit equivalent to one weeks rent. Abby Properties will not introduce any applicants to the property on receipt of your holding deposit and during your application process.

Should your application be successful the holding deposit may be credited to the first month’s rent. Current legislation stipulates that the necessary paperwork should be completed within 15 days or such longer period as might be agreed. If at any time you decide not to proceed with the tenancy, then your holding deposit will be retained by our firm.

If the landlord decides not to offer you a tenancy for reasons unrelated with the above, then your deposit will be refunded. Please speak to your Property Consultant for more information on holding deposits.

The first payment of rent must be paid in cleared funds before your tenancy starts. Thereafter, rent is payable by standing order (unless agreed otherwise). We ask that the standing order be set up a few days before the rent is due so that we can forward it to your landlord in good time. If there is more than one tenant, please note that we are only able to accept a single standing order for each tenancy.

A security deposit, equivalent to 5 weeks rent must be paid in cleared funds when or before you sign the tenancy agreement. Depending on your type of tenancy, this will be held by Abby Properties in a government approved scheme – The Deposit Protection Solutions or by your landlord in The DPS or My Deposits. This will be held for the duration of the tenancy and in accordance with the terms of the tenancy agreement.

You may wish to consider a deposit replacement arrangement as an alternative to paying a cash security deposit, although we will also need the landlord’s agreement to this.

You will still be liable for damages, breaches and rent arrears. Should a deposit replacement scheme be of interest please speak to your Property Consultant for more information.

The Landlord may not always use Abby Properties to manage the tenancy. You will be advised who will be responsible for the management at the start of the tenancy along with all their relevant contact information. Where Abby Properties is managing the tenancy, it is worth noting that we will endeavour to remedy any repairs or maintenance issues as quickly as possible, but we will require the landlord’s consent before proceeding.

The tenant is responsible for allowing access to the property for contractors to carry out any works. In most cases we hold keys to managed properties but you will need to give us authorisation to access the property in your absence. Dont forget to report ALL maintenance issues by visiting our website and using the maintenance link on the homepage.

Unless otherwise agreed by the Landlord in writing, you will be responsible for paying any telephone, TV license, gas, air-conditioning, water and electricity bills, council tax at the property during your tenancy. It is also your responsibility to notify the providers of these services the date that you are moving in and when you move out of the property. Please note that Abby Properties nor the landlord is able to deal with any of these accounts on your behalf however, if any of these services are paid periodically as part of a building service charge, the correct proportion for the utilities you are responsible for paying will be calculated and recharged to you.

Whilst it is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure the building is insured, it is your responsibility to insure your own belongings throughout the term of the tenancy. Please speak to your Property Consultant to discuss this further.

Abby Properties is subject to the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 and as such, we require sufficient proof of identification before proceeding with any tenancy.

Abby Properties are committed to providing a professional service to all our clients and customers. When something goes wrong, we need you to tell us about it.

If you have a complaint, please put it in writing, including as much detail as possible. We have eight weeks to consider your complaint. If we have not resolved it within this time you may refer your complaint to The Property Ombudsman.