Preparing and Signing of Tenancy Agreements

To move into a property, the landlord and tenant need to sign off on the tenancy agreement.  

 

This is a legal document that details everything from who pays for what utilities, who can live in the house and what happens if one of them decides to leave.  

 

With so many things going on at once, it's no wonder why people have questions about this process. 

 

In this blog post we will touch on all you need to know when preparing and signing an agreement with your landlord or potential new tenant! 

There are two main types of tenancy agreement: 

 

Fixed Term Tenancy Agreement -  

This is when the tenant signs a contract for a specific length of time, usually one year. 

After that period has passed, either party can end it with 90 days' notice (in writing). The only way to get out before this date is if you can find a willing replacement tenant, and the landlord agrees to them. 

 

Periodic Tenancy Agreement -  

This is an agreement that automatically renews every month or week until one of the parties decides to end it with 90 days' notice (in writing).  

It's important to note that if you have a periodic tenancy agreement, your landlord can evict you without a reason. 

 

 

There are some things the landlord and tenant both must do when signing an agreement, but there's also a few other important steps that need to be taken before hand!  

 

Let's get started on this blog post about preparing for tenancy agreements:  

 

-In order for either party to sign off on the document, it must be in English or accompanied by a translation that is certified as accurate. 

-Both the landlord and tenant must have a copy of the agreement, which they will keep for their records. 

 

Now that both parties have a copy of the document, it's time to start filling out the details!  

The first section is about who is renting out the property. This is the landlord, and they will need to provide their name, address, and contact information. The tenant then fills out their details, including their full name, date of birth, contact info and employment status.  

 

If you're a student or self-employed, you'll need to provide proof of this to your landlord. 

After the personal info is filled out, the next section is about what utilities are included and who pays for them.  

 

This can be tricky because if you're living alone or with a housemate, then it's easy to split up utility costs evenly (like electricity). But things get trickier when there's more than one tenant living under one roof. In this case, the landlord usually pays for all the utilities and then bills each tenant accordingly. 

 

Next is a section about who can live in the property. This one's easy - just list all the people that will be living in the house on the designated line. If someone moves out or gets added later, then you'll need to update the agreement. 

 

The last section is about what happens if one of the tenants wants to leave before the lease is up.  

This can happen for several reasons, like getting a new job in another city or simply not liking the place they're living in. 

If this happens, then the tenant needs to give the landlord written notice (minimum of 30 days).  

The landlord then must find a replacement tenant and get their approval, otherwise the tenant is responsible for the remainder of the rent. 

 

Now that we've gone over what needs to be included in a tenancy agreement, let's take a look at some things that could go wrong during the rental period, although chances are, everything will run smoothly during the tenancy, it is still best to know about the worst-case scenario! 

 

-The property is damaged, and the tenant is responsible  

-If the tenant causes any damage to the property, then they are responsible for fixing it or reimbursing the landlord. This includes everything from a broken window to burnt carpet. 

 

-The rent isn't paid on time -It's important to always pay your rent on time, otherwise you'll be in breach of the agreement. If your landlord accepts late payments, then they can't use this as a reason to evict you. 

 

-The tenant causes trouble -If the tenant disturbs other tenants or gets caught doing illegal activities on the property, then they are subject to eviction without notice and may have to pay damages. 

 

-The landlord could try to evict the tenant without a reason or raise the rent amount unexpectedly.  

In this case, it's important for the tenant to have a copy of their agreement and keep all communication with the landlord in writing. If things get bad, they can always contact their local council or Citizens Advice Bureau for help. 

 

-The tenant could also stop paying rent or damage the property beyond repair. If this happens, the landlord has every right to evict them and take them to court. However, they must give the tenant written notice (minimum of two weeks) before taking any legal action. 

 

Hopefully none of these things happen during your tenancy period! If you're having problems or would like to ask any questions, then feel free to contact us. 

 

 

0116 340 9989 

lettings@thepropertyfox.co.uk