Liverpool Alive are registered members of the Residential Landlords Association (RLA), Client Money Protect (CMP) and the Property Ombudsman
Letting fees
Following the Tenant Fee Act 2019 there are no letting fees however you may be required to pay some of the following permitted fees:
Rent – Payable as outlined in the Tenancy Agreement Unpaid rent – Interest at 3% above the Bank of England base rate, as outlined in the Tenancy Agreement
Lost Keys – Tenants are liable for the cost of replacing any lost keys or security device, including a change of lock or replacement of device if required
Amendments of Tenancy Agreement at Tenant’s Request – A minimum of £50 per change which could increase depending on the level of work required to carry out the amendment
Early Surrender of the AST at Tenant’s Request – Should a tenant need to surrender the tenancy early and the Landlord agrees to re-let the property, the liability for the payment of rent will end once a new tenant is found and takes up occupation. However, the tenant will still need to cover the Landlord’s costs in surrendering the tenancy and re-letting the property
Lettings Process
Once you’ve found the property, a member of our team will have done their checks to confirm you’re a reliable tenant, your deposit will be lodged in an approved tenancy deposit scheme.
This will ensure that your deposit remains secure during your tenancy period, and you’ll be made aware of where it is held. Background checks include contacting your employer and previous landlord.
Once you have comfortably moved in to your new home, it is always beneficial to understand what your responsibilities are as a tenant, as well as what you should expect from your landlord. Below you’ll find some guidance on what falls under the tenant’s responsibility, and what falls under the landlord’s responsibility.
Rent: This is one of the tenant’s biggest responsibilities. As part of your tenancy agreement, you agree to pay your rent on time each month.
Right to rent: It is the landlord or managing agent’s responsibility to conduct a check to ensure every tenant has the right to rent in England. This check is also carried out on anyone over the age of 18 that will be living with you.
Bills: Unless stated otherwise, it is the tenant’s responsibility to pay bills, this includes water, gas and electricity. A tenant must also pay Council Tax, TV license and may need to pay for a phone line and internet/TV packages if required. It is also important that a tenant checks their tenancy agreement to ensure they don’t have to pay any additional charges such as community charges.
Looking after the property: Ultimately it is the tenant’s responsibility to look after the home on a day to day basis. This means ensuring there is no damage to the furnishings if the property came furnished, reporting any repairs to the landlord or managing agent, changing light bulbs if required and checking smoke alarms are working. Additional responsibilities include correctly disposing of rubbish and keeping to the terms of the agreement in regards to smoking, parking and keeping the garden tidy.
Maintenance: It is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure that any maintenance issues that have been reported by the tenant are taken seriously and are fixed within a reasonable timeframe. A landlord must also ensure their property meets all of the correct gas and electrical safety regulations.
Responsibility over visitors: It is a tenant’s responsibility to ensure that their household, or visitors to their household behave in a respectful manner. Antisocial behavior could lead to eviction of the tenant.
Gain permission: It is imperative as a tenant that correct permission is sought before making any changes to the property. This is also required if a tenant wishes to run a business from a rented property.
Access: A landlord must leave a tenant to live in their home without interference. A landlord must gain permission to enter the property and may not enter the property without giving the tenant prior notice and arranging a mutually agreeable time.
Moving out: It is the tenant’s responsibility to ensure that the property is returned to its original state. We always recommend having the property professionally cleaned upon exit to ensure that the deposit is returned in full.
The tenant’s belongings should be removed from the property and all that should be left are fixtures and furnishings that were in the property when the tenant moved in.
