Overview
What is the first step to becoming a tenant through Merchant Lettings?
The first thing you should do is fill out a Residential Tenancy Application Form, which you can get from our office. This will ask you for all your personal details, such as - Current & Previous Addresses, Occupation, people we can contact for a reference, etc;
How much is the deposit for the flat that I want?
All our flats require the same deposit, which is one months rent plus £100.00
Is this all that I have to pay in advance?
We have a standard set-up fee of £100.00 per flat. This enables us to have the Lease agreement 'Stamped' by the Stamp Office and also 'Registered' by the Registrars of Scotland.
How long does it take from signing the lease to moving in to the property?
Entry dates are entirely negotiable, and we will endeavour to give you the best entry date for you circumstances.
Apart from rent, what other charges are there?
As a tenant, you are liable to pay for any services that are connected to the property. In the most cases, these are electricity and gas. You are also responsible for paying Council Tax. Students are exempt from paying Council Tax, and should fill out a Council Tax exemption form, which is available from our office. A telephone is NOT supplied with the property (although a phone line will almost certainly be installed) It is your responsibility, should you wish, to have this connected. You are also liable for a television licence.
When and how do I pay my rent?
We ask all our tenants to pay their rent by Standing Order on the first of every month.
When and how do I get my deposit back when I leave the property?
When you leave the property, we will ask you to give us a forwarding address where we can reach you. Upon your departure, a Property Manager will visit the property to assess its condition against the inventory signed at the start of the tenancy. Any dilapidations in the property will be charged from the deposit, along with any breakages. We must then ensure that the property has no outstanding debt (utility bills, council tax, etc;) This process can take up to two weeks. A cheque in the name of the tenant will then be issued.
