Tenants
Guidance And Information for Tenants
Guidance And Information for Tenants
Full guidance on the renting process through Oxhome can be found here. We strongly recommend that you read the current ‘How To Rent’ booklet and understand the nature of permitted payments.
Booking A Viewing
Explore our range of properties online and book a viewing via email, phone, or by visiting our office.
To reserve a property: Once you’ve found the home you’d like, please complete our application form and return it to us by email at info@oxhome.co.uk, along with your refundable holding deposit. Be sure to carefully review a copy of our tenancy agreement, which outlines your rights and responsibilities under the final agreement, before making your deposit payment.
The holding deposit secures the property for you and removes it from the market. It’s calculated as one week’s rent (based on the formula: one month’s rent x 12 ÷ 52) and applies to the property, not per person. We accept payments via bank transfer, credit, or debit card.
Referencing Process
Referencing: Once we receive your completed application form, it will be sent to a third-party referencing company to process and conduct the following checks:
- Landlord reference (if you are currently renting)
- Credit check
- Income verification
- Right to Rent check: Under Section 22 of the Immigration Act, all landlords and letting agents must verify that tenants and occupiers have the right to rent in the UK. This means that all prospective tenants must be British citizens, European Economic Area (EEA) citizens, Swiss nationals, or have the legal right to rent in the UK.
ID & Tenancy Process
We will require you to provide your original passport and, if applicable, your visa/residency permit, which we will photocopy, verify, and keep on file. Copies of your identification will be securely destroyed within 12 months.
Unfortunately, if you do not have the ‘right to rent,’ we will be unable to proceed with your application.
Tenancy Agreement, Deposit, and First Month’s Rent: Once your references are complete, we will send your tenancy agreement to you via email or post.
An invoice for the first month’s rent and a deposit of 5 weeks’ rent (minus any holding deposit) will be included, along with our bank details for payment. Please note that all funds must be cleared before your tenancy start date, and keys will only be released once payment has been received.
Deposit & Welcome Pack
The deposit is a sum of money held by the Deposit Protection Service Ltd (DPS). This is security against the property being left damaged or rent not being paid. Further information about the DPS is available in the tenancy agreement here.
Our tenants welcome pack will also be sent to you which includes the following documents for you to retain during your tenancy:
- Gas safety certificate (if the property has a gas supply)
- Electrical safety certificate
- Energy performance certificate
- DPS terms and conditions
- How to rent March 2023 document
- Instructions for new and vacating tenants
- Information about maintenance and your responsibilities as a tenant
Moving into your new home: when your move in date is agreed, we give you the option of meeting at the property or collecting keys from our office.
Inventory
On moving into your new home, you will receive either an electronic or hard copy of the inventory for the property. The inventory is a professional report which lists everything in the property and its condition when you moved into the property. You must check that the inventory is accurate, add any additional comments you may have and sign the inventory within 7 days of receipt.
Property Management
If the property you are renting is managed by Oxhome, you will need to pay your rent directly to us. We will also conduct regular property inspections and serve as your primary point of contact for any maintenance concerns or other queries that may arise during your tenancy.
Tenancy Renewals
Three months before your tenancy comes to an end, we shall contact you to find out if you want to renew. We shall arrange a meeting, then contact your landlord to discuss your plans and their objectives. Subject to your landlord’s approval, we shall draw up a new tenancy agreement. You may also have the option of continuing your tenancy on a month by month (periodic) basis.
Check Out
When you leave the property, we shall carry out a final inspection/check out. We recommend that you are present during this appointment. We shall refer to the inventory and check that the property has been left in good order.
Deposit Refund
In accordance with the terms of your tenancy agreement we shall inform you within ten working days of the end of the tenancy if we propose to make any deductions from your deposit. Payment of the deposit or any balance will be made within ten working days of the landlord and yourself agreeing the allocation of these funds.
All deposits are registered and protected through Client Money Protect. View our CMP certificate.
Request a Free Valuation
Get a professional property valuation from our expert estate agents.