Letting Process

Registering with your chosen agent

To register is simple; visit our office; give us a call; get in touch or request that one of our experienced team members gives you a call at a time of your convenience. As part of our registration process, we will ask you for the following information to help us match you with available properties more effectively:

• Your contact details.
• What are you looking for, e.g. 1, 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms?
• Why are you moving?
• How long do you want to rent the property for? Usually our rental periods are for a minimum of six months or a year.
• Do you require a furnished property?
• Are there any factors you are not prepared to compromise on, e.g. outside space, off-street parking, etc.?
• What area(s) would you like to live in? If you are unsure about a particular neighbourhood and the types of properties available, a member of our lettings team can provide further advice.
• How much can you afford to pay for your perfect property?
• Who will be residing within the property?
• Do you have any pets?

Arranging viewings

After drawing up a shortlist of properties you would like to view from our selection, we will go ahead and make the appointments for you. At Goldman Greg we can accommodate viewings in all forms. The most common viewings are undertaken in person, however for those looking to secure their perfect property before arriving in the UK, we offer Skype or Whatsapp video viewings and can send in person photos and videos to all prospective tenants.

Remember that the London rental market moves quickly, and if you find the perfect property, or one that meets the majority of your requirements, be prepared to place an offer when you view it to avoid disappointment.

Making an offer

After viewings have taken place and you have found a property that meets all of, or the majority of your needs, it is time to make a formal offer.

At this stage, we will require you to complete our tenant application to rent form, which will outline your terms of offer for us to put forward to the Landlord(s) on your behalf.

It is at this point that we will require applicants to pay a one week reservation payment. Paying this sum, which is a refundable sum, means that the property in question will not be offered to any other person, whilst you are negotiating terms with the Landlord(s).

The paperwork

Once your offer is accepted, you will receive a draft tenancy agreement and other necessary documentation, which you should read thoroughly. Our highly trained lettings team members are here to help you if anything is unclear.

At this stage your references will be checked. This will involve contacting your bank; your previous landlord; your employer and anyone who has agreed to provide a character reference, as well as undertaking a credit check. We outsource these checks to a reference company, who will usually be able to complete the checks within 48 hours, though in some instances they may take longer. Please be aware of this and supply us with the necessary information and documentation as promptly as possible, to avoid the risk of reference checks not being completed in time for your moving-in day.

You will be issued with a statement of account for your initial payment, which will include:

1. Rent for the first month or Rent for as many advanced months that has been agreed
2. Security Deposit - usually equivalent to five weeks’ rent (where annual rent is less than £50,000). Equivalent to six weeks’ rent where the annual rent is greater than £50,000.

If it has been agreed that future rental payments are to be made in advance by monthly standing order, you will need to have your bank account details available in order to complete the necessary form.

Please note that the above charges are applicable when entering into an Assured Shorthold Tenancy and can vary depending on type of agreement you will be signing.

Moving in

Assuming all references, documents and payments have been collected and are in order, your keys (normally one set per occupant) will be available for collection on the start date of the tenancy. Key collection will either be from the Goldman Greg office, or they will be given to you during your checking-in appointment with an inventory clerk, which takes place at the property. Our lettings team will ensure that either of these options are organised at a convenient time for you.

You will need to inform any utility providers that you have moved into the property and ensure that all accounts are transferred into your name as quickly as possible. These could include gas, electricity, phone and satellite/cable TV companies, as well as the local council, as you will need to register for council tax.

A copy of the inventory check-in report will be sent to you shortly after you move in, and if you have any comments or questions about this, you should raise them on receipt of the report.

Post moving in

When you move in, you will receive a welcome letter informing you who to contact in the event of any maintenance of property management issues. If your property is managed by Goldman Greg, this will be the name and contact details of your property manager. Alternatively, if the property is managed by your landlord, it will contain their full contact details.

For any questions concerning your tenancy agreement, break clauses, payments or renewals, you should contact the Goldman Greg Lettings Department, who will be happy to assist you.

Tenant Fees

From 1st June 2019, Goldman Greg will only charge our tenants for the following:

• The rent
• A refundable tenancy deposit capped at no more than five weeks’ rent where the annual rent is less than £50,000, or six weeks’ rent where the total annual rent is £5,000 or above
• A refundable holding deposit (to reserve a property) capped at no more than one week’s rent
• Payments to change the tenancy when requested by the tenant, capped at £50, or reasonable costs if incurred if higher
• Payments associated with early termination of the tenancy, when requested by the tenant
• Payments in respect of utilities, communication services, TV licence and council tax; and
• A default fee for late payment of rent and replacement of a lost key/security device, where required under a tenancy agreement