We opened our doors for the first time in January 2008 and we were the first letting agency in Leeds to offer the 'all inclusive' package. Our innovative approach and forward thinking has resulted in 'all inclusive' renting becoming a huge success! It's simple!... you pay your rent and we take care of the rest.
However we also offer a number of non-inclusive properties so that you get to choose from the best of both worlds. We have a diverse range of properties in the most popular student areas and the signing up process is quick and straight forward.
For all-inc properties we require a deposit but no admin fee. All you need to do is complete the relevant paperwork within a three week period and then your holding fee of £50 (per person) will be refunded. The rent will need to be paid either monthly or quarterly by Direct Debit and we take care of the everything else! For all non-inc properties a bond will also be applicable but the process remains quick and easy!
We pride ourselves on offering a first class service and an excellent level of accommodation. All Rentinc properties are fully furnished and every effort has been made to ensure that they are of the highest standard. All our staff have extensive knowledge of the student property market and it is our dynamic and innovative approach that enables Rentinc to remain so competitive!
Pre-tenancy
Q. How long are the tenancy agreements for? A. Normally 12 months but this depends on the property.
Q. Do you do credit checks? A. We have the facility to do credit checks if necessary. We also require every tenant to have a guarantor and it needs to be someone that is a UK resident, a homeowner and fully employed.
Q. Are all properties furnished? A. Yes, all properties come furnished including kitchen appliances.
Q. In 2 or more bedroom properties, can more than one person live in the same room? A. No, the price is per person in relation to the number of bedrooms in the house.
Q. Are pets allowed? A. Unfortunately not.
Q. Are there any administration fees? A. For All-inc and Non-inc tenancies there are no administration fees. We have a refundable holding fee of £50 per person which is refundable once all the paperwork has been completed - contracts signed, parental guarantees completed and both the direct debit mandate and application forms completed. If this isn't achieved within 3 weeks Rentinc has the right to retain the holding fee and re-market the property.
Q. Is there a deposit? A. Yes - all properties require a minimum £100 deposit per person. However some properties may require a larger deposit.
Q. Are bills included in the rent? A. All-inc tenancies: the rent includes gas, electricity, water rates, broadband and contents insurance, however these are subject to fair usage and any excess will be charged to the tenants.
A. Non-inc tenancies: no bills are included in the rent. The bills are the tenant's responsibility.
Q. Do you have any houses where I can just rent one room? A. Yes we have individual rooms to let within shared student houses - you will have your own room, but will share communal facilities.
Q. Do you have any "student halls" type of accommodation? A. Yes we do have some en-suite accommodation. Please enquire.
Q. Do you provide kitchen utensils or do we need to bring our own? A. Our properties are fully furnished, but we do not provide items such as kitchen utensils and bedding, therefore you will need to bring these with you when you move in.
Q. Is the internet installed? A. All-inc tenancies: broadband is installed and supplied by a third party. If there are any problems with the broadband it is the tenants responsibility to liaise with the supplier direct. Rentinc cannot be held responsible for any loss of service.
A. Non-inc tenancies: broadband is not included in the rent.
Q. Do you do viewings on Saturdays? A. Yes we are open for viewings on Saturdays from 10am to 5pm.
Q. How long in advance do we need to book if we want to look at some houses? A. We need 24 hours to inform current tenants of viewings on properties. To arrange a viewing either call into the office, phone us on 0113 220 0040 or email us at info@rentinc.co.uk
Q. Do we meet you at the property or do we need to come to the office? A. You will need to come to the office prior to the viewing and we will take you from here.
Q. Do you offer a Summer discount? A. Generally we don't, but certain properties may have summer discounts if maintenance works are planned.
Q. Can I get my own furniture? A. Yes - however please ensure it complies with up-to-date fire and safety regulations. Please make sure you arrange your own storage for Rentinc's furniture and remove any personal items before you leave.
Q. What association do Rentinc have with the Student Loans Company? A. Although the majority of our lets are to students we are a private company with no official affiliation to the SLC.
Tenancy
Q. How often do we have to pay rent? A. The rent is paid in monthly or quarterly installments as per your tenancy agreement.
Q. How do I pay the rent? A. Rent is paid by Direct Debit. Your rent will be paid automatically once this has been set up.
Q. Can my parents pay for my rent? A. Anyone can pay your rent on your behalf, however the legal responsibility lies with you.
Q. Who holds my deposit? A. The Deposit is safeguarded by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, which is administered by: The Dispute Service Ltd. PO Box 541, Amersham, Bucks, HP6 6ZR. Phone: 0845 226 7837 Email: deposits@tds.gb.com Fax: 01494 431123.
Q. What happens if I fall into arrears? A. We appreciate that sometimes things can get tight however rental payments must be paid on time. If you fall in to arrears you will be charged and all guarantors and other tenants will be informed of the debt. Please refer to your tenancy agreement for details on charges that could be applied. The sooner you let us know of any extenuating circumstances the quicker we can try and work with you.
Q. Can I leave the contract earlier should I want to? A. You can do, however you and the other tenants will need to find someone to assign over your tenancy. Once a suitable tenant is found they would need to fulfill all the necessary requirements and we would then need to add the new tenant to the contract. The cost of this procedure is £115 and is payable by the outgoing tenant.
Q. How can I advertise my property/room if I cannot fulfill my tenancy agreement? A. You can advertise your property for free by using websites such as Gumtree, Facebook and Myspace. If you would like Rentinc to re-advertise your room on your behalf the cost is one months rent plus VAT.
Q. What happens if I have a maintenance issue with my property? A. Small repairs and the day to day running of the property are the tenants responsibility, however in certain circumstances you may not be able to solve the problem and therefore we have instructed Hive Property Services to assist with these issues. However you will be charged for any call outs made which fall under the tenants responsibility or which are deemed unnecessary.
Q. Can I decorate? A. In properties owned by Rentinc you may be able to decorate, providing you obtain authorisation from the office first.
Q. Can I put a lock on my bedroom door? A. We understand the need for privacy however locks on doors can create a number of issues. They can be a potential fire hazard and if Rentinc needs to do any maintenance work inside the room we would not have access. In some cases a call out charge will still be charged to the tenant and an additional charge may occur for removing the lock. Another issue is with TV licensing as a locked door creates a separate dwelling which means another TV licence may be required. This can also apply to the Council Tax banding. We may allow an internal lock to be attached (with prior approval from Rentinc) which gives the tenant privacy once in the room.
Post-tenancy
Q. What do I need to do in order to get my bond back? A. For Rentinc to process your bond we need proof of payment of you final bills for Water, Gas, Electric and Council Tax. This proof can come in either the form of either a letter from your supplier explaining that your account is clear or your final bill and a stamp from the post office stating the amount that has been paid. If you are a student then we would need a Council Tax exemption form which can be obtained from Leeds City Council.
Q. How long does my bond take to process and what format does it come in? A. Your bond can take up to 14 days to process once we have received proof of payment for your final bills. Once the bond has been processed it will be returned to you in the form of a cheque made payable to the tenant.