Tenancy & Bills Info/Payments & Charges
Bills Inclusive Properties:
In recent years the demand from student and professional tenants for bills inclusive rental options has increased dramatically. A small proportion of our landlords will provide a bills inclusive rent in which the landlord will provide and pay for the utilities for the property. This will be clearly stated as bills inclusive in the heading of the property advert.
Unless clearly stated otherwise in the property advertisement and in clause 3.2 of the tenancy agreement, it is likely your contract with Dove Properties will be for rent only (no bills included).
If the advertisement reads “Bills Package Available @ ...” this is the bills package as discussed below not bills included with the rent.
Bills Package Available:
UniHomes offer a service to tenants whereby the tenants of the property will have the option to pay their share of utility bills for the property direct to them, who will arrange the provision of utilities for the property, usually gas, electricity, water, broadband and TV licence. The price that UniHomes offer is usually based on and will differ according to the number of tenants signed for the property – see price list below (this may be subject to change).
You are under no obligation to proceed with a UniHomes package. There are other providers available and we advise you research the market before coming to a decision. If you wish to proceed with a bills package you will need to return to us a completed order form, which will be sent to you with the rest of the paperwork. We will then forward this onto UniHomes who will be in touch with you directly to set up the account. Please note Without a completed order form no account will be created for you. Alternatively should you advise us in writing that you wish to take up a UniHomes package we will provide UniHomes with your contact details and they will send you a form to sign direct.
Please note that UniHomes is not part of Dove Properties and Estates Limited and we accept no liability or responsibility for their service to you. Please ensure that you take advice where necessary and research the market before contracting with UniHomes. Please note should you enter into agreement for the supply of utilities, Dove Properties and Estates may take a small commission from UniHomes. We reiterate that you are under no obligation to enter into an agreement with UniHomes.
If you do decide to take up a bills package with UniHomes please note that any utility queries will need to be directed to UniHomes not Dove Properties and Estates Limited
Please note Unihomes bills package is for Student tenants and mixed groups of Student and Professionals.
Tenancy Information:
Contracts are legally binding for the full duration of the contract, so you should be sure of your plans before you sign for a property. Due to recently introduced "Right to Rent" Immigration legislation, we will now need to carry out identity checks on all applicants. All prospective tenants will be asked to provide documentary proof of their "right to rent".
The majority of student property Tenancy Agreements will typically last around a year, normally starting in early July and ending in late June each year. The precise date in July and June will depend on the individual property and landlord for example, a 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th July start date, 28th, 29th or 30th June end date. Please be aware that all Student properties are intended to be re-let to Students and therefore we will be giving notice to seek back possession of the properties for the following Student Academic year.
Permitted Charges in accordance with the Tenant Fee Act 2019 for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy.
- In addition to the rent, we only charge tenants (or anyone acting on the tenant's behalf) the following permitted payments:
- Deposits – a maximum of 5 weeks rent for annual rent below £50,000, or 6 weeks rent for annual rental of £50,000 and above. For Student properties, the deposit is typically £200 per person each for a multi-occupancy shared property
- Contract variation, novation, amendment at the tenant’s request, and where agreed by the Landlord e.g., change of occupant: £50 inclusive of VAT per instance
- Rental payments overdue by more than 14 days will be subject to interest at the rate of 3% over the Bank of England Base Rate calculated from the date the payment was due up until the date the payment was received
- Payment for the reasonable cost of any lost keys(s) or security device(s)
- Payment of any unpaid rent or other reasonable costs associated with any allowable early termination of the tenancy, if agreed by the Landlord (capped at the Landlord’s loss or the agents reasonably incurred costs)
- Payment of the reasonable costs incurred as a result of any breach of the terms of the tenancy by the tenant
- Utility, communication services, payable to the provider where applicable e.g. gas, electricity, telephone, broadband, TV license, council tax etc.
- Any other permitted payments not included above, as allowable under the Tenant Fees Act 2019
- Please note we do not accept cash. Payments should be made by standing order or Bacs. Be advised that in some cases we will just advertise properties on an "Introduction only" basis for landlords where we have no involvement in the contract signing. In these circumstances, they may have different information to those above.
- The information provided above is set out as an outline only for guidance and does not constitute part of an offer or contract. All prospective applicants should satisfy themselves as to the correctness of all statements and should not rely on them as representations of fact. No person in the employment of Dove Properties and Estates Limited has any authority to make or give representation or warranty whatever in relation to a property.
Please note:
- We are members of Client Money Protect, RLA, SADLA
- Independent Redress is available from the Property Ombudsman (Lettings) registration number D6774.
- We also have Landlord Client Money Protection Insurance from Client Money Protect
