Tenants / Tenant Guidelines

DORSET LETTINGS was established in 1984 as a specialist Letting Agency handling quality rented accommodation in all price brackets throughout Dorset. Each member of our team has a detailed knowledge of their locality and, with six branches across Dorset, we can broaden the search if required. We hope that we will be able to find suitable accommodation for you and that the following notes will be helpful and informative.

ONCE YOU HAVE FOUND A SUITABLE PROPERTY you can reserve it by paying a holding deposit (the equivalent of one month’s rent unless otherwise stated). Marketing of the property will then cease.

The deposit will be held by Dorset Lettings and will be taken as the first months rent prior to the start of the tenancy.

The holding deposit is refundable only if the landlord withdraws the property from the market. The holding deposit does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme or any other approved Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme.

On reserving a property an administration charge will be payable:

£95.00 + VAT (£111.63) for a single tenant

£150.00 + VAT (£176.26) for two tenants

£50.00 + VAT (£58.75) for each additional tenant or a guarantor

Charges do not apply to persons under the age of 18 years.

Administration charges are only refundable if the landlord withdraws the property.

We will then ask you to complete an application form, so that we can undertake our standard referencing procedure and provide us with proof of identity and residency (driving license, passport or utility bill). Information required includes your place of residence over the past three years, details of your employment and present landlord (if renting). We also undertake a financial reference. In certain circumstances we may require a guarantor. In this case, the guarantor would also be required to undergo referencing.

In the event that the tenant does not commence the tenancy on the agreed commencement date, through no fault of the landlord, the tenant will be liable to pay reasonable costs including the equivalent of rent for any period during which the property is held before it is released back onto the open market for re-letting.

Once satisfactory referencing is completed, a tenancy agreement will be prepared. The charge for the tenancy agreement is shared between the landlord and the tenant. The charge to the tenant is £50.00 + VAT (£58.75) which must be paid prior to the tenancy agreement being released for signature.

Prior to the tenancy start date, we will require payment in cleared funds of a deposit to cover breakages and dilapidations. The deposit will be the equivalent of one and half months’ rent. Where a property is managed by Dorset Lettings the deposit will be held by Dorset Lettings as Stakeholder and registered with The Tenancy Deposit Scheme, a government approved Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme. At the end of the tenancy the deposit is returned to you less any agreed deductions. Where a landlord manages the property Dorset Lettings will confirm the scheme in which the deposit will be held.

Arrangements will then be made for the hand over of keys. From finding accommodation to moving in usually takes up to two weeks. However, it can be completed in a few days when necessary. We would recommend that you have adequate insurance to cover accidental damage to the landlord’s fixtures and fittings as this could prevent retentions from your deposit.

The only other cost to the tenant is a check out fee of £50.00 + VAT which is due prior to the end of the tenancy.

Please keep in touch with us so that we are better able to help you in your search and we hope that the service you receive from Dorset Lettings will lead to a happy and successful tenancy.