Finding a property with John Hollingsworth
John Hollingsworth is open 9-7pm most days, to show you potential properties of interest. Any property that we are marketing is always displayed on our website. You can request a viewing through the website or by simply calling or emailing one of our branches. Our friendly and professional members of staff are always willing to help. We are open on Saturdays too for viewings and we can always either meet you at the property or simply drive you to it.

Reserving the property with John Hollingsworth
When you decide to secure a property to rent with us, we will require a reservation fee of £500. This is to ensure that landlord secures the property for you, subject to references and contracts, which we will organize with you. We will ensure that the reservation fee is deducted from your total monies payable for the property. There is an administration charge of £500 if you cancel. In any circumstances where the fee is refundable for example should the landlord cancel, we will send you a cheque within 10 working days.

Tenant referencing
Private Individual References:
JHEA use a 3rd party referencing agency ‘Property Risks’ (www.propertyrisks.co.uk) to arrange our tenant referencing. This agency may check and provide information to JHEA regarding creditworthiness (Experian credit score), previous tenancy performance, current, previous and future employment, personal reference, and other information that may be relevant. It is imperative that you disclose any information which may affect your references prior to the commencement of the referencing application.
Property Risks use an online application service – you will be asked by the negotiator handling your offer to provide email addresses, and an automated email will be sent to you by Property Risks, requesting that you complete a secure online application form. The results of the reference application are protected by the relevant Data Protection legislation and will only be made available to JHEA and the Landlord.

Company References:
JHEA use a number of different services to obtain company references, including but not limited to MARAS (credit referencing agency – www.maras.co.uk), Experian Bronze, direct business/trade references, you will be advised accordingly at the application stage as to the references that will be required by the landlord. Failed references will not necessarily result in the cancellation of your tenancy application but may well do so. If your references are not deemed acceptable by the landlord or JHEA in its capacity as agent for the landlord, then we may be able to offer alternative terms under which the tenancy can proceed (for example, but not limited to: arrangement of a guarantor and guarantor covenant, increased deposit payment, increased advance rental payment), however JHEA cannot guarantee the acceptability of references, or that a tenancy will not be cancelled if references cannot be obtained.

Guarantors
In certain circumstances (e.g. for all student applications), a guarantor for the tenancy will be required. In the event that this is a requirement, then JHEA will require that the guarantor is referenced in the same way as the tenant, and that the guarantor will sign a ‘Guarantor Covenant’ – this is a LEGALLY BINDING document, in which the guarantor agrees to underwrite the tenancy agreement, and will be liable for the responsibilities of the tenant(s) at the property. To be eligible to be a guarantor, an individual must be UK resident, and a homeowner.
Guidance for overseas tenants
John Hollingsworth has strong links with over seas tenants weather private relocations or corporate. Simply complete as much of the reference detail as possible and we will process your application.
Many members of staff at John Hollingsworth are multi-lingual so just ask us if you wish to speak to one of our in your own language.

Deposit
Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the offer of tenancy, and subsequently in the tenancy agreement, JHEA will require a minimum deposit equivalent to 6 times the weekly rent, by way of a performance deposit for the tenancy. In some cases (for example if specified by the landlord, subject to references, if tenant have pets etc) the landlord or JHEA as landlords agent will request an increased deposit (normally up to a maximum of 2 months rent). The deposit will be held either by JHEA or by the landlord for the duration of the tenancy agreement, and must be paid by the tenant prior to the commencement of the tenancy agreement. With effect from April 6th 2007, all deposits held under Assured Shorthold Tenancies (AST) are subject to new legislation enacted by Government, in respect of how the deposits are held, and how deposits are handled at the end of the tenancy. More information can be found at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TenancyDeposit/index.htm. Where a deposit
is to be regulated by this legislation, JHEA may use any of the three available regulated schemes (see website for more information), and will inform the tenants of which scheme the deposit will be placed in.
Deposits for Common Law Tenancies and for Company Tenancies are not currently regulated under this legislation and may be held by the landlord directly, or by JHEA as stakeholder or as landlord’s agent.

How to pay the rent
Standing Orders must be set up for all properties where John Hollingsworth is collecting the rent on behalf of the landlord. Standing Order dates must be set up for a minimum of 3 days before the rent due date stated in the tenancy agreement. This will ensure that the rent is received in the landlords account in a timely fashion (banks usually take 3 working days to ‘clear’ the money)

The Tenancy Agreement Between the Landlord & the Tenant
The agreements that will John Hollingsworth used are called either an Assured Shorthold Tenancy or a Non-Housing Act Tenant Agreement. Most rental tenancies are for 12, 18 or 24 months, the average life of a tenancy in London at present is for 18 months.
Where special requirements are agreed, for example an extra item the landlord agrees to supply such as a sofa, or where variations to the standard tenancy agreement have been agreed; these items will be listed separately to the clauses of the Tenancy Agreement and attached to the Tenancy agreement. You should note that the Landlord does not have an obligation to carry out pre-contact promises unless they have been listed and attached to the Tenancy Agreement. This does not apply to items which are required by statute or properly arise after occupation.
• The Tenancy Agreement is between you and the Landlord, John Hollingsworth are not a party.
• All Tenants have joint and several liability under the Tenancy agreement.
• You are contracted to stay in the property for the minimum duration stated in the Tenancy Agreement.
• Where a Guarantor has entered into an Agreement by signing the guarantor covenant form, in the event of the Tenant not meeting the obligations under the Agreement, the Guarantor would be liable to accept responsibility, including but not limited to any rental arrears.

Arranging utilities
In most cases the arrangement of payment of utilities is the tenant’s responsibility. You should liase with the landlord or John Hollingsworth if the property is managed.

Moving into the rented property
Inventory & Check-In/Out
In the majority of cases, the landlord will have requested that an independent inventory and check-in is to be completed at or before the commencement of the tenancy, with a check-out to be completed at the termination of the tenancy to determine the condition of the property before the next tenancy. The cost of the check-in and checkout (if any) is to be distributed fairly between the landlord and tenant, as the report is to the benefit of both parties.
If the landlord does not provide an inventory and check-in at the commencement of the tenancy then we would strongly recommend that you produce a record of the condition at the commencement of the tenancy (e.g. digital photos) for your own benefit.

Contact During the Tenancy
Dependant on your landlord contact will be either made direcetly to him or her throughout the tenancy. If the property is managed by John Hollingsworth you will liase directly with us instead. You will be advised of this when you sign the tenancy agreement. Our management department is based in Battersea, London, SW11 they can be contacted via the website, email, telephone or in person.

Tenancy Renewal
Two months before the end of the tenancy JHEA will contact you to ascertain whether you would like to renew the tenancy. If you do wish to renew we seek approval from the Landlord and make the necessary arrangements. If the Landlord does not wish to renew the tenancy we can start looking for a new alternative property for you to rent if you require. Please also be informed that if you are not renewing the tenancy it is more than likely that we will wish to show it to other prospective Tenants during your notice period.

Return of your rental deposit
At the end of your Tenancy, Check-out Report is usually compiled. The check out report will contain information about the cleanliness of the property, record the list of items in the property and comment on any excessive wear and tear. Normally this document is referred to by the Landlord in deciding what deductions for repairs, if any, need to be made from your deposit. A copy of this report will be sent to you for your reference. Once any dilapidations have been agreed (if any) and the costs for repairs due to dilapidations have been agreed (if any) the deposit will be returned to you, either in full or less the amount agreed for repairing any dilapidations.
Please seek advice if you are unsure on any of the points listed above.