Renting a residential property

If you'd like to rent a residential property from us, we ask for a variety of information so we can be sure you'll be a suitable tenant for that property.

Here's what you'll need to provide as a potential residential tenant:

• Proof of identity;
• Completion of a form that will enable us to carry out a credit check; this will require you to provide details of all addresses that you have lived at and names by which you have been known during the last 5 years.
• Details of at least two people from whom we can obtain references; these should not be relatives and where possible they should include:
  • Your previous landlord
  • Your employer (unless self employed)
• You may also be asked for a bank reference and for proof of earnings.

When you rent a property from us you will be given a copy of the tenancy agreement. This contains a written record of the responsibilities and liabilities of both the landlord and tenant. 

We'd strongly recommend that you keep a copy of your lease to hand throughout your tenancy as it is useful to be able to refer to it. It says how much rent is due, when it must be paid and who is responsible for property repairs.

If you take a new tenancy of residential property from Lincolnshire Co-op it will be let on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy.

Details of what this means and useful information for residential tenants can be found in the booklet 'Assured and Assured Shorthold Tenancies: a guide for tenants.'

Our residential leases are usually granted for an initial terms of 6 months, although longer terms may be possible for some properties by mutual agreement.

After the initial term ends the leases will continue until either you (the tenant) or we (the landlord) serve notice to bring it to an end. We do not normally require you to sign a new agreement each time the fixed term ends. This gives you more flexibility and means that there is no further administration fee for you to pay.

When you move into your residential property please remember to take meter readings and ask the utility companies to change the supplies into your name.

You will also need to tell the local council so that the council tax account is put into your name.

When the leases ends and you leave the property meter readings will need to be taken once again and utility companies and the Local Authority informed that you have moved. If you have changed utility supplier, please let us know who the supply has been moved to.

Rent will normally be paid monthly in advance and we as that is paid by standing order or direct debit.

Before you moved into your property you will be asked to pay a deposit. The amount will vary depending upon the property but in most cases, it will be one and a half months' rent.

The deposit will be returned to you when the tenancy ends, other than any reasonable deductions that may be made to cover the cost of repairing any damage to the property, unpaid rent, outstanding bills etc. should these have occurred.

It is a legal requirement that, when we take a deposit for a residential letting, it is registered with a tenancy deposit scheme. The scheme that it is registered with will be decided by the letting agent, but we only use government approved schemes. 

All schemes offer a dispute resolution service that can be used if you disagree with the amount of any deductions made from the deposit. More information about this will be given at the start of the tenancy. 

When you take a tenancy, you will be provided with a schedule of condition and asked to sign to confirm your agreement to it.

This sets out the condition that your property was in when it was handed over to you and normally includes photographs of each room.

When you receive the schedule, you should check it straight away and if there are any items that you disagree with it is important that you raise them with the letting agent immediately so that alterations can be made.

When you hand back the property at the end of your lease its condition will be compared against the condition recorded in the schedule when deciding if deductions should be made from your deposit.

If, during your tenancy, you notice that your property needs repair you should contact the letting agent. They will be able to advise you whether the repair is your responsibility or ours, as landlord. If it is ours they will arrange for a repair to be carried out.

For general guidance, you will be responsible for the cost of any repairs needed because of damage that you, or your guests, have caused to the property. Typically, this may include things such as clearing blocking drains, replacing lost keys or broken windows, cleaning carpets etc.

You are responsible for the replacement of consumable items such as light bulbs, fuses and filters etc.

As landlord, we have a legal responsibility for repairs to the structure and exterior, including gutters and pipes, and for water, gas and electricity supplies, sinks, toilet, basins, baths and installations relating to heating and the supply of hot water.

It is also a legal requirement that, when we let a residential property to you, the electrical installation is in safe condition and any gas appliances have been checked and a certificate issued confirming their safety.

A copy of the relevant fixed electrical wiring certificate, gas safe certificate and other relevant health and safety information will be provided to you in a Tenant Information Pack at the start of the tenancy.

Further advice on renting a residential property can be found on the Advice Guide website.