If you're looking to rent a property in Leyton, Leytonstone, Wanstead or Forest Gate, we'd like to help you in your search.

The current housing market has made renting a home an increasingly important part of the way we live, with people staying in rented property for longer periods and taking a less temporary view.

There are various reasons why renting can be the best option and, whether or not it's something you've done before, our Guide for Tenants will help you understand the process to make your experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

Eeleven-Estate-Agents-Guide-for-Tenants-3

Renting through Eeleven

Renting your next home is an exciting prospect and we’ll do all we can to help you find the ideal property. When you register with us, please be as specific as you can about the sort of property you’re looking for, the locations you are interested in, how long you’d like to stay and any other details about your requirements or situation. We know it’s annoying being contacted about unsuitable properties, so giving us all this information upfront will help us accurately identify the right homes to show you.

Finding the right property

If you find a property you’d like to rent through us, it’s time to put forward an offer. Along with that we’ll ask for details about everyone who is going to be living at the property, what your employment and financial position are, how long you’d like to stay and when you’d like to move in. All this will be put forward to the landlord for their consideration.

Holding deposits

If the landlord accepts your offer, we’ll ask you for a holding deposit of one week’s rent. As soon as we receive this all viewing activity on the property will be suspended. The holding deposit is a gesture of trust and is non-refundable in the event that you choose not to go ahead, but is refundable if the landlord decides not to rent the property to you.

Fees

We do not charge tenants fees for renting a property through Eeleven. Only in the event of a change in occupants requiring further referencing and an amended tenancy agreement do we charge a nominal fee of £50 +VAT (£60 in total) to cover additional time and costs.

Referencing

Next the referencing procedure begins. Checks are made to confirm your identity; your place of work and your earnings; that you do not have any adverse credit; that you are allowed to live in the UK; and that you are not subject to any immigration controls. You should let us know at the start if you have any unsatisfied CCJ or bankruptcies: these may affect your application but we will ask the landlord before the full referencing process begins to save wasting anybody’s time. You will need to provide a photographic ID together with evidence of Right to Rent in the UK, your earnings and your current address.

Guarantors

If you have a low income or want to live in an expensive property, you may need a guarantor. Any guarantor needs to be a homeowner with a clean credit history and/or be in full time employment with take home earnings of at least 3x the monthly rent. The guarantor should understand their obligations as they will be signing a legally binding document agreeing to certain conditions including paying the rent if you are unable to.

Tenancy agreements

The tenancy agreement is the legal document that details your rights and obligations as tenants, the obligations and expectations of your landlord, and the agreements made by all parties. It sets out the core terms and includes all the rules of the property. We will give you a copy of the draft tenancy agreement well ahead of the start date of the tenancy so you are clear what you are signing. Please feel free to ask us about anything in the agreement that you are unsure of. Tenancy Agreements are digitally signed through DocuSign.

Security deposits

Before you move in, you will need to pay a security deposit equal to one month’s rent as well as your first months rent. Your security deposit protects the landlord against loss of rent, or to pay for any damages caused by you. By law, your security deposit must be protected in a Government approved deposit scheme within 30 days from the start of the tenancy. Eeleven uses DPS (Deposit Protection Service).

Inventories

We draw up inventories for every tenancy and these are a formal way of noting the cosmetic condition and contents of a rented property. This descriptive information is accompanied by good quality photographs. After the inventory has been taken, a supporting document is given to all parties to sign at the beginning of the tenancy to confirm its accuracy. Please check it carefully and question anything that you don’t understand. At the end of the tenancy, the same document is used to compare the state of the property and to determine the return of your security deposit.

Ending a tenancy

There are strict timescales involved in ending a tenancy. This starts from the date notice is served, which is usually two months. Once notice is served the clock starts ticking. The date you leave will be agreed and we’ll set the wheels in motion. If the property is going back on the market, we’ll be conducting viewings so please keep the property looking nice for them. If an inventory was compiled when you moved in, the inventory clerk will meet you at the property on the last day of your tenancy to conduct the check-out process.

This is when you surrender the property and hand back your keys, at which point you are no longer allowed inside. We’ll be in touch with you not later than 10 days later to arrange the return of your security deposit. If, however, the landlord wishes to make deductions from your deposit, there is a set procedure for that to take place.

You can read full details of that here: Tenants FAQs

Protections and disputes

All rental payments and deposits received by Eeleven are protected in line with current legislation. Security deposits are protected by the DPS (Deposit Protection Service) and if a landlord wishes to make deductions from a tenant's deposit, there is a set procedure.

Full details are available here: Tenants FAQs

Landlords are protected by Moneyshield in the event that Eeleven either goes into administration or fails to pay any rental monies due. We are also members of The Property Ombudsman (TP0) redress scheme.

Eeleven-Estate-Agents-Guide-for-Tenants-4-Portrait
Eeleven-Estate-Agents-Guide-for-Tenants-3