Your Questions Answered

Please find below the Hensons comprehensive list of most frequently asked questions, with answers regarding that particular topic. If you can not find a question in our list please do not hesitate in contacting our team who will be most happy to answer any questions not covered here.

Q: What is an Inventory

Answer

The inventory is a full and detailed report of the furniture, contents and state of repair of the flat or house on the day that you move in. It will list all of the major areas in every single room in the house, giving complete details of every knock, mark, stain and bit of damage that is available to the naked eye. If there are any fittings, fixtures, furnishings or other contents that are being made available with the property, such as crockery or kitchenware for example, these are also listed individually. The inventory should be signed and returned within 14 days of receipt.

Once you have signed the inventory, it forms the basis for any deductions for breakages, loss and damage. When the tenancy ends and you leave the property, either Hensons or your landlord will check the inventory. Any deductions will come directly out of your deposit. This makes it vital that the condition of the property is accurately recorded at the start of the tenancy, or you may be charged for something that you didnt do or a missing item that was never there.

If for any reason you are not provided with an inventory, you should write your own inventory of the furniture, contents and state of repair of the property and get either us or the landlord to sign it.

Q: What is a Bond

Q: How much will the bond be

Answer

A bond is usually between 4 to 8 weeks worth of rent.There are no set rules governing how much of a deposit a landlord is entitled to ask for.

Q: How can I pay for my bond

Answer

Your bond will need to be cleared funds by the time you come to sign the contract. If you want to pay the bond at the signing you must pay your bond by either cash, Cheque or bankers draft. For Cheques you must allow 7 working days to clear

Q: Who keeps my bond

Answer

If the property is managed by Hensons, we will usually hold your bond in our designated DPS account. If the property is managed by the landlord, we will transfer the bond directly to the bond scheme they are with. You will receive information on this once the bond is registered with the appropriate scheme.

Click here for information on The Deposit Protection Service

Q: When do I get my bond back

Answer

Your bond will be returned to you within 14 days receipt of your keys being returned and proof that utility (gas, electric, water and council tax if applicable) bills for the property have been paid. Naturally, this is subject to any costs or expenses as described in What is a Bond.

Q: What happens if I breach my tenancy agreement

Answer

If you dont treat the property as you are expected to or leave it in the state agreed, then you will be liable for any costs involved in ensuring that the property is brought back up to the standard required. This often includes things like cleaning windows and carpets.

Q: Can I use my bond to pay my last months rent

Answer

No, it is a breach of your tenancy agreement to forgo your deposit and not make your rent payment in the last month of your tenancy. If you fail to pay rent, you could find that you have lost the bond and are still liable for the rent you didnt pay. This could be pursued through the courts.

Q: What do I do if I have a maintance emegerancy

Answer

Call us on 029 2115 8696. The office is open from 10:00am-6:00pm, Mon-Fri and Sat.10.00am-1:30pm.

If you call out of hours, Please use the following phone numbers on our Online Maintenance Page, who may be able to help you until we are open again in the morning!

Q: If I no longer take the property can I transfer the agency fees to another property

Answer

If you have not yet signed a tenancy greement for the property provided it has been 2 weeks or less since you left you initial agency fee you will in most cases be able to transfer the agency fee paid to another house marketed by Hensons. Please note we only allow to transfer a fee once and only within 2 weeks of original payment.

Q: What forms will I need to complete

Answer

Reservation Deposit Reciept

This form is a reciept for reserving a property you have chosen to let from Hensons. The deposit is taken subject to contract, and to satisfactory references. The holding deposit is partley non-refundable if the applicant subsequently withdraws. Where the tenancy goes ahead the deposit is deducted from the monies required for completion before the tenancy commences.

Tenant Application Form

When we have recieved your reservation deposit you will then be required to fill out our tenants applications form per applicant. Please ensure all sections are completed and eligible, so Hensons may procceed with your tenancy application swiftly. We will also require 2 forms of id so that we may perform our necessary reference checks.

Tenancy Agreement

This is a sample tenancy agreement, and is for prospective tenants and guarantors to have a chance to read through the tenancy agreement before your signing appointment. Whilst the details such as property and rental amount are blank this information will have been given you on on a separate form when you reserved your property with your agency fee. If you do not have this information handy, please contact our Salisbury Road office on 029 2115 8696. Unless specifically stated all assured shorthold tenancy agreements are joint and several.

Standing order Blank form

This standing order form is to be used by professional and students tenants. If your tenancy agreement didn't start on the first of the month, then Hensons will take an apportioned amount of rent for your first month and your standing order will still be set up for the first of each month.

A standing order is an instruction to your bank to transfer a set amount of money on set dates, and this amount cannot be varied by Hensons unlike a direct debit. Only the account holder has the authority to change these details.

Guarantor Form

This form is used for all student tenancies and for professional tenancies where the tenant doesn't meet our referencing criteria. When a guarantor signs this agreement they are guaranteeing to meet any financial commiitements that the tenant fails to meet. It should be noted that this agreement only relates to specifically named tenants, and not the whole tenancy. This guarantor agreement will need to be signed by a UK home owner aged over 25, and witnessed by someone who is not related to the guarantor by birth or marriage. Upon signing of this agreement we will also need proof of the guarantors address in the form of a utility bill no less than three months old. If you have any further queries relating to signing this guarantor agreement then please ring our Salisbury Road Office on 029 2115 8696.

Fast-Track Bond Return Form

This form will allow us to return your bond back to you promptly. Please ensure all sections are filled in and handed back to the Hensons at your check out appointment.