Terms & Conditions

  

Terms & Conditions 


1. Contracts will commence from the available start date as advertised and all rents are payable from that date. If tenants wish to start the tenancy later, they should not view properties until later. No accommodation will be held without the appropriate Holding Deposit being paid. PLEASE READ and be certain you understand the Clauses below before you proceed. If in any doubt please speak to our office staff.


2. A Holding Deposit is payable upon booking a property. This shall be the equivalent of one weeks rent per property. Please note that in the event that the proposed tenancy is not taken up by the applicants or the referencing fails this payment is forfeited and WILL NOT BE REFUNDED. Upon the successful commencement of the tenancy the Holding Deposit shall be used towards the first month’s rent.

3. A Refundable Deposit is payable within 30 days of booking the property. The value shall be the equivalent of five weeks rent. This will be protected and held by MyDeposits Custodial Scheme and becomes refundable at the termination of a fulfilled tenancy.

4. All tenants must provide proof of their “Right to Rent”, e.g. Passport, Visa or residency permit. If you are unsure which document to supply please discuss with a member of our office. This is a legal requirement. The tenancy cannot proceed without your compliance.

5. Tenancy Agreements are Fixed Term, i.e. from the agreed start date until the agreed end date. Tenants are committed to the Fixed Term and can only be released from the contract if they can find a suitable student replacement tenant and a Deed of Assignment or new tenancy agreement is signed. Fees apply.

6. Single Tenancy Agreements (Sole or Multiple Occupancy) – No keys will be issued until all fully signed contracts are returned to UPM. 

7. Joint Tenancy Agreements (Multiple Occupancy) – Tenants and their guarantor (“surety”) must be aware that the liability is joint and several. Any tenant can take up the tenancy having signed the Agreement. However, all tenants and their respective guarantors shall remain collectively liable for the whole rent of the property until all remaining tenants have signed.

8. Guarantors – It is the tenant’s responsibility to inform their Guarantor of their liabilities before booking a property and to ensure they are a suitable guarantor. Amendments to change guarantor will incur a fee. Acceptance of a guarantor is subject to them passing the referencing process which will be carried out by a separate referencing agency to be instructed by the agent. In the case of student lets parents / guardians are required to act as guarantor for tenants. We will not house any student whose parents or guardian will not act as Guarantor to guarantee their liability unless the rent is paid in advance for the duration of the tenancy. 

9. Variations – In the event that the tenancy agreement requires amendments for changes such as (but not limited to) change of tenant, pet, change of guarantor etc. a fee of £50.00 plus VAT will be due.

10. Overseas students - Depending on circumstances, tenants may be required to pay the full rent in advance for the duration of the tenancy.

11. Late Rent – Rent payments overdue by 14 or more days shall incur interest charges at 3% above the England base rate until payment is received. 

12. Utility Accounts – Unless explicitly included in the rent, as per the Tenancy Agreement, tenants must register with all utility/service accounts (e.g. Gas, Electric, Southern Water, Portsmouth Water etc.). 

13. Council Tax – The tenant must register as living at the property and pay the Council Tax. Student tenants will be required to supply copies of their student exemption status. On receipt of students’ “HEMIS” numbers (University ID number), UPM will endeavour to register full-time students with Portsmouth City Council Local Taxation Section for “Student Exemption”. It nevertheless remains the tenants’ liability and responsibility to ensure that they are registered and exempt from tax. Part-time students (or in the event a student drops out or ceases to be a full-time university student) will cause the property to lose the Council Tax “Student Exemption” status. In such case the tenant(s) become liable for the Council Tax liability incurred.


14. Keys – At the end of the tenancy, all keys must be returned to UPM on or before the last day of the tenancy. Failure to do this will result in lock changes and the costs being charged to tenants plus any additional rent incurred for the time that keys are withheld.

Please ensure you read our privacy policy, which is available in our office and on our website. This details how we process the information we hold about you and who we will share this information with. 

We are a member of The Property Ombudsman redress scheme their website is www.tpos.co.uk 

 T: 023 92 738 035 E: info@universalproperty.co.uk www: universalproperty.co.uk Nov 2023

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