The Attwoods way of getting the most from your rental home search – a straight forward and hassle free approach.

• 1

  Budgeting and figuring out your finances

  Firstly, you will need to do some calculations on how much rent you can afford - Attwoods ask as a requirement of affordability that tenants jointly have the income of 2.5% (before tax deduction) of the monthly rent. For example:

  £800.00 PCM x 2.5% = £2,000.00 total monthly = £24, 000.00 joint annual salary

  £575.00 PCM x 2.5% = £1450.00 total monthly = £17, 250.00 joint annual salary

  This is to make sure you can pay the rent, the bills, and have enough means to live too. Once you have made these calculations, it will give you a good idea on what price band you can look up to per calendar month.

  
• 2

  Research

  Now you have your finances figured out, have a look at what is available to rent. Check our online portals – Attwoods Online, On The Market and Rightmove, in order to see what type of property you can rent with the money you can afford. You will also need to think about your requirements - if you need a garden, or perhaps a bath instead of a shower, it’s good to get thinking about your must-have requirements.

  
• 3

  Finding the right place to rent

  Once you have your budget and some research behind you, get yourself out and viewing properties. As the rental market is so popular and fast moving, you will need to be able to view properties quite quickly – within a couple of days. Once you have found the right property, in the right location, make that known to the member of staff from Attwoods on the viewing. They will then explain the next steps and how to make your agency setup fee payment.

  
• 4

  Questions we recommend to ask on viewings

  • What up front agent fees are required?
  • How long is the tenancy for?
  • Where will my deposit be lodged?
  • Where are the smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms?
  • Who manages the property?

  
• 5

  Referencing and paperwork

  Once you have paid the agency setup fee, you will need to complete your references online, this is when you will have to provide a previous landlord reference and current employment reference. If you have come up against an issue, not a problem, just call us and we can talk you through the process. After this, Attwoods will provide you with all the necessary documents including an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement (AST).

  
• 6

  Moving in, inventory and check in

  On or before the start date on your tenancy, you will be booked in for a ‘signing up’ appointment in our Kingswood office, to sign the tenancy agreement, and pay your first months’ rent and deposit. When Attwoods manage the property, you will be provided with our contact details, emergency out of office contact, and all of Attwoods processes will be explained to you, along with all of the necessary legal documents (Protected deposit T&C’s, EPC, Gas Safety Certificate).

  
• 7

  Tenancy terms and responsibilities

  Attwoods highly advise any tenant to read their AST. For any questions you may have, please just ask us. After reading, you should understand all of your responsibilities as a tenant. Attwoods will contact you towards the end of your fixed term tenancy to see whether you would like to renew your contract onto a further fixed or periodic term, or whether you are planning on leaving the property. We promote our long-standing relationships with tenants and landlords, which is why we want to keep in contact with you and your plans with your rental property.

  
• 8

  Moving out

  At the end of your tenancy, you should ensure that the property is returned to Attwoods in the same condition as it was when you moved in. We will carry out a full property check out inspection, where we will compare the condition of the property against the start of tenancy inventory. A check out report will be prepared in accordance with the tenancy agreement and provided to all parties.