Ben Property has been renting out properties to tenants for over 102 years. We pride ourselves on the condition of the properties we let and the excellent service we provide to tenants. The process of renting a new home is as follows:
If you would like to view one of our available properties, you can either telephone the office on 0131 629 9066 or submit an enquiry. All viewings are accompanied and are conducted between 9.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, except Bank Holidays. If you would like to set up a viewing outside of these hours, we will do our very best to accommodate your request.
Please bear in mind that, in most instances, we will need at least 24 hours notice in order to arrange a viewing.
In order to be fair to all prospective tenants, our properties are let on a first-come first-served basis, or an application basis dependant on the property provided the prospective tenant is deemed suitable. If, having attended the viewing, you would like to lease the property, we will require the following from you in order to ensure the property is held prior to being taken off the market once you go through our referencing process:
Please note the holding deposit forms part of the full deposit upon signing of the tenancy agreement.
The above can be processed either at the viewing of the property or at our office. Payments can be made by cash, bank transfer, banker’s cheque or using a debit or credit card. Personal cheques are not acceptable.
We will also require:
The Note of Interest Form(s) may be taken away for completion, however, they must be returned within three working days of receipt of the holding deposit otherwise the property will be placed back onto the open rental market and you will forfeit your holding deposit.
On receipt of the Note of Interest Forms(s), you will also be required to submit further referencing documents such as a Current Employment reference, Previous Landlord Reference, Character Reference, Credit Check, Bank Statements, Photographic ID and Visa/Immigration Status for checking and, in most cases, you will be notified of the outcome within 48 hours assuming you have provided all the above documents. The information provided will be held in accordance Under the GDPR regulations, we have a legal duty to protect any information we collect from you. We use leading technologies to safeguard your data, and keep strict security standards to prevent any unauthorised access to it. We do not pass on your details to any third party or government department unless you give us permission to do so.
If you are successful, you will have five working days from notification of the outcome of the reference to visit the office and sign the lease agreement* and pay the first month’s rent and balance of the deposit. If the above criteria are not met, Ben Property reserves the right to resume advertising.
In the event that your application fails, we will return your holding deposit.
If a guarantor is required, they will need to complete a separate reference form and must sign a guarantor’s covenant, which legally binds them to the terms of the lease, prior to the lease being signed by the tenants. Please note that they must also be a UK resident.
* All tenants over 16 years old must come to the office to sign the lease agreement.
On the day of entry, you should come to the office to pay the deposit, which is equivalent to one and a half month’s rent, less the holding deposit, complete and sign a standing order form, and collect the keys, inventory and welcome pack. You will also be required to sign up with the gas and electricity suppliers.
All our properties are thoroughly inspected prior to tenants moving in. We will check to see if everything is in order for you to move in. However, if you feel we have missed something, please let us know so that we can have it fixed.
We will inform the council of the change of occupant(s). All students must register with the council in order to receive an exemption notice. Contact the council for more information.
Please note that the monthly rent does not include council tax, gas, electricity, TV licence, telephone, broadband or communal charges such as stair cleaning or gardening.
In order to provide a fair and impartial service to tenants, the inventory is prepared by an independent professional inventory clerk. Tenants must meet the inventory clerk at the property on the first day of the tenancy, or appoint a competent person to represent them, for the purpose of checking through the inventory and signing it as being an accurate record of the state and condition of the property and its contents.
We strongly advise all our tenants to take out contents insurance to safeguard their personal possessions against damages or a break-in. All our landlords have relevant buildings and contents insurance. However, neither of these provide cover for any of the tenants’ items. We are happy to recommend the services of our FSA regulated insurance partner – please ask for more details.
Ben Property is your first point of contact for all issues relating to the property. If you have a maintenance issue please refer to [email protected] or the Maintenance section.
When you decide you would like to move out of the property, you will need to notify us in writing, giving no less than two months notice or four weeks notice dependent on what is written in your tenancy agreement. We will send you a letter outlining the property vacating procedure which will give details of the final inspection, closing utility company accounts, final rent payment, return of the deposit, forwarding of mail and cancellation of the standing order.
