Contract
A contract for an assured shorthold tenancy will be drawn up on behalf of the landlord with the tenant/s. A contract can only be entered into if the prospective tenant has provided proof of their Right to Rent in the UK and that a satisfactory credit reference can be obtained.
Guarantor
A guarantor may be required for a tenant who is unable to obtain a satisfactory credit reference. The guarantor is an individual whose main residence and income is in the UK and who is able to obtain a satisfactory credit reference and who will be required to enter into a legally binding agreement which makes the guarantor liable for the rent and tenancy/tenant obligations in the event of the tenant/s defaulting on rent payments/tenancy obligations throughout the term of the tenancy agreement.
Utilities
The agent will contact the local council with occupancy details plus gas, electricity and water providers with meter readings taken at the outset of the tenancy agreement. As specified in the tenancy agreement, the tenant becomes responsible for the payments for these utilities, for the duration of the tenancy. The reconnection of telephone services is the tenant’s responsibility.
Holding deposit
A holding deposit equivalent to 1 weeks rent will be paid to Lilicroft Lettings to indicate an intent to proceed with credit referencing and the drawing up of a tenancy agreement.
Referencing forms must be completed by the applicant/s within seven consecutive days of payment of the holding deposit. This holding deposit forms part of the total deposit. The holding deposit is non-refundable if the applicant/s either fails to move the process forward within the agreed timescale or reneges on the arrangement in any other way after paying the holding deposit. A full explanation would be provided to the applicant/s within the permitted timescale if the holding deposit is withheld.
Full deposit
The full deposit is the equivalent of 5 weeks rent held and protected by Lilicroft Lettings until the end of the tenancy. The balance of the deposit will be required on receipt of a successful credit reference report. This deposit will be refunded subject to a satisfactory check out inspection, provided the condition of the property and inventory list are as stated at the outset of the tenancy agreement and that confirmation has been received of all outstanding utility bills having been paid according to the meter readings agreed for the end date of the tenancy agreement. at the point of the checkout inspection. No interest is payable to the tenant on this deposit.
Rent
Rent is paid one month in advance from the outset of the tenancy in accordance with the tenancy agreement as cleared funds, usually to leave your account 3 days in advance of the due date, on the same date each month.
Inventory
An inventory will be supplied at the outset of the tenancy. If we do not hear from you in writing within seven consecutive days of the start of the tenancy then it will be accepted by all parties that the details listed in the inventory are accurate in accordance with the tenancy agreement.
Inspections
Quarterly inspections will be carried out by Lilicroft Lettings in accordance with the tenancy agreement. A feedback report is provided by email after each inspection. This will include your next inspection date. An end of tenancy checkout inspection, a full inventory check including gardens and outbuildings will be organised by Lilicroft Lettings at the end of the period of occupancy, to which the outgoing tenant/s is/are invited to be present.
Maintenance and repair
Notice of work being carried out will be at least 24 hours unless urgent work is necessary and access required more immediately. The landlord and the landlord's representative retains the right to enter the property at all reasonable times with at least 24 hours’ notice.
Lilicroft Lettings has a dedicated in-house maintenance service. It is able to deal with most maintenance issues which may arise unless the landlord has made other arrangements.
Tenants have access to a dedicated out of hours emergency telephone number, for genuine emergencies only.
Gas safety certificates are issued annually on gas appliances, oil boilers serviced annually and functional solid fuel fireplaces swept annually
Portable Appliance Testing is carried out on an annual basis on landlord’s equipment as required
Electrical condition inspections are organised every 5 years
Energy Performance certificates are renewed every 10 years
Interlinked smoke alarms and heat detectors are replaced every 10 years
Carbon monoxide detectors are replaced as applicable
Default Fees from 1st June 2019 All these charges are fixed for the period of a tenancy and are shown excluding VAT
Remarketing/Early Release Administration fees during the first 1 to 11 month period, subject to securing a replacement tenancy, at the owner’s discretion
1 to 3 months 100% of 1 month's rent
4 to 6 months 75% of 1 month's rent
7 to 9 months 50% of 1 month's rent
10 to 11 months 35% of 1 month's rent
During the 12th month of the first tenancy and during subsequent tenancies 30% of 1 months’ rent subject to the landlord agreeing an early release
Rent overdue more than 14 days 3% per annum above the base rate of Santander at that time
Key charges
Issuing of keys at the start of the tenancy no charge
All these charges are fixed for the period of a tenancy and are shown excluding VAT
Lilicroft Lettings Ltd complaints procedure
Lilicroft Lettings work hard to ensure they give good service and quick responses to tenant concerns however from time to time there may be a situation which gives cause for concern and so we have a procedure in that event which should be followed step by step and is as follows:
- Please telephone on 01223 424043 to speak to a member of staff at Lilicroft Lettings Ltd to explain your concerns. It may be necessary to allow 15 working days, subject to staff holidays and bank holidays, for your complaint to be investigated and responded to, if necessary.
- If you feel you have not had a satisfactory conclusion to the concerns you have raised then you would need to put your complaint in writing to:
Mr Stewart Abrey, Managing Director, either by letter addressed to:
408 Milton Road
Cambridge
CB4 1SU
Or by email to Mr Stewart Abrey, Managing Director at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. specifying what you are dissatisfied with and if you have dates of emails and/or phone conversations in relation to your complaint then they would be helpful to include. You will need to clearly and simply state the cause(s) of your complaint. This complaint will be responded to, in written form, within 15 working days, subject to staff holidays and bank holidays.
- If you remain unsatisfied by the written response from the managing director and only after the above process has been followed then you may wish to take your complaint to the Ombudsman Services of which we are automatic members by our membership of UKALA
http://www.ombudsman-services.org/letting-and-managing-agents.html
Please note steps 1 & 2 must be followed before anything is sent to the Ombudsman Services because they will want to see evidence that Lilicroft Lettings has been given every opportunity to address your concerns, before they will consider your complaint
As members of trade organisation UKALA (the UK Association of Lettings Agents) 
membership of UKALA https://www.ukala.org.uk/ automatically makes Lilicroft Lettings Ltd members of the Property Redress scheme 
and means we must have Client Money Protection Insurance shown by this logo 
and prove this every year as part of the UKALA membership renewal process. What that means for tenants and landlords is that they all have the assurance that as consumers the property redress scheme is there for you: https://www.theprs.co.uk/consumer/how-it-works and https://www.theprs.co.uk/. Lilicroft Lettings protects all deposits using the government approved mydeposits scheme 
https://secure.mydeposits.co.uk/Home.aspx in accordance with the scheme rules which includes access to the dispute service which is free to tenants.
Lilicroft Lettings are additionally agent members of the National Landlords Association 
keeping us abreast of all developments in this growing and increasingly regulated sector.