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" MODERN TWO BEDROOM SEMI-DETACHED HOUSE BENEFITTING FROM SIDE GARAGE AND CONVENIENT LOCATION CLOSE TO BLACKHEATH TOWN CENTRE

The unfurnished accommodation comprises hall, fitted kitchen with oven, hob and cooker hood, living room, 2 bedrooms, bathroom, gardens. Carpets/floor coverings, double glazing, gas boiler/radiator heating and intruder alarm system. Garage and driveway. Available 1st December

ROUTE TO THE PROPERTY: - From Scriven & Co Offices take the Halesowen Road in the direction of Halesowen. At the island with the Stag and Three Horseshoes public house take the third exit onto Long Lane. Follow the road along to the next traffic island and take the first exit. Malt Mill Lane is the first turning on the left hand side where the property is situated half way along the road on the left hand side on the corner of Olive Hill Road.

INFORMATION FOR TENANTS

Renting a Property viaScriven & Co.

Introduction

Rentinga property for the first time is an exciting prospect but you may have manyconcerns as to how the letting procedure works or, alternatively, you may beconcerned as to how you may be dealt with, either by a letting/managing agentor a landlord. Listed below arequestions that we feel many prospective tenants may want to ask, which are thenanswered in the same order:

Whyshould I rent via Scriven & Co
DoScriven & Co., operate a mailing list for rented properties
Whatis the procedure when I find a property I like
Whathappens whilst the credit check is being undertaken
Howdo I know my application fee will not be wasted
Whathappens once an acceptable credit referencing report is received
Howmuch do I have to pay in advance
Howdo I know that my deposit is safe
Howis the rent normally paid
Whatother bills will I have to pay in addition to the rent
DoI have to notify anyone of my change of address
Whoshould I contact


Why should I rent viaScriven & Co
Scriven& Co., have been letting and managing properties since 1937 and aim tooffer a personal service to our clients, dealing with tenants fairly and in aprofessional manner. We consider all ofour properties to be of a satisfactory, or better, standard ofpresentation. We are members of both theRoyal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Association of ResidentialLettings Agents and, as such, are bound by the Code of Conduct of eachorganisation.

Do Scriven & Co.,operate a mailing list for rented properties
Yes. However, in the majority of cases we tend totelephone interested parties rather than write to them as our rented propertiesare rarely available for long periods of time.

What is the procedurewhen I find a property I like
Eachadult over the age of 18 who proposes to live at the property must complete anapplication form authorising us to undertake a standard credit check. This is currently undertaken by anindependent credit referencing company. When applying for a property viaScriven & Co a charge is made (contact us for our current charge) and is payable by each adult to cover our chargefor obtaining the credit reference report. Once this form(s) has been completed we will check that, from theinformation provided, both we and our clients feel your application isacceptable. Only when the applicationhas been forwarded to the credit referencing company does your application feebecome non-refundable. The creditreferencing process takes, on average, approximately 3-4 days as e-mails andfaxes are used where possible. Somereferences are back the same day, but this greatly depends upon the provisionof relative contact numbers and the efficiency of employers to respond quickly. You can help by requesting referees torespond as soon as possible.

What happens whilst thecredit check is being undertaken
Aslong as there is no unreasonable delay which is due to either yourself or oneof your referees, viewings on the property will cease (although telephonenumbers of interested parties will be taken in case the tenancy does not goahead), effectively holding the property for you on a "subject tocontract" basis.

How do I know myapplication fee will not be wasted
Itis up to you to answer all questions honestly. If we feel that from the information given on the form that there is areasonable chance of your application being refused, we will discuss this withyou before the application is processed. We aim to treat all tenants/prospective tenants fairly. Therefore, if our client instructs us not tolet the property to you (once your application has been processed) for anyreason other than an adverse credit referencing report, your application feewill be returned to you. We would stressthat whilst we can never give any guarantees in this respect, such anoccurrence is very rare and is usually due to an unforeseen change ofcircumstances.

What happens once anacceptable credit referencing report is received
Wewill contact you by telephone and arrange a date for you to come into ouroffices to complete all the necessary paperwork, pay a deposit together withyour rent in advance and collect the keys for the property. Circumstances vary but, typically, if aproperty is empty and ready for the tenancy to commence, this appointment ismade for approximately 3 working days' time. Therefore, it is not unreasonable for tenants to expect that, where anempty property is concerned, they can be in their new home within 5-10 workingdays.




How much do I have to payin advance
Apartfrom your application fee mentioned earlier, we ask, on behalf of ourlandlords, for a deposit equating to approximately six weeks' rent. This deposit is fully refundable once theproperty is vacated as long as the property is left in the same condition aswhen you took it on and you have fulfilled all your obligations under thetenancy agreement.

Inaddition to the refundable deposit, under normal circumstances you will beasked to pay a months' rent in advance, although this can vary slightlydependent upon whether it is the beginning of a month or not when the tenancybegins.

How do I know that mydeposit is safe
Whenwe act as managing agents for the landlord of your property, your deposit isheld by ourselves in a non-interest bearing account in accordance with theRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' accounting rules. As a professional company we would wish todisengage ourselves from any landlord whom we felt dealt with such issues in anunreasonable manner. If we do not managethe property we will inform you.

Ofcourse, we act for the landlord (from whom we have to take our instructions)but to ensure that tenants and landlords are happy, we provide both a writtenschedule of condition of the property and photographic schedule at thecommencement of the tenancy. Tenantshave the opportunity to bring to our attention any amendments they feel shouldbe made to these schedules within seven days of the commencement of theirtenancy. These schedules are then used,once the property is vacated, to determine any change in the condition of theproperty. They also act as reminders totenants to enable them to carry out any necessary works prior to them vacatingthe property, thus ensuring their deposits can be refunded in full.

Inaddition, since April 2007 all new agreements where a deposit ispaid must be protected under the Tenancy Deposit Regulations. It requires thelandlord/agent to join a statutory scheme to safeguard the tenants deposit,Scriven & Co are registered with The Dispute Service (TDS ) information onthis can be found on their website www.thedisputeservice.co.uk

How is the rent normallypaid
Whenthe deposit and initial payment of rent is made (and the keys collected), wewill ask you to complete a standing order mandate, instructing your bank to payyour rent on the agreed date (usually the first day of each month). This means that you are in total control ofthe payment going out and saves you having to worry about another chore to dowhen you are busy moving into your new home. However, because you are in control of the payment, it is up to you tolet your bank know when a tenancy ceases.

What other bills will Ihave to pay in addition to the rent
Itis usual for rents to be paid on an exclusive basis. This means that the tenant pays the rent tothe landlord (via ourselves when we act as managing agents) and then counciltax to the council tax department and water rates, electricity and gas to theappropriate utility companies direct. You will also be responsible for the payment of any telephone charges,if one is connected.

Thelandlord will be responsible for insuring the structure of the property and anyitems belonging to him, which are left in the property. You will be responsible for insuring your ownpossessions. You may wish to considertaking out an accidental insurance policy to cover damage to the landlord'scontents, though this is not compulsory.

What proof ofidentification do I have to provide
Prospectivetenants are required to bring in two original pieces of evidence ( one of whichmust be photographic ) to prove theiridentification and current address. Acceptable forms of identification include a passport, or current U.K. drivinglicence (with photograph), together with a utility bill. The forms of identification should detailyour current, permanent address and utility bills should be no more than threemonths old. Mobile telephone bills areNOT acceptable. If you foresee anydifficulty providing these particular forms of identification, please contactus for further advice.

Do I have to notifyanyone of my change of address
Whenwe visit the property a few days before your tenancy commences, we will takeall meter readings and note them in the schedule of condition (of which youwill be given a copy) so that you can check these as soon as you take over theproperty. Whilst we will then write tothe council tax department and utility companies informing them of your commencementof tenancy, together with relevant meter readings, it is your responsibility tocontact them to set up the account in your own name and at the same timearrange a method of payment with them.

Youwill be responsible for notifying any other parties you wish to inform of yourchange of address, e.g. your employer, bank, mobile telephone provider,etc. You will also be responsible forensuring that your post is redirected once you vacate the property.

Who should I contact
Pleasefeel free so speak to our Quinton office on 0121-422 4011 (residential lettings& management department, option 2) for clarification on these or any otherissues, to arrange a viewing or to go on our mailing list.




THE PROPERTY MISDESCRIPTIONS ACT 1991
The Agent has not tested any apparatus, equipment, fixtures and fittings or services and so cannot verify that they are in working order or fit for the purpose. A Buyer is advised to obtain verification from their Solicitor or Surveyor. References to the Tenure of a Property are based on information supplied by the Seller. The Agent has not had sight of the title documents. A Buyer is advised to obtain verification from their Solicitor. Items shown in photographs are NOT included unless specifically mentioned within the sales particulars. They may however be available by separate negotiation. Buyers must check the availability of any property and make an appointment to view before embarking on any journey to see a property. "