Tenant Centre

The first step is to contact us to provide brief details about yourself and about the accommodation you require. If you have seen a property of interest on our website, let us know the reference number and description. We can then answer any questions you may have and schedule a viewing if requested. We can also search our database for suitable properties for you to view.

If not urgent, we log your details so that we can contact you as suitable properties become available. It is wise to start looking about a month before you wish to move, as properties are generally viewed and reserved quickly. Our tenancies are granted for a minimum term of 6 months.

We will arrange viewings at a time to suit you wherever possible. In certain cases this can include evenings (until 6.30pm) and at weekends. You will be accompanied by a member of staff, who can give advice and answer any questions you may have.

We will require satisfactory references from your employer (or college in the case of student lets), and a previous or current landlord if you have been renting. We will also require a personal reference, and sometimes a guarantor.

In all of these cases we will ask for the full contact details (including address and landline telephone number) of your referee. We will not usually require you to provide written letters of reference. In addition a credit check will be undertaken.

We use the services of an independent referencing company to obtain and evaluate these references.

A security deposit of 1.5 month's rental must be paid on moving into the property, and will be held in an appropriate tenancy deposit protection scheme throughout the tenancy term. This is held to cover damage, breakages, and any other liabilities under the terms of your tenancy agreement. Please note that the deposit must not ever be used by the tenant to cover rent. At the end of the tenancy, you will attend a check-out appointment where both Landlord / Agent and Tenant will agree on condition and the amount of deposit, if any, that should be deducted.

A standard fee of £80 per applicant is charged to cover administration and referencing costs.

Tenants must be over 18 yrs of age. All adults occupying the property on a permanent basis must be named on the tenancy agreement. There may be individual restrictions applicable to the property such as no smoking or pets, dependent on owner requirements.

Once you have decided on a property, you can reserve it by paying a holding deposit of £100 plus any agency fees applicable (see above). Assuming that the tenancy goes ahead, this will be deducted from the monies due before you move in. If the landlord declines to grant the tenancy, a proportion of this will be refunded. However the deposit will be forfeit if you decide not to proceed for any reason, or if you fail to provide complete and accurate information in your application.

The maximum period that a property can be held with holding deposit is 4 weeks, unless otherwise authorized by us in agreement with the landlord.

We will require you (and your guarantor if applicable) to complete an application form, providing details of your current / previous addresses for the past 3 years, employment details and salary plus a personal reference.

We will also require proof of residency and proof of identity.

• For residency we will accept a recent (within the last 3 months) utility/ council tax/ mobile phone bill or a current tenancy agreement.
• For identity we require a photo style driving licence or passport. If you are not a UK citizen or a citizen of the EU then you will need to provide evidence of official permission to live in the UK for the term of the proposed tenancy.

Referencing will normally take just a few days to complete. In certain circumstances though it can take up to 2 or 3 weeks. This depends on the replies and speed of response from the people that have to provide the information. When we have completed referencing we will contact you to arrange a convenient date for move-in.

Keys will only be released on the commencement date of the tenancy agreement and on full payment of any outstanding balance. Payment can be made in cash on the day or by internet transfer to our account. In the case of online transfer please ensure that this is completed at least 1 week in advance to ensure all funds reach our account prior to the check-in appointment. We will not release the keys without cleared funds.

Please allow up to 1 hour for the check-in appointment which may take place either at the Dragon office or at the property concerned. Paperwork will be finalised at this time, including the tenancy agreement and completing a standing order form for rental payments. A Dragon member of staff will then accompany you to the property and run through the inventory copy to ensure you are happy with condition, take meter readings and introduce you to any appliances. At this point you will receive the keys to the property.

Rent is quoted per calendar month, and payable monthly in advance. All rents are payable by bank standing order.

As Tenant you will usually be responsible for Council Tax and any Utility bills (e.g. Water, Gas, Electricity and Telephone costs) unless otherwise stated.

We strongly advise Tenants to take out an appropriate insurance policy for the simple reason that whilst you occupy the property you will be responsible for much of the Landlord’s contents. It is far better to ensure that you are covered should any accidental damage occur than face the costs of replacing items. Policies will also usually cover personal possessions in case of break-in or accidental damage. We would be happy to recommend a competitive insurance broker specialising in Tenants Insurance. Please ask for more details.