Information for new tenants:

The following should act as a general guide to help you through the process of renting through Bright Scene. If you require more specific information do not hesitate to contact us

1. Our terms for granting a tenancy

• A full credit check must be carried out at least 48 hours before the start of a tenancy. A one off fee of £75 is payable for this by the prospective tenant.
• Our rooms are let for a minimum period of 6 months on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement
• A deposit of 1 month’s rent is required in advance of moving in – this will be held at the Deposit Protection Service (http://www.depositprotection.com) and deposit will be lodged by Bright Scene within 14 days of the start of the tenancy
• For rooms where bills are paid as a fixed sum per month by tenants, one month’s bill deposit is also required in advance. This is held by Bright Scene.
• Rent is paid monthly in advance and by Standing Order. Cheques are only acceptable by arrangement.

2. What you need to do to secure a tenancy

• If you like the property and wish to let it, you need to provide us with a holding deposit. The amount of the holding deposit is one weeks rent or £75, whichever is greater. By accepting the holding deposit, we agree to let the property to you (subject to satisfactory credit check).
• By giving us a holding deposit, you agree to let the property from us. In the event that you pull out of the transaction or your references prove to be unsatisfactory we will retain your holding deposit
• Each person who will live at the property must complete a ‘Tenant Credit Check form’ and return it to us by a specified date which is mutually agreed at the time you give the holding deposit.
• Where the tenant is a student, a parental guarantor form must also be completed.
• Rent payments must be made monthly by standing order and a standing order mandate must be completed and returned together with the Tenant Application Form. Where the tenant is a student, the standing order mandate must be signed by the same person(s) acting as guarantor and the rent paid from the guarantor’s bank account. Please note that rent payment (except for the first months rent) is by standing order only.
• To assist you further, you may wish to print out our Tenancy Application Checklist which guides you through all the documentation which you need to provide

3. Prior to move in day

• Once satisfactory references have been obtained, you will need to provide us the following as cleared funds prior to move in— One month’s deposit less holding deposit already received
• 1 months rent in advance. Each monthly rent payment is calculated according to the following formula (Weekly Rent * 52) / 12 These funds must have cleared prior to occupation.
• If you are renting a house or flat then unless otherwise agreed, you are responsible for all utility bills (ie council tax, water, electricity, gas & television license) You will need to contact the utility suppliers to change the accounts into your name. (We will also inform the utility suppliers of your tenancy)

4. What happens on the day you move in

• On the day you move in you will sign an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Contract.
• An inventory will be drafted to document the contents and the condition of the property at the start of the tenancy

5. Your Deposit

• An amount equal to one month’s rent is held as a refundable deposit against damage and dilapidations to the property.
• At the end of the Tenancy we will agree how the deposit should be returned, in full or in part. Your deposit will be paid back within 10 days of the DPS being notified. The scheme will return deposits directly to bank accounts. In the case of a dispute (see below), within 10 days of the DPS being notified of the ADR service’s or court’s decision.
• If there is a dispute about how the money is to be divided, landlords and tenants can take advantage of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service attached to the scheme. This is provided by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. However, both parties must agree to use the service, and be bound by its decision with no recourse to the courts. The use of the ADR service is not compulsory, and if one or both of the parties do not agree to use the ADR service, a dispute can progress to court.
• Tenants should be aware that legally we have to follow a strict procedure before the deposit can be returned.