Renting Process

With property prices in the capital still out of many people’s reach renting is the ‘way to go’ for many. There are do’s and don’ts that you need to look out for and pitfalls to avoid.


1Decide what you’re looking for

Be focused on what you want i.e. furnished or unfurnished, number of bedrooms and budget. Look at our property pages directly on our website or on Rightmove or Zoopla. Property alerts will match your criteria as soon as they come onto the market. Sync your browsing activity and your preferences across all your devices. Be as available as possible. Desirable properties go very quickly so be proactive. You can download our app Free from either the App Store or Google Play store, look for ML Estates. 

2Arrange viewing

Get out there! It’s only by seeing a good number of properties that you will get a real idea of what you like and don’t like.
If you see something you like get in touch ASAP. We offer accompanied appointments arranged at a time to suit you.

3Have your deposit at the ready

If you have seen something you like you need to put down a deposit straight away. Once your offer is accepted this money will form part of the initial rent. Be warned that if you pull out you will lose the money. If the landlord decides he can’t rent to you then you will get the money back.

4Reference checks

Reference checks are standard practice and are carried out to confirm your identity, place of work or your earning/credit status.
A UK Passport proves you reside in the UK and you’ll also be asked for proof of employment, earnings and your current address. You will need to declare if you have had any bankruptcies.

5Guarantors

If you are renting something out of your price range you may need a guarantor. A guarantor needs to be a homeowner, work in full time employment and have a clean credit history. A guarantor will be asked to sign a legally binding document agreeing to certain conditions including paying the rent if for any reason you can’t meet the payments.

6Tenancy agreements

A tenancy agreement is a legal document that details your rights and obligation as tenants, including the obligations and expectations of your landlord. It sets out the terms including all the rules of the property. The contract will be sent out to you via Docusign for electronic signature.

7The security deposit

Before you move in you’ll need to pay a security deposit along with your first months rent. The deposit is the landlord’s security if the rent isn’t paid or if any damage is caused.  As a general rule the deposit is usually 5 weeks rent.

8The Inventory

The Inventory is a list of contents inside a rented property.
It’s signed by all parties at the beginning of the tenancy to confirm it’s accurate. At the end of the tenancy another inventory is used to compare the condition of the property with the original list, this will determine how much of the deposit is returned

Property Valuations

A lot of expertise goes into valuing a property. We have an extensive database of properties in the area backed up with statistics and price comparisons. We offer a free, no obligation valuation service and advise you on an achievable asking price based on sound local knowledge.
Get a free valuation.

Smart Marketing

Technology gives you a wider and more complex range of marketing tools to advertise and search for the right property. Things move fast in property, which is why we ensure that our photos are processed and uploaded to key websites within 2 hours of being photographed. We use Rightmove, Zoopla, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook as well as running features in the Evening standard, Time Out and local papers.

Financial Advice

Getting the right financial advice is crucial when it comes to buying a property whether you’re letting,_ buying or selling. We have a range of tried and tested financial advisors as well as huge expertise on lenders and what they offer

Assistance

We know that acquiring a property can be daunting especially if it is your first purchase or you are buying with someone else. We are familiar with the latest help to buy schemes. See our mortgage table below to work out what you can afford. Click here.