What you’ll need if you’d like to rent a property

If you’ve started off by registering your details with us so we can help you to find your perfect home, you’ll be ahead of the game once you see a property that you like. If, on the other hand, you are not registered with us, but have seen a property that you’d like to view, we’ll start by getting you registered.

In either case, once you’re interested in a specific property, we’ll take you through a few initial questions to make sure the property is likely to suit your needs and circumstances and to ensure we have all the information required to discuss your application with the Landlord.

At Meliora, we understand that moving home can feel both exciting and overwhelming at times, which is why we aim to make the process as straightforward, supportive and stress-free as possible. As a small independent agency, we pride ourselves on offering a personal and professional service and treating every applicant as an individual rather than simply a reference number!

If the Landlord is happy for us to proceed with your application, a Holding Deposit (equivalent to one week’s rent) will normally be required to ‘hold and reserve’ the property for you whilst the referencing and checks are completed.

Before any payment is requested, we will always explain clearly how the Holding Deposit works, including the limited circumstances where deductions may legally be made.

We will then take you through our referencing process.

 The referencing process and the documents you’ll need to share with us…

We appreciate that every applicant’s circumstances are different and we will always do our best to guide you through the process wherever possible.

Right to Rent & Identity Checks

As part of our legal obligations, all adult occupiers aged 18 years and over will be required to provide identification and evidence of their Right to Rent in the UK.  These checks are a legal requirement for all Letting Agents and Landlords and must be completed in all cases before a Tenancy can commence – depending on your circumstances, we may also request updated information during the Tenancy where required by legislation or compliance regulations.

We will ask you to provide us with: 

Photo ID – a valid passport or driving licence

• Proof of your current address – a utility bill, bank or similar statement dated within the last 3 months
• Proof of income – payslips for three consecutive months within the last four, or confirmation of income you have received – this may differ depending upon the criteria required by our referencing provider
• Written reference – a letter from your current and / or previous Landlord or their managing agent (if you are currently renting elsewhere) vouching for your compliance with the terms of your last Tenancy
• Any additional information reasonably required in support of your application

 Providing a Guarantor

In some cases, our referencing process may indicate that a guarantor should be required if the rental is to go ahead. A guarantor is an individual (usually a relative or friend) who accepts responsibility for paying all or part of the rent, or for covering the cost of repairs, should you prove unable to do so.  The person you nominate as guarantor is referenced in precisely the same way as you yourself are checked.

We will ask you to provide a Guarantor if…

• Your salary is not a sufficient multiple of the annual rent (as is determined by our referencing provider) which means that affordability requirements are not fully met ;
• Your work is temporary or you are on a zero-hour employment contract;
• There is limited UK credit history; or
• Your credit file shows you have a CCJ, IVA or Bankruptcy (Active or Satisfied); or
• Additional reassurance is requested by the Landlord

 A Guarantor should…

• be an individual (as opposed to a couple or a company);
• not live at the rental property during the tenancy;
• have sufficient income to meet the affordability requirements (as determined by our referencing provider);
• be able to provide a tax return or accountant’s reference if they are self-employed;
• be a UK resident;
• ideally be a homeowner.

All applications are subject to Landlord approval and referencing criteria, and the final decision regarding any application always rests with the Landlord.