Helping you find the right property

Choosing the right letting agent is as important as your choice of property. Make the right selection and not only will finding the right flat or house be made so much easier, the on-going support during your tenancy is invaluable.

George Webb Finn is one of the largest specialist letting agencies in the area with over 160 years of letting experience.  Our specialist lettings staff will work with you to find suitable rental accommodation and accompany you on viewings of our extensive rental portfolio of let and managed properties across Kent.

George Webb Finn are members of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA), who are recognised government, consumer groups and the media as being the leading professional bodies in the private rental market sector. 

Why Choose an ARLA Agent?

• ARLA leads the industry in setting and regulating the highest standards in the industry and demands certain levels of professionalism and commitment to customer service from its membership
• ARLA members are required to work within a robust Code of Practice, which covers the key stages in letting and managing a property. There are comprehensive membership Byelaws which include compliance with such issues as handling and accounting for Clients’ money; the mandatory ARLA Client Money Protection Bonding Scheme; Professional Indemnity Insurance; Dealing with Complaints and Disciplinary Procedures.
• ARLA members are required to employ professionally qualified staff recognised by the Association.
• ARLA keeps it members up to date with changes in legislation and provides wide-ranging training and guidance to help members understand and interpret all aspects of letting and managing a property

Arranging a Viewing
If you would like to register with us that you are looking for property to rent, please call us to discuss your requirements or use our online registration form and we will notify you of any suitable properties as they become available.

If you see a property on our listing which you would like to view, please contact us and arrange a viewing.  We will endeavour to arrange viewings at your convenience and will always accompany you on viewings. Our office hours are between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. It may sometimes be possible to make special arrangements by appointment, if your availability is limited, please contact us to see how we can help. Please also bear in mind that some properties may well still have tenants in them and we will need to be sensitive to their situation also.

Making an Offer
Once you have viewed a property, if you wish to proceed with letting you will need to make an offer, which we will put forward to the Landlord. We will liaise between you and the landlord to agree the date of commencement, duration of tenancy, monthly rental, and any other terms.

References and Holding Fees
Once terms are agreed, we will need to take up references on each applicant. We use a specialist referencing agency, who check credit rating and public records for County Court Judgments, as well as employer, character, and where applicable, previous landlord references. Each applicant will need to complete a reference application form to provide us with the relevant details and provide us with two forms of identification. A holding deposit equivalent to half of one month's rent is required to reserve the property whilst references are undertaken. The deposit is non-refundable should you choose not to proceed with the tenancy.

Signing of Tenancy Agreement & Paying Initial Rent
Once satisfactory references have been received, usually within five working days, we will proceed to document the tenancy and will require you to come to our office to sign the agreement, during this meeting you will also be required to pay the first month's rent, the balance of deposit (the holding deposit will at that point be credited to the main deposit), and the Administration and Reference Fees (Administration Fee £150.00 plus VAT) (Reference Fee £50.00 plus VAT per applicant). When this is completed you will then receive the keys to the property and copies of instruction manuals and safety certificates.

Deposits
Prior to the start of the tenancy you will be required to pay a deposit, which is typically1.5 times the monthly rental, although this may be adjusted to cover particular circumstances e.g. pets.  Your deposit will be held by George Webb Finn as Stakeholders for the duration of the tenancy against the satisfactory performance of all the various obligations under the tenancy agreement.  Under legislation which came into effect on 6 April 2007, any landlord or agent who takes a deposit from a tenant(s) for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy must safeguard it in an approved tenancy deposit scheme.

George Webb Finn is a member of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme run by an independent organisation called The Dispute Service (TDS). This means that at the end of the tenancy, in the event of an unresolved dispute or stalemate over the allocation of the deposit, it can be referred to the scheme for a prompt, independent, third party adjudication, thus providing a resolution which is fair to both landlord and tenant.

Inventory & Schedule of Condition
Prior to the tenancy starting we will compile a detailed Inventory and Schedule of Condition which will be attached to the tenancy Agreement.  The Inventory and Schedule of Condition is used to compare the condition of the property between the start and end of the tenancy and is used in conjunction with the tenancy Agreement to settle any dispute.  It is therefore a very important document to both the Landlord and Tenant. 

You will be given a copy of the Inventory and Schedule of Condition when you come into our office to sign the tenancy Agreement.  You will be asked to check and make notes of any discrepancies to the Inventory and Schedule of Condition as soon as you move into the property.  You will be asked to return the copy of the Inventory and Schedule of Condition within 5 working days and the copy will then be referred to when you eventually vacate the property at the end of your tenancy.

Utilities
In addition to the rent, you will also be responsible for all utility accounts (Gas, Electricity, Water, Telephone, and Council Tax) unless otherwise stated. We will take gas and electric meter readings and inform all of the utility companies (except telephone) at the commencement of the tenancy to arrange for transfer of accounts into your name.

Repairs and Maintenance
Either we or the Landlord will be responsible for dealing with any problems arising at the property which are the landlord’s responsibility. These would include plumbing, central heating, or appliance faults. We will let you know who you should contact in the event of a problem.

Rental Payments
Rent is normally due monthly in advance. Following payment of the first month's rent to us, we will arrange with you to set up subsequent payment by standing order either to ourselves or direct to the Landlord.

Termination or Renewal of Tenancy
Two to three months prior to termination of tenancy we will be in contact with both the Landlord and the Tenant to establish their requirements. If the Landlord wishes to terminate the tenancy on expiry, we are required to give you a minimum of two months notice. If you wish to terminate the tenancy, and the Landlord wishes to re-let the property, we will need to market the property and arrange viewings within the last month of the tenancy. 

On the day you vacate the property a check out inspection will be made of the property.  In the majority of cases the checkout will be conducted by an independant inventory clerk a fee of £100 plus VAT will be charged to you for this service.

If both parties wish to renew the tenancy we will negotiate renewal terms, and document a renewal agreement for a further term. An agreement preparation fee of £60 plus VAT will be chargeable.