Boats on seaford beach
Choosing the right tenant is vital. The tenant must be chosen not only for their ability to pay the rent but also for their ability to look after the property. At Premier Lets and Sales we use a professional referencing company to vet our tenants. The referencing includes affordability testing, credit scoring and employment references.
All tenancies, except Company Lets, are Assured Periodic Tenancies. Introduced on 1 May 2026, an Assured Periodic Tenancy is a rolling tenancy that operates on a month‑to‑month basis from the outset, providing tenants with long‑term security of tenure. While there is no fixed end date, the legislation provides a minimum initial protection period of 12 months during which a landlord cannot terminate the tenancy other than on an approved statutory ground. A landlord may regain possession of the property where a valid ground applies, including where the landlord intends to sell the property or move back into it as their principal home, subject to serving not less than four months’ written notice and compliance with the applicable statutory requirements. The tenancy will continue until it is ended in accordance with the legislation.
All deposits taken for Assured Periodic Tenancy (APTs) have to be protected under a government approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme. The deposit can either be held in a custodial scheme or an insurance backed scheme where the landlord keeps the deposit but pays a fee to have the deposit protected.
The deposit is held so the landlord can recover any costs for damage (‘fair wear and tear’ accepted), cleaning or rent arrears at the end of the tenancy. As most deductions from deposits are for cleaning, decorating and damage to carpets, it is most important that a full schedule of condition (inventory) is provided each time a new tenant moves in, regardless of whether the property is furnished or not. If the tenant disputes any deductions, they can have their case adjudicated independently through the Deposit Scheme.
A landlord needs to provide documentary evidence when making deductions from a deposit. Therefore it is vital that a very detailed inventory with supporting photographs is provided to the tenant. Many disputes have resulted in a full return of the deposit to the tenant, as the landlord could not provide sufficient evidence to successfully prove their case.
At Premier Lets and Sales we have dedicated inventory staff who are fully trained and qualified with The Association of Professional Inventory Providers (APIP). As members of APIP landlords can be assured that our inventories meet the professional standard required to protect our clients. We also fully photograph our properties.
The tenant is responsible for paying for the council tax, gas, electricty,water and sewerage rates. During void periods the landlord will be responsible for any usage and any standing charges. There is an exemption period of normally one month or six months, depending on the local council, for properties that are unoccupied and unfurnished. This exemption does not apply for fully furnished properties.
