Tenants

As soon as you have identified a suitable property and your offer has been accepted in principle, you will be invited to complete our secure online referencing application. To ensure a seamless onboarding experience, all applicants must submit verified, high-quality documentation.

Our premier third-party referencing partner, The Lettings Hub, will conduct an extensive verification check. Examples of the primary references and criteria sought include:

• Employment & Professional Standing: Verifiable confirmation of employment status, position, and continuous salary figures on company letterhead or via digital pay-portal verification.

• Identity & Statutory Right to Rent: Valid photographic identification (such as a current passport, biometric residence permit, or UK driving licence) to satisfy mandatory statutory Right to Rent checks.

• Verified History of Residence: Two (2) unique, original proofs of address dated within the last 3 months (e.g., a utility bill, council tax statement, or regulated bank statement).

• Institutional Landlord References: Formal reference history from your current or most recent managing agent or landlord confirming payment punctuality and property care.

• Independent & Sponsored Students: For full-time students, a fully vetted, UK-based financial guarantor or verifiable independent proof of upfront educational funding/stipends.

• Self-Employed Entrepreneurs & Directors: Certified accountant references, formal trading details, registered company accounts, or HMRC self-assessment tax returns spanning the minimum required trading period.

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To formally reserve a property and withdraw it from our active marketing channels, a Holding Deposit capped strictly at one (1) week’s rent (not subject to VAT) is required.

The collection of a holding deposit acts as a mutual declaration of good faith and commitment. It provides the financial security necessary for our team to immediately pause viewings and allocate corporate resources toward completing your onboarding infrastructure, including:

• Canceling or temporarily suspending all active portal and public advertisements for the property.

• Notifying other active applicants that the property is under offer, subject to contract and referencing.

• Initiating your comprehensive digital credit, financial, and employment screening.

• Drafting your bespoke statutory tenancy documentation.

Statutory Refund & Retention Policy

Upon successful execution of your tenancy agreement, the holding deposit will be automatically credited and deducted directly from your first month’s initial rent.

Under the strict provisions of current tenant protection legislation, the holding deposit is fully refundable unless an applicant intentionally withdraws from the proposed letting, fails a statutory Right to Rent check, fails to take reasonable steps to progress the tenancy within the standard 15-day “Deadline for Agreement,” or provides false or materially misleading financial/background information during application.

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All private residential leases in England are legally structured as Assured Periodic Tenancies (APTs). The traditional system of fixed-term contracts (such as 12-month fixed tenancies) and arbitrary landlord “no-fault” break clauses has been entirely abolished by law.

• A Continuous Rolling Structure: Your tenancy is an open-ended, continuous rolling agreement from day one. It does not possess a fixed expiration date or a mandatory renewal deadline, providing you with unparalleled security of tenure. You are entitled to remain in the property indefinitely until you choose to end the tenancy, or the landlord obtains a court possession order under strict, legally justified statutory grounds (such as selling the asset or moving back into the premises themselves).
  
  

• Your Statutory Right to Notice: As an occupant under an APT, you possess ultimate flexibility. You hold the legal right to bring the tenancy to an end at any point during its lifecycle by serving a minimum of two (2) months’ written notice to us. Your notice must be timed to expire on the final day of a rental period (typically the day before your standard monthly rent is contractually due).
  
  

• The 2-Month Mandatory Notice Window: If your landlord intends to adjust the rent to reflect changes in the wider economy, they must formally serve you with a statutory Section 13 Notice using the mandatory Form 4A. This notice must provide you with a minimum of two (2) months’ clear written notice before any new figure can take effect.

Legal Representation Disclaimer: Stonelink International acts as a corporate instruction agent for the Landlord. Prior to signing your contract, we will provide you with a sample template agreement for your review. We advise you to read this legal document with care; should you require detailed advice regarding your tenant rights or specific clauses, you are encouraged to seek independent counsel from a legal advisor or organisations like Shelter or Citizens Advice.

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Once your referencing profile has been fully approved by the landlord, the Assured Periodic Tenancy (APT) agreement will be issued for digital signature. The initial move-in monies must be settled in full and show as cleared funds in our client account at least five (5) days prior to your scheduled tenancy commencement date.

Your initial move-in invoice will comprise the following strictly regulated balances, less the one (1) week holding deposit you previously paid:

• The Security Deposit: Contractually capped under statutory law at a maximum of five (5) weeks’ rent where the total annual rent is under £50,000, or six (6) weeks’ rent where the total annual rent is £50,000 or above. All residential security deposits are registered and held securely within the custodial Deposit Protection Service (DPS) www.depositprotection.com
   

• First Month’s Rent in Advance: Calculated precisely on a per-calendar-month (PCM) basis using the standard industry formula:

   Weekly Rent × 52 weeks / 12 months​ = Per Calendar Month Rent

• Methods of Settlement: To avoid processing delays, payments must be executed via BACS, CHAPS, or an electronic direct bank transfer. We do not accept cash or credit card settlements for initial move-in balances.

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Securing an independent, professional inventory is the single most effective safeguard for your tenancy. Under statutory guidelines, tenants are contractually required to return the property and its contents in the same condition and standard of cleanliness as documented when they moved in – excepting normal wear and tear.

The Blueprint for Your Tenancy: A professional inventory and Check-In report provides an exact, detailed description of your home’s physical state and fixtures at move-in. This protects both you and the landlord by establishing an undisputed, objective baseline.

Why Impartiality Matters: At Stonelink International, we exclusively utilise independent, third-party professional inventory clerks. Under current judicial frameworks and deposit adjudication rules, self-made reports are routinely dismissed as biased. An unbiased, third-party report provides an authoritative audit trail that is fully recognised by courts and deposit tribunals alike.

The Check-Out Process: When you choose to end your rolling tenancy, a corresponding Check-Out inspection is performed. The clerk assesses the property room-by-room, records final utility meter readings, and assigns independent liability – distinguishing between regular household wear and tear (the landlord’s responsibility) and damage or cleaning shortfalls (the tenant’s responsibility).

Strict Statutory Windows for Amendments: In accordance with the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC) regulations, both landlords and tenants are granted a strict 7-to-14-day statutory review window (typically finalised within 7 days of receipt) upon the distribution of any digital Check-In or Check-Out report. Any requested revisions, queries, or supplementary photo evidence must be submitted in writing within this period before the document becomes a legally binding record of the property’s condition.

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