A guide for tenants

Oyster Estates let and manage unfurnished flats, houses and bed-sits throughout Bognor, Chichester, Littlehampton, and Worthing. Please click on 'Properties available' to view a shortlist, although our stock changes daily you should contact us for current availability or to register your requirements.

For your safety and peace of mind -

  • All our managed properties are CORGI gas safety certificated, and inspected for compliance with electrical safety, and furniture fire safety regulations.
  • All deposits collected by Oyster Estates are held in a Barclays Client Trust Account in accordance with NAEA, RICS and ARLA codes of practice. Our Client Accounts are audited every year by independent auditers.
  • Oyster Estates subscribes to the Dispute Service (TDS), which means any unresolved issue over the allocation of a deposit can be referred to the scheme for independent third party adjudication, thus providing a resolution fair to the landlord and tenant. Further information is available at www.arla.co.uk or www.tds.gb.com

The first step is to contact us to provide brief details about yourself and about the accommodation you require. We will search our database for suitable properties for you to view. If not urgent, we log your details so that we can contact you as suitable properties become available. It is wise to start looking about a month before you wish to move, as the nicer properties are viewed and reserved quickly. Our tenancies are granted for a minimum term of 6 months.

Viewings
Viewings will invariably be accompanied by a member of staff, who can give advice and answer any questions you may have. They can be arranged for mutually convenient times to suit you, including if possible, evenings and weekends.
 
Reserving the property
Once you have decided on a property, you will need to reserve it by paying a 'holding deposit', usually equivalent to one week's rent. Assuming that the tenancy goes ahead, this will be deducted from the monies due before you move in. If the landlord declines to grant the tenancy, it will be refunded. However the deposit will be forfeit if you decide not to proceed for any reason, or if you fail to provide complete and accurate information in your application.

References
As a minimum we will require satisfactory references from your bank, employer (or college), and a previous or current landlord. We may also require a personal reference, and sometimes a guarantor. In addition a credit check will be undertaken. We may use the services of an independent referencing company to obtain and evaluate these references.

Rents
Rents are quoted calendar monthly, payable monthly in advance, however we apportion the rent to the 1st day of the next month when you first sign your tenancy agreement. After your first month we require the money to be paid by the 1st of each month. All rents are payable by bank standing order to our company bank account.

Utilities
Unless you are renting a bed-sit you will be responsible for Council Tax, Water Rates, Gas, Electricity and Telephone costs direct with the suppliers.

Deposit
A security deposit of a minimum of one month's rental must be paid, and will be held by Oyster Estates as stakeholders in a secure client account throughout the tenancy term. This is held to cover damage, breakages, and any other liabilities under the terms of your tenancy agreement and the agreement you will enter into with Oyster Estates. Please note that under no circumstances can the deposit be used by the tenant to cover rent.

Tenancy Agreement
Most tenancies will automatically be Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs), provided the rent is under £25,000 a year and the property is let to private individuals. Tenancies are usually granted for an initial fixed term of between 6 and 12 months. When the fixed term has expired the landlord is able to regain possession of the property provided he gives two months written notice to the tenant. In addition, if the tenant owes at least 2 months or 8 weeks rent on the property he can apply through the court to seek a possession order. Failure to keep up rent payments may jeopardise your tenancy and affect your credit rating and ability to obtain further rented property.

Agreement with Oyster Estates
As you would expect with a professional letting agency, we have an agreement with you too. Our agreement specifies what we will do to help your tenancy run smoothly and the charges you agree we may make of you if we are involved in work that is over and above our agreed services.

Disclaimer
This guide is intended to help readers navigate their way through the letting process under the estate agency systems in England and Wales. Readers take any advice at their own risk. Oyster Estates accept no responsibility for any action taken, or loss occurring, as a result of any advice and/or information in this guide.

Insurance
As appointed agents for [Rackman] we are able to offer a variety of insurance policies, including the following -

Your contents insurance
Up to your selected sum insured for damage to your household furniture, equipment, furnishings, clothing and personal possessions whilst in your home (excludes business equipment).

Landlord's contents insurance
Up to £2,500 for accidental damage to your landlord's contents, fixtures & fittings for which you are responsible.

Your personal possessions insurance
Up to your selected sum insured for loss or accidental damage to your clothing, watches, jewellery, spectacles, other valuables (excluding mobile telephones) and pedal cycles whilst away from your home anywhere in the UK or whilst temporarily elsewhere in the world. Theft from unattended vehicles must be from a locked boot.