REGULAR UPKEEP
You are expected to maintain the property to the standard provided at the start of the occupation contract, for both Let Only Properties and Managed Properties, that’s in addition to the Landlord’s responsibility to keep the property maintained and in good repair. If a problem occurs during your contract, it’s important to know who’s responsible for what. With that in mind, we’ve created a helpful guide which outlines your key responsibilities as a contract-holder.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A CONTRACT-HOLDER

RENT
Even if you’ve run into a dispute with the landlord or dwelling manager (in the case of a fully managed dwelling) rent payments must be made on time and be the agreed amount, as laid out in your occupation contract.

CARE
Take good care of the dwelling to avoid any preventable issues. For example, turn off the water if you’ll be away from the dwelling during the colder months. Mowing lawns, maintaining gardens and outside spaces and arranging regular rubbish and garden waste removal. Changing light bulbs/fuses and checking smoke alarms (weekly) and replacing batteries. Maintaining/defrosting fridges and freezers. Ventilating the property to avoid condensation problems (especially when operating washing machines or tumble dryers and in winter). Bleeding central heating radiators and clearing and unblocking internal and external drains.

PESTS
You must deal with a pest infestation in cases where it is caused through your own actions, e.g. by not taking out the bins and maintaining pet hygiene.

SUBLETTING
Do not sublet a dwelling if your occupation contract, landlord or dwelling manager has not agreed to it.

REPAIRS
Reporting issues (as covered in the following Landlord maintenance section) straight away to prevent damage to the property. If damage does occur and is caused by you, a friend, or a family member, it must be repaired or paid for by yourself. Allowing reasonable access to Landlords, our Lettings team and tradespersons so that maintenance and repairs can be carried out. Leaks should be reported urgently. You will have been shown the stopcock location during check in and are required to turn off the water to avoid property damage.

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
Refrain from acting in an anti-social way towards your neighbours, landlord or agency. You can be held accountable for the ant-social behaviour of anyone who lives with or visits you.

BEING NEIGHBOURLY
While we want you to enjoy your rental property, it is hoped that you would treat neighbours with respect and kind consideration. Please consider Setting TV and music volumes at reasonable levels, keeping noise and voices low when using balconies, gardens, or communal areas. Being a good neighbour means to consider limiting the amount of noise you make; this will help to keep you on good terms with your fellow neighbours.

CLEANLINES
It is your responsibility to keep the dwelling clean and tidy. If it is untidy at the end of the contract, your landlord or dwelling manager (in the case of a fully managed dwelling) may deduct your deposit to make good.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES
Make sure other additional charges, laid out in your occupation contract, such as utilities and Council Tax are paid in on time.

FOR THE FULL LIST OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES PLEASE REFER TO YOUR OCCUPATION CONTRACT

LANDLORD MAINTENANCE

PROPERTY STRUCTURE & SERVICES
The Landlord is responsible for the maintenance of:
• The property structure and upkeep of the building exterior.
• Internal fitted electrical appliances such as ovens, stoves and in-built fridges.
• Hot water boilers, plumbing, pipework & radiators.
• Kitchen sink, plumbing and pipework; as well as sanitary ware (toilets, sinks, baths, showers).

FOR THE FULL LIST OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES PLEASE REFER TO YOUR OCCUPATION CONTRACT.

PROPERTY VISITS
As a contract-holder, you are entitled to live in the rented property as your home. You are also required to allow regular access so that the Landlord (or us as the Letting Agent) can ensure that you are taking care of the property, check on the property condition and note any repairs.

Contract-holder In Let Only Properties. Should speak to their landlords directly to discuss property visits.

For Managed Properties. On behalf of our Landlords, MGY will carry out quarterly routine property visits during which we will take photographs. A report will then be provided to the landlord. You will receive written notice in advance of these visits

REPORTING PROBLEMS

Maintenance issues should be reported as follows:

• For Let Only Properties. You will receive contact details for your landlord.
• For Managed Properties. You have access to a 24/7 Maintenance Team.

The MGY Maintenance Team are available

Monday to Friday 09:00-17:30 and Saturday 09:00-15:00 by emailing maintenance@mgy.co.uk, please supply a description of the issue and any relevant photos.

You can call the Out of Hours emergency contacts outside of office hours, on weekend and bank holidays, on the following numbers:

LINDEN MAINTENANCE 07885 994 12
SCH PLUMBING (plumbing and heating only) 07976 371 968

ELECTRICAL NEEDS
Your landlord is required by law to ensure that the electrical appliances in the property (and their installation) are safe when you move in and are maintained in a safe condition while you live there. LACORS Fire Safety Guidance applies rla.org.uk

SMOKE & CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS
Smoke Alarms are compulsory in all properties built since 1992 but we recommend to our landlords that they, along with carbon monoxide detectors, are fitted even in properties built before this. They are checked to be in good working order prior to each new occupation contract however, as the contract-holder you are responsible for carrying out regular checks and replacing batteries when needed.

FURNITURE & FIRE SAFETY
In line with Fire and Safety Regulations and the Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Amendment Regulations 1993, all new and second-hand furniture in MGY rented furnished or semi-furnished properties must meet fire resistance requirements. For unfurnished properties please ensure that your furniture complies with the Fire Regulations.

WASHING MACHINES AND TUMBLE DRYERS
Your landlord is responsible for checking that washing machines and dryers provided in their properties are safely operational.

GAS
An annual Gas Safety Check will be carried out every 12 months by a Gas Safe Registered Engineer. You will receive a copy.

RENEWING

NOTICE TO STAY
If you have enjoyed your time in your MGY rental property, when the occupation contract is up for renewal, we would hope that you would want to extend your occupation. The renewal of every occupation contract is for a further fixed period, or you may have the option to continue the contract on a rolling basis (month by month continuing from the original agreement) if the landlord agrees, subject to any rent increases.

For Let Only Properties. Discuss with your Landlord the notice they would require for you to renew your contract.

For Managed Properties. We will contact you approximately two months prior to the end of your occupation contract, asking about your future intentions.

MOVING OUT

NOTICE TO VACATE
Should the Landlord require you to move out at any time, they must give you two months’ notice to find somewhere to move into. Contact the Lettings Team for help with this. You are advised to keep track of your contractual start/end date throughout your occupation contract. Should you intend to move out, you are advised to write and inform us of your intention to move 30-60 days before your contract end date, so that your contract does not renew.

For Let Only Properties. You should discuss the Landlord’s property vacancy requirements with them directly.

For Managed Properties. Once you have given notice to vacate, we will contact you in writing to confirm the procedure to check out of the property.

BOND RETURNS
To be certain that your bond/security deposit is returned to you in full at the end of your occupation contract, you are advised to ensure the following:

• Vacate the property in good clean condition as at the start of the occupation contract and inward inventory.
• Leave contents (and/or furniture for furnished lets) in situ and in the same good condition as at the start of the occupation contract.
• Ensure your rent payments are up to date.
• Return all assigned keys, fobs and parking permits where applicable.

For Let Only Properties. You should discuss with your landlord how soon you can expect your bond/security deposit to be returned.

For Managed Properties. You will need to provide MGY with your bank account details and forwarding address, and subject to meeting the above conditions, the bond/security deposit will be returned to you within 10 working days.

VACATING THE PROPERTY
On your check-out date, it is preferable that you are present. The property should be left in a comparable condition to as it was at the start of the occupation contract. All personal items should have been removed and the property professionally cleaned, gardens cut to seasonal conditions and rubbish entirely removed. All assigned keys and fobs for the property, must be returned at this time (missing keys will be charged for as will additional rent). Final meter readings will be taken at the time of the checkout inspection and you will be asked for a forwarding address for final bills to be sent to you for payment.

For Let Only Properties. You should discuss the Landlord’s property vacancy checks with them directly.

For Managed Properties. The property condition will be checked against the Schedule of Condition (provided at occupation contract start) and contents will be checked.

DEDUCTIONS
At time of departure: if the property has not been well maintained; if there are damages or missing contents; or if there is rent outstanding – the landlord is within their rights to retain some, or all, of the bond/security deposit.

For Let Only Properties. Details should be discussed with your landlord directly.

For Managed Properties. If deductions are to be made you are advised to respond in writing to the Lettings Team. If an agreement cannot be reached, the disputed amount will be held by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) and the remainder sent back to you (the contract-holder). The TDS will adjudicate the case and make a final decision.