Tenants
Whether you are moving to a new city to begin your studies, looking to rent privately for the first time, or moving in with a new group of friends, we know, finding the perfect rental home can sometimes seem daunting. At JNR Properties, our experienced team are on hand to guide you through the process. We believe in good communication and keeping things transparent, so you remain informed at every stage of your renting journey. We have a wide range of properties available in the City Centre, Cathays, Roath and Cardiff Bay to suit a variety of budgets and requirements from studios to large houses. We understand the importance of feeling safe, secure and comfortable in your home, so we go above and beyond for our tenants to ensure you find the best property to suit you.
Rental guide
We’ve broken down the keys steps when looking for a property to help you understand the process and know what to expect. Our team are always on hand to answer your questions and help you find your ideal new home.
Your Property Search
When you first start to look for a property you need to decide what features matter to you to help narrow down your search criteria. Is parking essential? Do you want some outside space? Would you prefer an ensuite? Is a double bed a necessity? You also need to think about what location works best for you (and your housemates) so you can easily get to work or your lectures. It’s also important not to overlook your budget, as depending on the location, finish, size and features, rental prices can vary considerably. With over 200 properties in our portfolio, we have a wide range of options available and are happy to talk through your search parameters to help you narrow down your options if you need any advice.
We strongly believe in viewing any properties that you are interested in as early as possible as the demand in Cardiff is very high and it’s a fast-moving market. Viewing a property in person allows you to understand the space, features and location to see if it is the right fit for you. We offer viewings during our office hours of Monday to Friday 9am-6pm. However, we understand with busy timetables or work schedules, it can sometimes be difficult to get everyone together during these times. Therefore, we also offer viewings by prior appointment in the evenings and on Saturdays. Our team can either meet you at our offices on Woodville Road or at the property and will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the property.
Securing Your Property
Once you have found your property, you will be required to pay a holding fee of 1 weeks rent, which will go towards your full deposit of 5 weeks rent. You will then have up to 3 weeks to complete your application form, pay your full deposit and supply your ID. Your deposit is held and protected by the Deposit Protection Service until the end of the tenancy as insurance against damages. A certain amount of fair wear and tear is expected, but any damages incurred by the tenants during the tenancy will be chargeable. These charges will be listed once the tenancy has ended and an exit inspection has been conducted. Assuming no damages are incurred, the Deposit Protect Service ensures your deposit is returned to you at the end of your tenancy. Please note: If you do not return the relevant paperwork within the 3-week period, we reserve the right to retain your holding fee and readvertise the property as available.
Guarantor
As part of your application form, our landlords may request that you either pay your rent in advance on a quarterly, half annum or annual basis or that you provide details of a UK Homeowner Guarantor. This reassures the landlord that the rent will be paid on time. The financial guarantor will be called upon should you fail to meet any of your financial obligations as outlined in your Occupational Agreement. Your guarantor must be a UK resident and a UK homeowner. Upon receipt of your application form we will contact your guarantor to provide us with 2 forms of ID and proof of home ownership which must be returned within the initial 3-week period. Should your guarantor have any questions about this role, please feel free to ask them to contact our office where a member of our team will be happy to discuss the details with them.
Occupational Agreement
When all of the checks from your application form have been completed and your guarantor verified, you will then be required to sign your Occupational Agreement. This can either be done in our offices or returned to us digitally, but must be completed by all prospective tenants.
PropertyFile
At JNR Properties, we require all our tenants to set up an account with PropertyFile. This system gives tenants access to all the relevant information in relation to their tenancy in one handy portal. It includes copies of your documents and agreements, the dates of your tenancy, receipts of your rent and current balance, as well as the ability to log maintenance requests. It also notifies you of any upcoming inspections or viewings booked at your property and your move in and move out dates and times.
Picking Up Your Keys
As your tenancy date approaches you will be emailed a time slot to come into the office to collect your keys. We will issue 1 set of keys per tenant and keep a spare set in our offices for use if you should you accidentally lock yourselves out and so that our maintenance team can carry out emergency and scheduled repairs.
Inventory
When you collect your keys, you will also be issued an inventory. This will be sent to you via email with a link to follow. We strongly advise that upon moving into your property you go through this in detail and tick off all the listed elements. Be sure to make notes of any damage or discrepancies and upload photos as evidence before submitting the completed inventory as a record of the condition of the property at move in.
Receive Customised New Property Alerts Register Now!
Have a Maintenance Issue?
Timeline – We keep you informed every step of the way.
Moving house can be a stressful experience. Using your PropertyFile account you can stay informed from the application stage right the way through to when you move out.
We let you know important events such as your referencing status, when inspections are booked. You can also find out move in and move out appointment dates and times.
When using our mobile application these alerts can be pushed to you so that you are updated immediately. No more lost emails or unexpected inspections.
Bills
It is the responsibility of tenants to contact the relevant utility providers to set up a new account for the duration of your tenancy. We advise you to take a meter reading on your move in day and give these details to your preferred supplier as a priority. If you are looking for an easy way to pay your bill, Homebox provides an online platform to split your household bills in one simple monthly payment. If you would like to hear more about this convenient platform, please let us know and we will give you further information. Don’t forget to apply for a TV license and to get your Council Tax exemption certificate from your university.
