Our Letting and Application Process

The Letting Process: A Detailed Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome to Bee City Living! Whether you are moving across town or arriving in the UK from abroad for the very first time, we want to make finding your next home as straightforward and welcoming as possible.

Under the UK's housing laws, the rental process follows a structured, legally protected sequence. Here is exactly what to expect from the moment you find a property you love to the day you collect your keys.

Step 1: Finding Your Home & Clear Pricing

Browse our available properties on our website. Every home is listed at a fixed, clear monthly price.

• No Rental Bidding: In the UK, it is illegal for letting agents or landlords to encourage or accept offers above the advertised rent. The price you see is the maximum price the property can be rented for.

Step 2: The Pre-Reservation & Compliance Pack

Once your initial offer is accepted, we begin the official reservation process. Before we can legally accept any money from you, UK law requires us to provide you with a digital Compliance & Safety Pack.

You will receive an initial email containing:

• The Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet: A government fact sheet outlining your rights.
• Statutory Written Statement of Terms: A draft copy of your actual Assured Periodic Tenancy (APT) agreement so you can read the contract terms before committing.
• Property Safety Certificates: Valid copies of the home's Gas Safety Record (GSR), Electrical Safety Certificate (EICR), and Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

Step 3: Signing the Holding Deposit Agreement

Shortly after receiving your compliance pack, you will receive an email invitation from DocHub to digitally sign our Holding Deposit Agreement.

By signing this document, you are formally confirming that you have received and reviewed all the required safety certificates, and that you give consent for legal documents to be sent to you electronically.

⏱️ Please Note: To keep things fair and fully compliant with the law, we do not formally reserve the property or pause other viewings until this digital agreement is signed by all applicants.

Step 4: Paying the Holding Deposit

Once the digital agreement is signed, you can pay your Holding Deposit to our verified Lloyds Bank account to officially move the property to "Let Agreed" status.

• The Cost: This is strictly capped by law at 1 week’s worth of rent.
• Where does the money go? Once your application is fully approved, this 1-week deposit will be credited directly toward your first month's rent.
• Are you paying via a third party? If a parent, guardian, or employer is paying this deposit on your behalf, the law recognises them as a "Relevant Person." You must reply to our email with their full name, address, email, and mobile number so we can legally issue them the exact same safety and compliance disclosures.

Step 5: ID Checks & Financial Referencing (The 14-Day Window)

From the day your holding deposit is paid, we have a 14-day legal deadline to complete all referencing and sign the final contract. This involves two main parts:

1. Right to Rent ID Check: We are required by law to verify your identity. If you are a British or Irish citizen, you will need to bring your original, physical passport to our office. If you are an international renter, you just need to email us your digital 'Share Code' and Date of Birth.
2. Affordability & Income Checks: We will run a quick check to make sure the rent is sustainable for your budget.

     If you are a student or new to the UK, this is the stage where we will onboard your UK Guarantor. (For    a deep dive into the math, see our Affordability Guide).

⚖️ Rules Regarding Your Holding Deposit:

• When it is fully refunded: If the landlord decides not to proceed with the tenancy, or if the 14 days pass through no fault of your own, your deposit will be legally refunded to you in full within 7 days.
• When it can be kept: The deposit is only non-refundable if you provide false or misleading financial information, fail a Right to Rent ID check, pull out of the application voluntarily, or fail to take reasonable steps to sign the agreement within the 14 days.

Step 6: Final Payments & Moving In!

Once your references clear, your official Assured Periodic Tenancy (APT) agreement is executed. This is a modern, rolling monthly contract with no scary, locked-in fixed end dates, giving you total flexibility.

Before we hand over your keys on move-in day, you will pay your final move-in funds via bank transfer:

• Your First Month’s Rent: (Minus the 1-week holding deposit you already paid in Step 4).
• Your Security Deposit: This is due upon signing the APT and is capped at a maximum of 5 weeks' worth of rent and is immediately placed into a secure, government-backed deposit protection scheme.

Once the funds land, you collect your keys and welcome yourself to your new Bee City Living home!