Tenants

At Lakeland Estate, we specialise in providing guaranteed rent and rent-to-rent services. Unlike traditional real estate agencies, we focus solely on managing properties ourselves and subletting them to tenants. We do not let properties for landlords, nor do we handle deposits on behalf of landlords or third parties. Here’s how our process works:

Viewing Times

We aim to show you 2-4 properties that match your criteria, so please allocate about an hour for your viewing appointment.

Cancellation

If you need to cancel or reschedule your viewing, please give us a quick call as soon as possible, even if you simply change your mind. This helps us manage our schedule effectively.

The Lettings Process

Once you’ve viewed a property and wish to make an offer, let us know immediately. Your offer should include:

• The proposed move-in date
• The names of all tenants
• The rent amount
• Any conditions or special requests

We will need to verify your income and employment details at this stage. Your offer will then be reviewed and either accepted or negotiated.

Once we agree on the terms, we will inform you about the required references. You will need to provide a holding deposit to secure the property. Upon receipt of this deposit, we will stop showing the property and consider it taken.

Important Note: If you fail to provide the required references, refuse to supply necessary information, or decide not to proceed with the rental, the holding deposit will be forfeited. This compensates us for the loss of potential rent while the property was off the market. If for any reason we are unable to proceed with your application that is not due to the reasons mentioned, your holding deposit will be fully refunded. The holding deposit will be applied towards your overall deposit when you move in.

References

We require the following references as part of the application process:

• Proof of Income (recent payslips, invoices, accounts, or a letter from your accountant)
• Passport (original document must be seen) or a visa/Home Office document confirming your right to live in the UK
• Recent bank statements (last 3 months)
• Proof of current address
• Contact details of your current landlord or home ownership information
• Paragon credit check

If your situation is unique (e.g., you’re coming from abroad, living at home, self-employed for less than 3 years, or a student), please discuss your references with us. We may need to consider a guarantor or rent in advance in these cases.

Moving In

You will be assigned a Property Manager who will oversee your references and move-in process. Once references are completed and verified, your Property Manager will provide you with the initial account statement (all move-in monies must be received in cleared funds before you can move in) and the tenancy agreement. They will also schedule a time for your move-in.

On your move-in date, your Property Manager will meet you at the property, show you around, sign the necessary documents, hand over the keys, and provide a brief overview of the property’s features and operations.

If Lakeland Estate manages your property, you will receive the contact details of your Property Manager. If the property is managed directly by us, we will provide you with the landlord’s contact information upon your move-in.