Once you make an offer to rent a property, we ask you to leave a holding deposit equal to one or two week’s rent depending on the rental value of the property. We then stop showing the property to other prospective applicants.

The acceptance of this sum is by way of confirmation that the applicant(s) wishes to enter into negotiations with the owner via Coutts-de-Lisle, and does not constitute an acceptance of the applicant(s) by the owner of the property, nor the granting of the tenancy. In England, a contract about the rental of a property is only made when it is in writing. Verbal agreements do not constitute a contract on property. We will e-mail you the tenancy contract the day after your offer is accepted. The sooner this is signed, the sooner the tenancy is secured. All offers are communicated in writing.

The above sum is not refundable should the applicant(s) not take up the property on the agreed date. Should the landlord not accept the offer this holding deposit will be refunded less any reference and administration charges.

Coutts-de-Lisle will apply for references using an independent residential reference firm and it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all details are completed on the relevant forms, so that we receive our final reference report as soon as possible. If a guarantor is required, a subsequent charge of £36.00 plus VAT will be levied. If the referencing firm concludes that you are not suitable to be a tenant due to adverse information, then you forfeit your holding deposit.