Contract Holder Permitted Payments

Rent - Charged per calendar month, unless you move in mid-month then the first payment is calculated using the daily rate as set out in the contract holder fee ban legislation.

Security deposit - Usually the equivalent to 5 weeks rent calculated as follows: (rent per calendar month x 12) ÷ (52 x 5)

Holding deposit - This is taken to take a property off the market and is equivalent of 1 week’s rent per standard occupation contract. This is calculated as followed: (rent per calendar month x 12) ÷ 52
Please see our required information on Holding Deposits for more information on how and when this may be returned to you.

Payments in default - These are permitted payments that are charged to you if you default on a clause in your standard occupation contract and are as follows:

• Missed appointments – if a landlord has arranged for a contractor to visit the property to carry out remedial work and the contract holder refuses entry or is not there to grant access then any charges levelled at the landlord from the contractor will be passed to the contract holder(s) and charged at £60 including VAT.
• Avoidable or purposeful damage – Damage to the property caused by neglect, careless or wilful behaviour will be a breach of standard occupation contract and will be charged to the contract holder at cost of damaged caused.
• Replacement keys – The cost of cutting new keys will be charged to the contract holder(s) if you are at fault and have lost them or if a locksmith must be called charged at £2.50 per key if a standard key or this could be up to £35 for a specialist key i.e. a master key plus any callout charges incurred for the locksmith to attend if required.

If the contract holder is locked out of the property due to misplacing, forgetting or losing keys or any other reason that is the contract holder’s fault then the contract holder may be charged the cost of a new lock (if necessary) and/or the callout charge of a contractor to attend.

• Emergency/out-of-hours call-out fees – Contract holders will be charged for any out of hours service needed as a result of contract holder actions, such as an emergency glazer, plumber or locksmith if the contract holder caused the property issue/repair in the first place. Contract holders will not be charged for other out-of-hours services if they have not caused the issue. These charges are dependent on the severity of the damages and can vary from contractor to contractor. You will be notified of any charges incurred to you as a result of damages before a contractor is booked so you can review the cost and decide if the repair can wait for a contractor to attend in hours.
• Standard occupational-contract surrender charge – If a whole standard occupational contract wishes to surrender the standard occupational contract before the end of the fixed term and this is agreed in writing with contract holders and landlord then the contract holder will be liable for the landlords re-letting fee as outlined on landlord fee cards in our office and any rent due up until a new standard occupational contract is signed, to a maximum of the rent due until the end of the fixed term.
• Rent arrears charges – There is no charge for the first 7 days that the contract holder is in arrears. However, after the end of the period of seven days from due, 3% above Bank of England base rate may be charged.

Council tax payments - If under the terms of your standard occupation contract you are liable to make these payments then you must ensure these are paid and there are no arrears when your standard occupation contract ends. Payments are as per your local council rates and are to be paid directly to them.

Utility payments - If under the terms of your standard occupation contract you are liable to make these payments then you must ensure these are paid and there are no arrears when your standard occupation contract ends. Payments are as per your supplier and are to be paid directly to them.

TV licence payments - If under the terms of your standard occupation contract you are liable to make these payments then you must ensure these are paid and there are no arrears when your standard occupation contract ends. Payments are as per your supplier and are to be paid directly to them.

Communication services - If under the terms of your standard occupation contract you are liable to make these payments then you must ensure these are paid and there are no arrears when your standard occupation contract ends. Payments are as per your supplier and are to be paid directly to them.