Thomas George are dedicated to making sure that your property is in the best possible hands when you choose to let through our agency.

Deposits and Bonds

When a residential tenancy is agreed through Thomas George, we take a bond from the tenant to cover any rent arrears or damage caused to the property. This sum is held by us throughout the tenancy.

[[ Images of Association of residential lettings & the dispute service ]]

Thomas George is a fidelity-bonded member of ARLA, the professional body which ensures that all landlords' monies and tenants' deposits are held in separate, fully protected client accounts.

From 6th April 2007, all deposits taken by landlords and letting agents must be protected by a government – authorised tenancy deposit protection scheme to safeguard tenants deposits/bonds.

Landlords and agents have a choice of three scheme providers, offering two types of schemes to protect the deposit.

CUSTODIAL SCHEMES

Money is held by the Government Scheme until it is time for it to be repaid at the end of the tenancy. The Custodial Scheme is free to use. The landlord simply puts the deposit into the scheme at the beginning of the tenancy. There is one Custodial Scheme provider.

INSURANCE BASED SCHEMES

Under the Insurance Schemes the landlord or agent keeps the deposit, and pays the insurance scheme to insure against the landlord failing to repay the tenant any money due to them. There is a choice of two insurance based schemes.

Thomas George has joined the TDS Insurance Based Scheme. Therefore the following is applicable for properties let on a managed or tenant find only basis.

MANAGED PROPERTIES

We will not be passing on our membership costs of TDS, this will be absorbed by Thomas George. Due to the scheme insisting on a highly detailed inventory for each tenancy, the following inventory charges will be made as an additional fee to our initial setting up fee.

Unfurnished 1 & 2 bedroomed properties - £55.00 + VAT

Unfurnished 3 + bedroomed properties - £65.00 + VAT

Furnished 1 bedroomed property - £55.00 + VAT

Furnished 2 bedroomed property - £65.00 + VAT

Furnished 3 bedroomed property - £75.00 + VAT

Furnished 4 bedroomed property - £85.00 + VAT

Each additional bedroom - £10.00 + VAT

Inventories will include internal photographs stored on disc. The above discounted prices have been negotiated for managed properties only.

TENANT FIND ONLY PROPERTIES

Unless the landlord can prove that they have joined one of the three schemes, Thomas George will hold the deposit, charging an administration fee of £30.00 + VAT, and will retain any interest accrued on the deposit.

This is considerably less than an individual joining an insurance based scheme.

Unless the landlord can provide a detailed inventory (including a condition report and internal photographs), Thomas George carry out the inventory at a cost of:

1 bedroomed properties - £60.00 + VAT

2 bedroomed properties - £80.00 + VAT

3 bedroomed properties - £100.00 + VAT

Plus £20.00 + VAT per additional bedroom over 3 bedrooms.

IMPORTANT NOTE: THE PENALTY FOR NOT CONFORMING TO THIS LEGISLATION WILL MEAN THAT LANDLORDS AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ISSUE A SECTION 21 NOTICE REQUIRING POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY WHICH MAY INCUR A FINE OF UP TO THREE TIMES THE VALUE OF THE DEPOSIT/BOND.

Inspections and Routine Visits

Every four months during a letting period, one of our experienced staff will conduct a routine visit of your Cardiff property. Following each visit, a written report will be produced and sent to you.

At the end of a tenancy, a rigorous inspection will be carried out and the contents checked against the inventory produced prior to the tenancy. At this stage, we will inform you of any loss or damage to the rented property or its contents and also advise you on any items which need replacing or repairing should you wish to re-let the house or apartment.