Smith & Winborn Lettings & Property Management

We let and manage furnished and unfurnished flats and houses throughout Guildford, Leatherhead, Dorking and the surrounding areas. Please click on properties to view a shortlist. Please note that for your safety and peace of mind -

All of our managed properties are Gas Safe certificated and inspected for furniture fire safety.
Security deposits (bonds) are held in accordance with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme rules; we currently use The Deposit Protection Service.

You can use the menu bar above to find other related information.

--- Guide for Tenants ---

Finding a property
The first step is to contact us to provide brief details about yourself and about the accommodation you require. We then search our database for suitable properties for you to view. If not urgent, we log your details so that we can contact you as suitable properties become available. It is wise to start looking about a month before you wish to move, as the nicer properties are viewed and reserved quickly. We regret that we cannot assist dss claimants. Our tenancies are granted for a minimum term of 6 months.

Viewings
Viewings will be arranged at times to suit you, including evenings and Saturdays, and you will invariably be accompanied by a member of staff, who can give advice and answer any questions you may have.

Reserving the property
Once you have decided on a property, you will need to reserve it by paying a 'holding deposit', usually equivalent to one week's rent. This will be held by us for a period of 15 days unless we agree otherwise. At the end of the 15 day period (or such longer period as we may agree) the deposit will be refunded to you or be offset against your rent or tenancy deposit as agreed unless any relevant person (including any guarantor(s)) withdraw from the tenancy, fail a Right-to-Rent check, provide significant false or misleading information, or fail to sign any required documentation (including the Tenancy Agreement and/or Deed of Guarantee)

References
As a minimum we will require satisfactory references from your employer (or college) and a previous or current landlord, and we will undertake a credit check. We may also require a personal reference and/or a guarantor. If we do require a guarantor, please note they will also need to be referenced. We may use the services of an independent referencing company to obtain and evaluate these references.

Rents
Rents are normally quoted calendar monthly, and payable monthly in advance. The tenant is usually also responsible for Council Tax, Water Rates, Gas, Electricity and Telephone costs. All rents are payable by bank standing order to our company bank account.

Deposit
A tenancy deposit equivalent to 5 weeks' rent (or 6 weeks' rent for rents of Ł50,000 or more per year) will be held by an approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme (usually The Deposit Protection Service) throughout the tenancy term. This is held to cover damage, breakages, and any other liabilities under the terms of your tenancy agreement. Please note that under no circumstances can the deposit be used by the tenant to cover rent. Full details about the Deposit Protection Service can be found at www.depositprotection.com.

Other Permitted Fees we may charge during the Tenancy

Unpaid Rent: If rent is unpaid for more than 14 days, interest will be payable at 3% above the Bank of England base rate from the date the rent is due until the rent is paid.

Tenancy variation: If you request a variation to the terms of the tenancy agreement (after it has been signed) we agree to, we are entitled to make a charge of Ł50.00 (inc. VAT) per agreed variation.

Change of tenant (sharer): If you request leave to change the named tenants in your tenancy agreement then, if we agree to this, we shall be entitled to charge a fee of Ł50 (inc. VAT) or our reasonable expenses incurred in doing this if these are higher than Ł50. Reasonable expenses would include the cost of taking landlord's instructions, referencing the new tenant, carrying out Right-to-Rent checks, deposit registration as well as the preparation and execution of new legal documents.

Early Tenancy Termination (when requested by the Tenant): Should you wish to leave your tenancy before the end of the fixed term, then you will be liable for the landlord’s reasonable costs of re-letting the property as well as all rent due under the tenancy until the start of any new replacement tenancy. However, these costs and rent combined cannot be more than the total amount of remaining rent due under the tenancy.

Lost keys or security devices: Tenants are liable for the actual cost of replacing any key(s) or other security device(s), or, if the locks need to be changed, for the actual costs of a locksmith together with the new lock and replacement keys for the tenant, landlord any other persons requiring keys. If extra costs are incurred there will be a charge of Ł15 per hour (inc. VAT) for the time taken replacing lost key(s) or other security device(s).

Tenant protection

SWR Lettings is a member of Client Money Protect, which is a client money protection scheme (membership number: CMP003677), and also a member of the Property Redress Scheme, which is a redress scheme (membership number: PRS000713). You can find out more details on the agent’s website or by contacting the agent directly.