Our Services

Rental Services

Rental Services for LANDLORDS

Whether you are a first time landlord looking to let your own home or
a BUY to LET landlord with a property portfolio, MCM offer rental services
suited to your particular needs.
Free no obligation rental appraisal and consultation.
Bond Registration and Energy Performance Certificates.
Full property details, photographs, 'To Let' Board and National internet advertising.
Accompanied viewings.
All prospective tenants and guarantors credit searched and fully referenced.
Comprehensive inventory backed by photographic evidence, meter readings and full tenant check-in. Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements.
Rents promptly paid over to landlord via bank transfer with monthly statement of account.
Regular property checks with feedback.
Continuing advice throughout the tenancy.
Arranging repairs and maintenance as agreed with landlord.
Tenants out of office hours Emergency Helpline.
Serving notice with full property check out, meter readings and advice on return of bond.
BUY to LET   Financial & Mortgage Advice
Please contact us to arrange a personal appraisal and further advice.

Rental Services for TENANTS

MCM only offer safe, decent, quality homes owned by responsible landlords.
All homes have a current GAS SAFE Certificate and smoke alarms.  We check
properties carefully to eliminate dangers or other health hazards such as damp. Homes are well presented and conform with current safety standards.

If the property is managed by MCM your deposit will be registered with The Tenancy Deposit Scheme of which MCM are members. You will be provided with a certificate of registration and your own unique ID code. At the end of the tenancy, In the majority of cases deposits are returned in full, subject to the tenant maintaining a satisfactory payment record, leaving the property in a clean and tidy condition and not causing any damage to the property, excepting fair wear and tear. If the property is find a tenant only MCM will ensure that your deposit is registered with an approved deposit registration scheme and provide you with full details of the scheme. For find a tenant only you will need to liaise with the landlord at the end of the tenancy regarding the return of your deposit.

Before you move into your new home, MCM meet you at the property to check the inventory with you and to witness and record meter readings. The condition of the property will be carefully recorded and backed by photographic evidence to protect both the landlord's and tenant's interests. We will ask you to sign the inventory to agree the property condition.

You will be allowed to quietly enjoy your home, but we will need to visit you from time to time to carry out a visual electrical and other safety checks, consult with you regarding the condition of the property and your plans for renewal and also report back to the landlord. It is essential that you contact us promptly throughout the tenancy to report any defects or repairs needed so we can arrange these with the landlord. You will also be provided with a 24/7 Emergency Helpline in the event of out of hours emergencies. For find a tenant only the landlord you will need to contact the landlord direct regarding any repairs, emergencies and/or property visits.

Before you move in you will be provided with a tenancy agreement written in plain English so you can carefully read the terms and conditions before you sign.  In certain cases we may additionally request that you have a guarantor.

Pets & Smoking - We offer a range of property, some landlords will accept pets and smokers and others will not, so please ask us before arranging a viewing. If permission is given to keep a pet a landlord may request a further £100 deposit.

Housing Benefit Applicants - Some landlords will accept Housing Benefit applicants and others may not wish to, sometimes due to constraints enforced by their mortgage lender. Please enquire before viewing.  We will however, in all cases need to collect a deposit and rental payments in advance and you will also need to be able to cover any application, credit searching or referencing fees.   

We will require ID, proof of residence, proof of bank account, previous landlord's and an employers reference (if relevant) as well as a satisfactory credit search result.

For property managed by MCM, once the tenancy has commenced, in order to protect both parties, we maintain a full property log to record defects reported by the tenant and action taken to resolve these issues.  We also maintain a full tenant rental account to record your rental payments. For find a tenant only you will need to liaise direct with your landlord regarding your rental account and will need to keep your own record of contact with the landlord.

MCM have been managing rental property since 1998.  We have a wealth of experience and maintain an excellent rapport between landlord and tenant.

Please contact us if you wish to register as a prospective tenant.  We will need to ask you some preliminary questions to ensure that you will be acceptable to our landlords and to match you with the right property for you. Our staff are friendly and approachable.  All information provided is protected under the Data Protection Act and taken in the strictest confidence.

Rental Procedure & Fees

If you view a rental property with MCM and decide that you would like to take up a tenancy the following searches, references and fees will apply:-

Stage 1 - Credit Search
Each applicant and guarantor will be asked to fill in an application form and your signature(s) will be required to give MCM authority to carry out credit searches. The fee payable is £35 for a single tenant and £10.00 for each additional tenant and/or guarantor.  Searches take 1 to 3 working days. We will not search other prospective tenants at the same time - the property will be held for you pending return of your credit search results.  If you think there may be a problem with the credit searches please declare this beforehand so we can assess whether this would prevent you from going ahead with the tenancy. If we go ahead and do the credit searches, once done, the credit search fees are not refundable either in whole or in part. If the searches prove to be unsatisfactory then we will be unable to go ahead with the tenancy. If they are satisfactory we will then ask you to pay a holding fee and arrangement fee by an agreed date. If you fail to pay the holding fee and arrangement fee by the date agreed then we will resume marketing the property.

Stage 2 - Holding Fee/Deposit & Arrangement Fee
Once a satisfactory credit search has been carried out you will be asked to pay a holding fee to secure the property plus an arrangement fee of £150 for flats or £199 for houses. The arrangement fee is per tenancy not per person. Deposits on average are £500 but vary from property to property. For smaller properties such as flats the deposit may be less and for larger properties it could be more. We will advise you of the amount of deposit required when you first enquire and before you view the property. If permission is given to keep a pet, then an additional pet deposit of £100 may also be requested. A date will be set for the tenancy commencement date, If you do not take up the tenancy on the date agreed or you decide not to go ahead with the tenancy at all, then an equivalent amount of rent which would have been payable to date will be deducted from the holding fee. The arrangement fee may also be forfeited either in full or part dependant upon the amount of work carried out by MCM at the time of cancellation.  If you decide not to proceed with a tenancy it is essential that you advise MCM immediately.

The arrangement fee includes employer and previous landlord references, Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements, comprehensive inventory with photographic evidence and an accompanied inventory check-in and meter readings. We do not make any additional charges for guarantor agreements.

Once the tenancy commences the holding fee will be registered as a deposit. Deposits for property managed by MCM are registered with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. Deposits for find a tenant only are registered with a deposit scheme of the landlord's choice. A registration certificate and full scheme particulars will be provided.

Stage 3 - Rental Payments
Rental payments are due either 4 weekly or calendar monthly strictly in advance. Your first payment will therefore be due immediately before or on, the commencement date of the tenancy. Subsequent monthly rental payments for property managed by MCM are also due in advance and are payable by standing order direct to MCM. For find a tenant only subsequent payments are payable in advance to the landlord. You will be provided with full details for your second and subsequent payments.

References
Dependant upon your circumstances, you will be asked to provide some or all of the following references:-
Previous landlord’s reference.
Employer’s reference/ proof of employment or self-employment.
Proof of other income such as savings, pension income or housing benefit entitlement when these will be used to pay your rent.
Previous mortgage lender’s reference if you are a previous home owner.
If you are not able to provide adequate references a guarantor with acceptable affordability will also be required.

ID & Proof of Address – required for all applicants
You will be asked to prove your identity and also where you live.
We need Primary ID such as a driving licence, passport, pension or benefits book or an Inland Revenue tax notification.
As well as – Proof of Current Address – such as a driving licence (if not already used as Primary ID), a recent mortgage statement or utility bill, pension or benefit book or a bank or and building society statement or passbook.

Bank Account
All rental applicants must have a Bank Account that facilitates payment by standing order.

Shorthold Assured Tenancy Agreements
Your initial tenancy term will be for a period of six months or 26 weeks. If a property is managed by MCM then there is no charge for subsequent tenancy renewals. If you require an initial fixed period for longer than 6 months please advise MCM as we will need to obtain the landlord's prior agreement. If the property is find a tenant only then we will advise you if the landlord wishes to charge you for tenancy renewals before you commit to the tenancy. You will have an opportunity to read the agreement beforehand. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact MCM. You will be asked to sign the agreements in readiness for the start date of the tenancy. Your signature must be witnessed by a person who knows you and who is over the age of 18 years and is not a direct relative.

Property Visits
There is no charge for property visits. MCM carry out property visits on all MCM managed rental properties twice a year. We will contact you to arrange a convenient time to visit the property. If the property is find a tenant only, your landlord will visit you during the tenancy giving prior notice at a mutually convenient time. Full details are given in the tenancy agreement.

Housing Benefit Applicants
Please contact the Housing Benefit Office for the area in which the property is situated to ascertain whether you are eligible for housing benefit assistance and to establish how much housing benefit you will be entitled to. Please ensure you will have sufficient affordability before applying for the property.

Pets, Children & Smoking
Please contact MCM to establish whether pets, children or smokers are permitted.
The landlord may request an additional pet deposit, usually £100.

Important Note:
MCM will not be able to issue you with keys to the property until all of the above criteria have been met and you have returned signed and witnessed contracts.

FEE Examples:-

John is a single applicant. He enquires about a one bedroom flat advertised at £325 per calendar month. He is employed and can provide references so a guarantor is not required. He has no pets. John is advised that should he view the flat and then decide to apply for a tenancy that the fees payable will be as below:-

Stage 1 - Credit Search - £35
Stage 2 - Arrangement Fee - £150 & Holding Fee £400
(The usual deposit is £500 but the landlord has agreed in this case to accept a lower deposit of £400)
Stage 3 - Rent of £325 payable in advance just before tenancy commencement or on the tenancy start date. The holding fee is then registered as the tenancy deposit.
Total to move in:- £910

Peter & Jane are joint applicants. They have two children and enquire about a three bedroom property advertised at £595 per calendar month. They have a dog. Tenancy fees would be:-

Stage 1 - Credit Searches £35 plus £10 = £45
Stage 2 - Arrangement Fee - £199 & Holding Fee £500 plus pet deposit £100
Stage 3 - Rent of £595 payable in advance just before tenancy commencement or on the tenancy start date. The holding fee and pet deposit is then registered as the tenancy deposit of £600
Total to move in:- £1439

MCM do not charge renewal or check out fees. No VAT is payable.

MCM will be adding details of the fees payable to all property particulars in the very near future. In the meantime please do not hesitate to contact us for a personalised quote giving details of the fees which will be applicable to any MCM property you have an interest in.