Our front of house office is open from 10am until 3pm Monday to Friday. Outside these hours are stictly by appointment only.
Who pays the utility bills?
You will be responsible for all utility bills from the day the tenancy starts (regardless of when you actually moved in). You should take meter readings at the start of your contract and advise the utility companies of your details. We recommend having a kitty or joint bills account and putting all the tenant names on every bank or utility account if you are sharing. This will allow all tenants to be able deal with the bank and utility companies rather than just one, making it easier to close the utility accounts at the end or if there are any supply issues during your tenancy.
Who pays Council Tax?
The tenant(s) is to pay all bills including Council Tax, however if you are a student in full time education you are usually exempt. You must obtain an exemption certificate from your University, in your first week and provide a copy to us and the council.
Can I put up a satelite dish?
You will need to get your Landlords consent and may have to take it down at the end of your contract and make good any damage.
Can we have broadband?
Some of our properties are already hardwired for the internet. However, you may have to provide a router and subscribe to your own internet service provider (ISP). Most service providers supply their own Modem/Router and it is this one that they support and provide technical advice on. Note you will need to have a working BT phone line for most ISP’s for which you may need to enable and pay the monthly line rental. If you hard wire your own broadband connection within the house you will need to do so neatly and without causing any trip hazards or damage to the fabric of the building. If you have a wireless router ensure you put a password in the hardware to prevent illegal access to your service.
Can I re-decorate my room?
No, we use professional decorators. If you re-decorate without telling us you may be charged for the room to be re-decorated at the end of your tenancy.
How do I report defects or advise you that the house needs repairing?
In writing (including email) or by telephone. We try our best to deal quickly and effectively with any repairs. Only advise the office, do not inform contractors as they will only act on our instruction.
Locks
Where security keys are fitted the tenant is not permitted to fit extra locks, chains or bolts. We will not fit locks to individual rooms.
Lost Keys
Due to security reasons we will change the locks when a key is lost, regardless of where it is lost. Security keys can be very expensive to change so we recommend adding key insurance to your contents insurance at the start.
Bins
The putting out and bringing in of your black and blue bin is the responsibility of the tenant(s). It must be put and returned as per council guide lines (see useful links). It must also be fully closed with no additional bags or boxes left around it as these will not be taken. We advise starting to clear out and throw away unwanted items at least 1 month prior to you vacating as the bins will only hold a finite amount of rubbish and in a large shared house it adds up. This will save your parents, probably, a trip to the tip at the end of the tenancy or save you rubbish removal costs out of your deposit. If your bin is lost or stolen see useful links – Veolia.
DPS - The deposit Protection Service
Tapton Estates will give all Full deposits given to us for all fixed term contracts signed with this office after April 6th 2007. For the full terms and conditions of the DPS use the link below and log in with your tenants Deposit ID and Repayment ID if you are the head/lead tenant or the Deposit ID and your surname if part of a joint deposit.
Parking Permits
Parking permits are becoming more and more common in Sheffield see useful links for the website address to find more details. You will need a copy of your contract to prove you live there.
I am a landlord; can Tapton Estates manage my property?
Yes, Tapton Estates offer a full management package to all landlords. We manage the property from advertising, contract signing, Deposit management and full maintenence of all aspects of the house. For further details send an email to our office on info@taptonestates.co.uk or pop in for a chat with our team.
