Our office is open from 10am until 3pm Monday to Friday. Outside these hours are stictly by appointment only.
Who pays the utility bills?
The tenant(s) are responsible for all utility bills from the day the tenancy starts (regardless of when you actually moved in), until the day the tenancy finishes (regardless of when you move out). You should take meter readings at the start of your tenancy and advise the utility companies of all named tenants details to allow everybody to share the liability and responsibility and aid the resolution of any issues that may arise and the efficient closing of the accounts at the end. We recommend having a kitty or joint bills account in the names of all the tenants if you are sharing and paying into it when you get your loans while you have some money. Any money at the end is a bonus or any shortfall minimal. Some properties provided by Tapton Estates do include some bills, if there are any bills included in your rent it is clearly stated in your contract.
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. If anybody in the house is not a student or loses their exemption due to finishing or dropping out then the whole house loses its exemption and council tax becomes payable. There may be discounts available so contact Sheffield City Council for advise.
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 have to pay to do so) 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/Insurance
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. Note if you are on a joint contract you are all jointly responsible for the house/flat therefore the "is your room lockable"? question from the insurance company is a yes as the whole house is your responsibility. Please check with your own insurance company directly prior to starting your tenancy for clarification.
Lost Keys
Due to security reasons we will change the locks when a key is lost, regardless of where it is lost. Security locks/keys can be very expensive to so we recommend adding key insurance to your contents insurance as a security lock change starts at £150.00.
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 deposits, when received in full to the government run 'Deposit Protection Service'. For the full terms and conditions of the DPS use the link below and log in with your 'Deposit ID and tenancy specific 'Repayment ID'. If you are not the Head Tenant you can still log in to see the status of your deposit by logging in with your name and Deposit ID.
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.
