Author: 5ms

Moving to Coventry? Relocating is a big change and getting to know the area you are moving to is key to help you settle back your daily life as quickly as possible. So whether you are looking after a rental property for a new job, interested in local travel or just want to know more about the city itself we will outline the basics of Coventry life.

 

Transport and travel

Travelling around a built-up city can be stressful, especially when you are new to the area. Building traffic and confusing directions can turn a simple journey into a nightmare, even travelling on foot can be difficult. But Luckily Coventry has multiple options to help you get around.

• Bus services – Coventry has an extensive bus service utilising multiple transport providers that are great for local stops. With Pool Meadow Bus Station located in Coventry City Center, just around the corner from the Coventry Transport Museum.
• Rail Network – If you find yourself needing to travel a little further than your local shops, then you can make use of the train network running through the City. Coventry Train station offers two customer car parks, quick access to Birmingham and only an hour ride to London.
• Taxis – If neither of the above options are appealing to you, then like all cities throughout the UK a range of taxi services are available on demand to get you where you need to go.

 

Working in Coventry

Looking for a new job or want to see if your current Company has a firm in Coventry? You should have no problem finding a job role that suits your needs.

• Job availability – The UK Powerhouse Study from 2017 found that the job market in Coventry is growing fast. With an increase of 1.2% of people in work during the third quarter of the year. A rise that is supported by the many successful companies located throughout Coventry
• Companies situated in Coventry – With such high employment rates, comes many hiring companies. Coventry boasts a large amount of well known organisations throughout the area. Including names such as Jaguar Land Rover, Severn Trent, Eon, The University of Warwick, Barclays and many more.

 

History and character

Brought to Coventry by your interest in its local areas and heritage? The history of the City is extensive, interesting and worth looking into. However there are a few defining factors that make themselves well known.

• Coventry History – Originally a Saxon Village, the City of Coventry was a rapidly growing settlement, with a much smaller population than it sees today.

• Industry – It first found footing within the wool dyeing industry. Later moving onto silk as the years rolled by and demands changed.

• World War II – Much of Coventry City Center was destroyed in World War 2, including St Michael’s Cathedral. However, it was later rebuilt into the City it is today.

 

Things to do

There is always something to do in the City, whether you are interested in long standing landmarks, aviation history or even landscaping and gardens.

• Coventry Cathedral – Also known as the The Cathedral Church of St Michael, is situated next to the ruins of its former medieval cathedral. Put out of use during World War II due to extensive damage from bombs, only the outer walls and spire remain.

• St Mary’s Guildhall – Taking you back in time with its gorgeous interiors and scenery. Once used as the Mayor’s headquarters, this building is now free for the public to roam.

• Midland Air Museum – Located in a hangar adjacent to Coventry Airport and kept open largely by volunteers, the Midland Air Museum offers a range of things for visitors to see and experience. Including books, photographs and the aircraft themselves.

 

Property within Coventry

Looking for a place to live within Coventry? Whether you are in need of a house, flat or other type of accommodation within this bustling City, you can find it here Coventry Rental properties.

 

So you’ve moved into your new rental property and got settled in, but now what? Will you need to stay in close contact with your landlord or estate agent, and what can they legally expect of you as a new tenant whilst you are living in their property? 

When you started your tenancy with Complete Residential Lettings you will have received a guide to being a tenant within the UK. This will give you all the information you need regarding moving forward in your new tenancy agreement. However, we have listed out the basics here so you can get a good idea of what life as a tenant will be like!

 

To live in a rental property you must adhere to certain guidelines. Not following these can result in your landlord making the decision to have you evicted from the property, regardless of the point you are at within your lease period. These guidelines are listed below.

What A Tenant Must Do:

• Pay rent, with no exceptions – Agreed rent must be paid even if there are repairs waiting to be fixed. You must also pay any other agreed fees on time, such as tax or household bills.
• Take care of the property – Doing so by not performing actions that will likely damage the property in any way. Also by paying for or repairing any damages caused by yourself or visitors during your tenancy.
• Allow your landlord access to the property when a repair or inspection is required and has been arranged – Allowing them to gain access to rectify the repair or do a routine inspection on the home.
• Not sublet the property – Unless an alternative agreement has been made and documented with your landlord.

When following these guidelines, you should run into no issues. However, following these rules is not the only thing you should keep in mind whilst renting. As well as having responsibilities within a rental property, you also have your own set of rights whilst living in one. These are as follows

A New Tenant Has The Right To: 

• Live in a safe environment – The property must be healthy to live in, with dangerous repairs and conditions sorted before tenancy is signed or in reasonable time whilst you are living in the property.
• Obtain a written agreement – Between you and your landlord if your fixed term tenancy is for longer than a period of three years.
• Live quietly – Without your landlord invading your home on a regular basis or unannounced.
• Challenge high charges – If an unreasonable change is made to your tenancy agreement or fees once it has been started or is about to be renewed you have the ability to question this and potentially get the increase reduced.
• Not be unfairly evicted – Your tenancy agreement will protect you from being evicted without valid reasoning. A valid reason would be you ignoring one of the guidelines listed above.
• Have your deposit returned – At the end of your tenancy agreement your landlord has to return your deposit to you. With them ideally entering it into a protection scheme at the start of your tenancy.

Complete Residential Lettings Verdict 

So is this the same when using a Letting Agency rather than going straight to the property owner?

When using an agency such as Complete Residential Lettings, your rights and responsibilities as a tenant remain the same, however you will not need the direct contact with your landlord that is mentioned above. We will be your number one contact for any issues and questions and will be the first place to contact to resolve repairs. For further information, please consult your ‘How to Rent Guide’ provided or get in contact with us for further rental advice.

 

Experiencing an issue in a rental property that needs to be repaired? Remember to always report repairs to your landlord! 

It’s a common issue, things go wrong and accidents happen, naturally, the next step is to contact your landlord.

Whether the damage was accidental or through circumstances out of your control, it is crucial that your landlord is contacted so they can get it solved for you. If covered by your rental agreement, the service will often be at their own expense rather than yours.

However, not informing your landlord could mean you are liable for damage further down the line.

We understand that getting hold of a busy landlord can be difficult at times, so all of our tenants that choose to use Complete Residential Lettings as their Letting Agent have an alternative way to report their repairs. Cutting out any time that would be spent calling their landlord. Our reporting service is quick, simple, and available online 24/7 so our tenants know their requests will be noticed and dealt with promptly.

How To Report Repairs To Your Landlord

Reporting a repair to us is easy and you can report absolutely anything within the property that you feel needs attention. Be sure to contact us if you have an issue with your water, gas, heating, fires, security, pests or even the appliances supplied by your landlord. As well as many other circumstances that can arise within your home. Our reporting system ensures that you give us all the information we need straight away, so there will be no need for us to chase you up for extra information on the issue. Leaving us free to get a quicker response for you.

So how does a Complete Residential Lettings tenant go about reporting an issue to us? Simply visit our quick and simple Reporting Tool then follow the quick steps below. 

• Select the option that best describes the type of issue you are having, whether it be with water, electrics or even fire.
• Tell us the location that the problem has appeared in. Any location indoors or outdoors within your property boundaries is available.
• Choose the option that specifies the exact issue you are experiencing.
• Use the text boxes below your selection to provide us with any extra key information that can help us get the appropriate repair arranged for you, with the previous selections completed there should not be too much to enter here.
• Please then provide us with any images of the issue that you can.
• Enter your property address and personal contact details below.
• Your form is now completed and ready to send!

When your form is completed, check it over and get it to us right away! We will get back to you as soon as possible with a solution for your repair.

 

Looking For Schools in Coventry? 

Once you’ve found your property to rent in Coventry, getting your children sorted into a school is the next big task. There are plenty of schools in Coventry, and we’ve done all we can to make your search a little easier. 

It can even change your decision on the exact location you choose within the city.  Everyone wants the best schooling experience for their kids, so take a look at the currently ranked best schools within Coventry and see if any are near you.

Below are the top 3 ranked schools in Coventry according to schoolguide.co.uk.

Bablake School

This school is an independent school residing within the CV1 postcode in Coventry.

With a bus route nearby, there is an accessible route if you live slightly further away than walking distance. The school at its last check offered education to 758 pupils aged between 11 and 19. Acting as a high school. Bablake holds the top ranking on schoolguide.co.uk due to achieving great scores within the ranking system they provide.

There are not many details available online as they are a private school, but GOV.co.uk ratings say that pupils steadily make good progress between the different learning stages and levels within the school. 

King Henry VIII School

King Henry VIII is an independent school that is located within the CV3 postcode. With a train station and a bus route nearby, the school is incredibly accessible from the surrounding areas as well as the immediate neighbourhood.

At its last check, the school taught 741 pupils aged 3 to 18 making it an education system for all ages. Holding second place in the schoolguide.co.uk rankings due to their great scores in the set ranking system. Similar to Bablake, this school has a specialised learning curriculum and is noted to nurture significant cognitive improvement for pupils between different learning stages.

Finham Park School

Unlike the other two on the list, Finham Park School is not an independent school residing with the CV3 postcode it has a bus route nearby. During its most recent check the school held 1480 pupils aged 11 to 18, making it the second high school on the list.

Gaining its ranking for its high standard of education according to School Guide UK’s standards. The government website states a 70% statistic for students achieving 5 GCSEs or more with 98% of pupils staying in further education or moving into employment after initial schooling ends. As well as this, they also hold the same ranking as the other top two schools for progress made by pupils between learning stages.

Another Top 5 ranking primary and high schools in Coventry. Not including the three schools already mentioned.

Top 5 primary schools in Coventry

1st Ranking – Christ the King Catholic Primary School – CV6 Postcode

2st Ranking – All Souls Catholic Primary School – CV5 Postcode

3rd Ranking – Moseley Primary School – CV6 Postcode

4th Ranking – St Osburg’s Catholic Primary School – CV1 Postcode

5th Ranking – Earlsdon Primary School – CV5 Postcode

 

Top 5 High Schools (After those shown above)

4th Ranking – Blue Coat Church of England School and Music College – CV1 Postcode

5th Ranking – Caludon Castle school Coventry – CV2 Postcode

6th Ranking – Bishop Ullathorne Catholic School Academy – CV3 Postcode

7th Ranking – President Kennedy School Academy – CV6 Postcode

8th Ranking – Cardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Arts and Community College – CV6 Postcode

If you are looking for any more information on the location you are moving to, be sure to speak to your Coventry Letting agent. They will be able to advise you on any queries you may have about the surrounding areas or amenities.

 

2019 provides a huge change in the way that rental properties are let out to tenants. With new legislation on the way, the fees you pay as a new tenant in a property will be largely affected. The new bill has greatly altered what your landlords and letting agents can ask of you. Introducing new caps and a more select group of approved charges, these changes are to become law.

So when does it come into effect? Sooner than you may think! June 1st 2019 is the official day where this bill becomes law. So you will be seeing the changes it makes to the letting process before you know it! All rental tenancies signed after this date are covered by this new legislation and Complete Residential Lettings are no exception to this. So what are you still required to pay?

Fees acquired on the tenants part

Any fees that would be created by the tenant will still be in effect. However there will be some changes to their enforcement.

Default fees – Charges triggered by the tenant will still be charged for. Things such as replacement keys, security devices and late rent fees are still chargeable. As these are out of the hands of the landlord or letting agent and the cost falls solely on the tenant. However each charge must be paired with evidence to prove the fee was needed and reasonable.

Tenancy Changes – Fees for tenancy agreement changes are also chargeable, when initiated by the tenant themselves. However these fees are now capped at a cost of £50, unless the landlord or letting agent can prove a higher cost to be necessary. Then they will be allowed to charge a higher amount, as long as it is proven a reasonable cost.

Basic renting fees

Standard renting fees are also still approved under the new bill. However each must be proven as a required fee.

Deposits – Refundable deposits used to hold a property are still legal. However every deposit will now have to be capped at a cost of one weeks rent, no more than this can be asked for. As well as the new cap, stricter rules will be put in place as to what happens with that deposit until an agreement is made.

Security / tenancy deposits – A deposit can still be asked for when required. But this has also gained a cap of its own. This deposit can now only be a maximum of five weeks rent of the property in question. This is unless the annual rent is £50,000 or above, in which case the maximum charge is six weeks worth of rent instead.

Other fees – Utility fees and council tax will still appear in your renting fees.

 

For many letting agents, compliance with the changes will not be far off from their current practices, however all are being pushed to review their guidelines to ensure they are up to standard. As an offence towards this legislation can lead to a £5,000 charge for the first time, with a much higher cost for repeat occurrences.

If you have any questions, be sure to speak to your letting agent or landlord as you get ready to begin a new tenancy agreement.

 

Many people spend their time striving to buy a house. Putting away every bit of money that they have over the years to hopefully one day land their dream home. But for many this is not the best option. Whether you just like to move around, or buying just isn’t a financially available option for you, owning a home may just not suit your lifestyle. Luckily, renting is a great alternative to owning a home. There are many benefits to renting a property as opposed to buying one. For some people those benefits make it more reasonable to rent than buy a property at all, but just what are the benefits of doing so?

Easier to move into and maintain

Whatever you decide to do, moving will likely be an expensive task. However, renting is by far the cheaper option when it comes to moving into a new property. For starters, the initial costs of renting are far lower than those for buying a property. There is no large down payment to get everything started and a lot less time and money spent sorting out extra fees and legalities for the long term payments that would be required for a mortgage. Instead, for renting there are a set of smaller fees that may need to be paid, initial renting deposits and the cost of movers but not much else. Making it much easier to swallow the cost. The ongoing payments aren’t too bad either. As you’ll be paying an agreed amount of rent, a payment which will be much lower than a monthly mortgage payment, leaving more money for you.

Lower maintenance costs

Another great benefit of renting is that the heavy weight of maintenance costs is off your shoulders. Whereas owners of a property are responsible for everything, renters are not required to pay for the fixes needed around the home. So when the boiler goes, the plumbing starts playing up or the roof gains some long term damage, you will not be expected to pay for the problem to be fixed. Instead, you can get in touch with your landlord or letting agents to arrange to sort the problem for you. As these kinds of maintenance costs and activities are generally down the landlord to get fixed, you should have no problem initiating this process. However be sure to check just what your tenancy agreement covers under damages and repairs. If you are letting through Complete Residential Lettings, we have an easy system where you can report a problem with your rental property.

Lower insurance costs

It is wise to always keep your home safe by taking out home insurance or renters insurance. As this protects your belongings inside the home in the case of fire, theft or any damage that may occur while in the property. This policy is personally arranged by the occupant of a property, but the costs of it do vary depending on whether you rent or own the property you are insuring. People buying a property will know that this can be a large expense to cover all belongings fully and effectively. However renters typically pay a much lower cost for renters insurance, as they are not the owner of the building they reside in. The cost of insurance is bearable as both a homeowner and a renter, however money will definitely be saved if you are renting your property.

Easier to move somewhere new

Nobody knows what is going to happen tomorrow, today you could love your home and tomorrow not so much. There are various reasons people decide to up and move home, including the requirement to downsize or upsize to accommodate their lifestyle, the need for a change of scenery or even a falling out with a roommate or partner and needing a new place to stay. If you can see any of these being a possibility in your future, then renting is definitely beneficial to you. As tenancy agreements tend to be short term, the ability to move sooner is always available to you. The process of leaving is much easier too, as you will not need to deal with real estate agents or spend time trying to sell your current property before you move on. Instead, simply give notice of your vacancy of the agreement ready for the end of the tenancy or alternatively speak to your landlord about finding a replacement for yourself sooner to keep the rental payments going and get you out quicker.

If these benefits have peaked your interest, then it may be time to switch your search to rental properties. Looking for somewhere to live in Coventry? Take a look at product listings within Coventry and see if there is a place you could see yourself living.

 

Are you looking to find a rental property that you would like to stay in long term? Finding something you love that meets all of your needs can be difficult. Especially when it also needs to be comfortable to live in and up to your standards before you move in.

Knowing exactly what you want makes the process of selecting a rental property easier, however before you commit there are a few things you should be checking out in your viewing, no matter how perfect it may seem from its listing.

Ensuring you aren’t hit with any hidden surprises further down the line.

Letting agents can help with any information you need, however there are a few key things you should always observe in a property viewing.

 

The surrounding area

Do you know the area the property is located in well? If not, it is worth getting a good look around at that too. Arrive at your viewing early to take a quick look around the area. Take a drive and see what is in the community, whether it has shops, schools or public transport near enough for you.

Or even if there is a local attraction that would cause extra noise or traffic in day to day life as well as anything else you would or wouldn’t like nearby. If required check if there is any parking included and see how accessible it is, whether it is far away from the property.

Essentially you want to ensure that the local area is a place you would like to be living in before setting your heart on a property. You can even ask your landlord or letting agent for their experienced take on the area.

 

The building itself

Once you start the viewing speak to your letting agent about the structure or the building, ask about any known about issues that may need fixing further down the line or before you move in.

Scout around for any damp on walls and noticeable cracks that could be expensive to solve. It is also good to take a look at the windows in the property to ensure they are installed correctly and open and lock as they should.

To make the space liveable, it is also good to ensure all plumbing and electrics are up to standard. Take a look for faulty sockets and run taps to check water pressure throughout the property.

Again, your letting agent should be able to help you with these queries. Any damaged items you see, note down as these may be things the landlord can get fixed before you move in.

 

Available space

Now you are assured that the building is structurally sound and operates as it should, could you see yourself living there? Are the rooms big enough to accommodate for your needs?

Check with the letting agent whether the furniture within the property is included, or if you will have to provide your own so that you can check if your existing furniture will fit in the required rooms.

Is there enough storage space in the property for the amount of tenants that will be occupying it and if not, is the landlord happy to let you install extra cupboards or shelving to accommodate.

Garden space is also notable for some people, check if there is enough room if you require the space for children or pets. First checking with your agent if you are allowed pets on the premises.

 

A second opinion

If you are sold on the rental property before your viewing it is a good idea to take someone with you, whether that be a partner, potential roommate or even a friend.

As they will be more likely to notice things you would not if you are already pleased with the property. Doing this also provides two sets of eyes and questions to get the relevant information from the viewing.

If after this you are still happy, get a second viewing of the property with your letting agent if they are happy to provide one, just to make sure you see it all the same a second time around. As things may not always be as you remember.

 

For any further questions you may have, you can speak to your letting agent about the information they already have on the property.

Complete Residential Lettings are experts in rentals for Coventry and can offer experiences advice about the area and value for cost. Be sure to ask everything you need to before discussing setting up a tenancy agreement and moving the process forward. 

 

Cheapest accommodation  in Coventry

Looking for somewhere to live in Coventry as a tenant that doesn’t require a huge budget? Whether you are a student looking for some affordable accommodation to share or just looking for a new home on a smaller budget, there is somewhere for everyone.

Not all landlords are asking for unattainable prices. Take a look at four of the cheapest places to live in Coventry as well as what each has to offer you.

CV1 is the place to entertain

This area of Coventry is around 1.96 square miles, with a population of over 30,000. Making it one of the smaller postcodes the city has to offer.

Although it does have one of the highest average rental prices, the space is split into 4 sections with housing spaced out within that varies in price.

With some of them offering very affordable rental prices. However the low prices do not mean you skimp out on things to do in the area. Within this postcode there are plenty of places to visit such as the Coventry Transport Museum, St Mary’s Guildhall and Escape Reality escape rooms. So whatever you enjoy doing, there is something to entertain everyone.

CV2 is the healthy place in Coventry

With a population of over 60000, the CV2 postcode is a well populated part of Coventry. The five sectors within it, much like CV1 vary in price. But it does offer some of the cheapest rental accommodation if you look in the right places.

The postcode includes the University Hospital within its boundaries as well as the Coventry Music museum. There are plenty of places to go shopping, with multiple towns and sets of high street stores. With amenities always close by, you will never be left too far away from anything you need.

Be connected with more cities CV3

Covering a huge 13.41 square miles, with a population of 60000, this postcode is one of the largest and not very crowded. A huge part of Coventry that has six different sectors within it.

The postcode as a whole sits between the boundaries of both the West Midlands and Warwickshire, offering easy access to many other large cities. Within the space you can find the Midland Air Museum, the Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve, the War Memorial Park and Electric Railway Museum.

Providing you with plenty of places to visit near to home when you have spare time.

CV6 is around 7.77 square miles in Coventry

A more modest part of the city, the CV6 postcode sits at around 7.77 square miles, with a huge 7 sectors within it. Offering some of the cheapest rental housing to be found in the city, it does have quite a high population of over 86500 people.

The boundaries hold with them Coventry, Hawkesbury, Keresley, Newlands and Neals Geen. Although this is a smaller part of Coventry, it is larger than postcodes such as CV1. The space is also home to the popular Ricoh Arena, where many events take place throughout the year.

There are plenty of places to live in Coventry that don’t require a high price tag. Renting can be affordable when looking at the right places. Remember to look around any area that you are interested in for more affordable estates that suit your needs. Find properties to rent in Coventry.

 

Let your money protected

Complete Residential Lettings are now a member of Client Money Protect. A client money protection service that ensures the safety of our clients money.

Any fees which are held by your property agent or professionals are covered and the scheme protects clients first and foremost.

The service makes it easy for our clients to make a claim, resolving any money problems or uncertainty between clients and letting agents. So you can be sure your money is in safe hands.

Dependable place to claim misplaced money

Client Money Protect offers a reliable place to claim lost money. There are a few requirements for the use of the service, but as long as we as a letting agent are a member, then all of our clients are protected. There is a three stage process to claiming lost money.

These are that there firstly must be money owed to the client, with proof. Secondly, the problem must have already been reported to the police.

Then thirdly, their claim form must then be completed to fulfil the claiming process. If you do put in a claim, and are found to be owed money, Client Money Protect will then reimburse you the lost funds.

Keep control your money

There are many benefits to our registration with the service. Mainly that money under our control or under our watch is completely secure. Simplifying the process of us handling landlord and tenant funds.

Client Money Protect also offer a legal helpline for advice, providing someone for clients to talk to if they are unsure about a problem.

There is no fee for our clients to join, as our membership covers them completely. It is purely a protection scheme that we have entered to protect you. So you don’t need to do anything to be covered by the scheme.

No stresses of losing money

This will have a positive impact on Complete Residential Lettings. Allowing us to now offer better protection for your money and a safer service when transferring fees.

Leaving you with no worries of losing out on money through misappropriation or other means. Paid fees with have extra protection by us offering a service where you are reimbursed for any unlikely misplaced funds.

Our membership with Client Money Protect purely protects our clients, not us. Ensuring that all liability is in the right place.

There you may interested more letting agents in Coventry with excited offer. Don’t forget to take advantages with money protection. Find the such properties in Coventry.