Once you have emailed us to confirm which property you wish to secure, you will receive an email from us with all of the tenancy information.

Each of you will then need to complete these six easy steps to secure your accommodation.

  1. Complete your online Application Form
  2. Pay your Holding Deposit
  3. Submit your ID
  4. Provide a Guarantor
  5. Sign your Contracts
  6. Pay the remainder of your Deposit

Remember: The application forms and holding deposits are needed urgently to secure the property. We work on a first come first served basis, therefore the first group to complete these will secure the property.

Step 1- Application Forms

Each tenant must complete the online application form. These are due immediately.

This can be found on our website (Click Here) and can be done on your mobile/laptop.

Please read the information on the application and ensure that you fill this in correctly. Include your full, legal name. Make sure that the contact details are correct and let us know if these change at any time.

Step 2 - Holding Deposits

Each tenant must pay a holding deposit. These are due immediately to secure the property.

Please refer to our email correspndence which will confirm the amount due. All payments must be sent via bank transfer to the details below.

The holding deposit goes towards the total deposit due. The remainder of the deposit is due by the 20th January, although you are welcome to pay this earlier if you wish. Remember, as you will have already paid a portion of the deposit via the holding deposit, you’ll only have to pay the outstanding balance in January.

Payment Details - How do I make the payment?

All payments must be sent via bank transfer to the account details below. Include the property address in the reference so we can identify the payment.

Drake’s UK Bank Account Details: 

Account Type: Business

Account Name: Drake & Co Estate Agents Ltd 

Account Number: 43015858 

Sort Code: 20-01-96

Drake’s International Bank Account Details:

Account Name: Drake & Co Estate Agents Ltd

SWIFTBIC- BARCGB22

IBAN GB25 BARC 2001 9643 0158 58

Payment References: So that we can identify the payment, you must include the property address (door number and the street/road initials) within the reference. For example: 123 Alphabet Street would need 123AS as a reference – Please remember that this is purely an example and this is not the property you are securing! For your payment references, you will need to use the address of the property you are wishing to secure.

International Payments: When sending international payments, please bear in mind exchange rates and any transfer fees that may apply. You may wish to look into using a company like Wise or Revolut, as this may save you time and could be cheaper.

Paying on behalf of others

Holding deposits can be paid by each tenant individually, or tenants can pay on behalf of others too.

If you are sending a payment on behalf of somebody else, please email us to tell us how much you are paying on behalf of which tenants.

How much is the deposit?

Deposit amounts vary for each property.

Each tenant must pay a holding deposit to secure the property. The holding deposit goes towards the total deposit due, the remainder of the deposit is due by the 20th January.

You should have received an email which included all of the tenancy information and payment amounts, please keep the email safe as you will need to refer back to it. If you are unable to find this email or are unsure of the amount you need to pay, please contact us on 0161 224 2134, or via email info@drakes.co.uk.

Is the holding deposit refundable if we change our mind?

The holding deposit will reserve the property for a period of five working days, unless it is mutually agreed in writing to extend this period. After this period, if the tenants have failed to complete the relevant steps, we will begin re-advertising the property and the holding deposit would be non-refundable.

The holding deposit would be non-refundable in the event that:

  • The tenant(s) decides not to enter into the agreement, or fails to take all reasonable steps to enter into the tenancy before the deadline for the agreement.
  • The tenant(s) provides false or misleading information, which the landlord or letting agent is reasonably entitled to rely on in deciding whether to grant the tenancy because this materially affects their suitability to rent the property.

The holding deposit would be refundable in the event that:

  • The landlord decides not to enter into the agreement due to no fault of the tenants.

Step 3 - Tenant IDs

Each tenant must provide copies of their ID. These are due immediately.

If you did not attach your IDs to your application form, you must send photos of your documents to us via email (info@drakes.co.uk).

Click below to see the requirements for each document. All of the documentation below is mandatory. If you fail to provide this, we may be unable to continue with your tenancy/application and holding deposits would be lost.

Student ID

Each tenant must provide a photo of their student ID to evidence your student status. A photo of this must be sent to us via email. You must ensure your name and the student ID number are visible.

If you have already included a photo of your student ID within your application form, you do not need to re-send this.

If you do not currently have a student ID card, please send alternative evidence of your student status, for example, a screenshot of your online Uni ID which includes your student number, or a university offer/acceptance letter.

If you will not be a student during the tenancy, you must notify us via email.

Passports

Each tenant must provide us with a copy of their passport as proof of identity.

Please send a photo of your passport via email. The image must show the whole document including your passport photo, all of your details (name, date of birth etc), as well as the the signature section (circled in red on the example images).

If you do not have a passport, you will need to provide two alternative documents (e.g. birth certificate, driving licence).

Right to Rent

If you are a British or Irish citizen, your passport (current or expired) can be used as evidence of your right to rent in the UK and you won’t need to provide any additional documentation unless we request this from you directly. If you don’t have a passport, please provide two alternative documents from the link below.

If you are not a British or Irish citizen, you must provide us with a photo of your passport, as well as the documents to confirm your permission to rent in the UK. The easiest way to prove your Right to Rent is to provide us with your Right to Rent Sharecode.

Click here for further information about the Right to Rent documents we can accept.

When sending photos of the passport/documents, please ensure that the images are clear and show the whole document.

Name Changes (if applicable)

If you have legally changed your name and your ID has not yet been updated to reflect this, please send us evidence of the legal name change alongside your ID (e.g. deed poll).

If you have not changed your name legally, but have a different preferred name, please let us know too so we can make a note of this on our records. The contracts will need to be in your legal name, but we can include your preferred name on your account.

Step 4 - Guarantors / Alternatives

Each tenant must be able to provide a Guarantor for their tenancy, or agree to one of the alternative guarantee options.

Your Guarantor must complete an application form. These are due immediately.

Please send the following link to your Guarantor, so that they can complete this: www.drakes.co.uk/guarantor-application/

Once the Guarantor has submitted their application, they will receive an automated email response which includes the Deed of Guarantee. They must print, read and sign the document, then post this back to our office no later than the 20th January 2025.

Click below to see the Guarantor requirements, the process involved with completing the guarantor documents, and alternative options.

What and who is a Guarantor, and what are the requirements?

Each tenant will be required to provide a Guarantor for their tenancy. A Guarantor is somebody that agrees to pay your rent (or any other payment relating to the tenancy) if you fail to do so.

The Guarantor will need to sign and return the Deed of Guarantee, which is a legally binding document.

You can choose who you want to stand as your Guarantor, most commonly parents or guardians. However, there are certain requirements that each Guarantor must meet:

All Guarantors must be UK residents, over the age of 21 and have sufficient income to cover the payments relating to the tenancy.

The Channel Islands are not a part of the UK. As such, we cannot accept a Guarantor that resides in Jersey, Guernsey and/or the Isle of Man.

The Guarantor must be able to complete the relevant documentation and provide us with copies of their IDs to accompany this.

Guarantor Application and IDs

You must arrange for your Guarantor to complete their online application form immediately. The application form can be found on our website and the link below – please send this link to them.

Guarantor Application Form: www.drakes.co.uk/guarantor-application/

On the application form, they will need to include your name and the address of the property you are securing, as well as their own details, so be sure to give this information to them.

They will need to attach images of their IDs when completing the application. The ID(s) must show the Guarantor’s details listed below. Two forms of ID can be sent if necessary (e.g. passport and utility bill dated within the last three months), however a valid driving licence meets all reqiurements.

  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Signature
  • Proof of current UK address

Once the Guarantor has submitted their application, they will receive an automated email response which includes the Deed of Guarantee. They must print, read and sign the document, then post this back to our office no later than the 20th January 2025.

REMEMBER: All Guarantors must be UK residents, over the age of 21 and have sufficient income to cover the payments.

Deed of Guarantee

Once the Guarantor has submitted their application, they will receive an automated email response which includes the Deed of Guarantee. They must print, read and sign the document, then return this to our office no later than the 20th January 2025

We are unable to accept photocopies, scans or digitally signed Guarantees. We require the original, printed and hand signed document with the wet-ink signature. The document must be posted to our office address (below), or it can be returned in person.

Office Address: Drake & Co Estate Agents, 161a Dickenson Road, Rusholme, Manchester, M14 5HZ.

If the Guarantor is struggling to print the document, they can attend our office to collect one from us, or they may be able to visit a local library to print the document.

The Deed of Guarantee is a legally binding contract. The Guarantor must read the document carefully and understand their legal obligations before signing. Guarantors should also read a copy of the proposed Tenancy Agreement before signing the Guarantee. 

All of the requested details must be filled in correctly. You will need to provide the Guarantor with some infromation (e.g. the address of the property you wish to secure) for them to be able to complete the document. If you or the Guarantor are unsure of any of the details, please contact us and/or refer to our email correspondence for clarification (info@drakes.co.uk / 0161 224 2134).

The Guarantor’s signing of the document must be witnessed by a third party (e.g. friend/ family member/ neighbour/ colleague) and the witness must also sign the agreement in the relevant section. The Tenants and/or Guarantor cannot act as a witness.

What if I cannot provide a UK Guarantor?

If you are unable to provide a UK Guarantor over the age of 21, you will need to choose one of the following options. You must inform us of your decision via email, we will then provide you with more information. The deadline for confirming this decision is the 20th January.

Paying Rent in Advance

Your rent would need to be paid a minimum of three months in advance. You pay three months’ rent at the beginning of your tenancy, alongside your first month’s rent (totalling four months), then you would continue paying your monthly rent as usual. The three months that you paid in advance must remain on your account throughout the tenancy and will be used to cover the last three months (April, May and June). See the payment plan below and contact us for more information. You must inform us via email if you are planning to pay rent in advance as an alternative to providing a Guarantor.

  • 20th June – pay your July rent, plus 3 months in advance
  • Each following month – pay monthly rent as usual. 
  • 1st April – 30th June – covered by the three months you paid in advance at the start of your tenancy.

Company Guarantors

You can arrange for a company to stand as your Guarantor. There are various companies that offer a Guarantor service for different prices. You would need to look into this and find the best company for you, many offer a free quote online. Once you have found a company and they have accepted your application, they would need to complete a Guarantor Agreement on your behalf and submit this to us by the 20th January. 

We recognise the following companies, although there are many others you can use: Housing Hand and Rent Guarantor.

               

Step 5 - Contracts

The contracts will be sent to you using Docusign. These must be signed within five days of receipt. 

The Tenancy and/or Bills Agreements will be sent to you and your housemates via email using Docusign, these can be read and signed on your mobile/laptop. 

Please check your emails regularly and action these as soon as you receive them. Failure to complete the agreements within five days can result in the property being re-advertised and holding deposits being lost.

Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions relating to either agreement (0161 224 2134, info@drakes.co.uk).

Tenancy Agreement

All Tenancy Agreements are Joint and Several.
The Tenancy Agreement is a contract between Tenant (you) and Landlord (the property owner). Your landlord’s contact details can be found within the contract and you will need to use these to communicate with the landlord directly throughout your tenancy, as Drake & Co do not manage this property.

The rent stated on the Tenancy Agreement is the monthly rent for the whole group, this amount is divided by the number of tenants living in the property.
The rent amount stated on the Tenancy Agreement does not include utilities. The utility payments are listed on the Bills Agreement, which will be sent alongside the Tenancy Agreement.

Click Here to see an Example Tenancy Agreement – This may differ slightly to your agreement as we don’t manage your property.

Bills Agreement

The Inclusive Bills Agreement is a contract between Tenant (you) and Bills Paid Ltd (the bills management company). Drake & Co act as Agent on behalf of Bills Paid.

Bills Paid Ltd are a bills management company who offer an Inclusive Bills Package at £26 per person per week (for 3+ bedroom properties) and £33pppw (for 2 bedroom properties). This covers: gas, electricity, water, broadband and a TV Licence. Tenants are subject to a Fair Usage Policy throughout the contract. More information can be found on their website: www.bills-paid.co.uk.

Click Here to see an Example Bills Agreement

Step 6 - Remainder of Deposit

The remainder of the deposit is due by 20th January.

Remember, you will have already paid a holding deposit to secure the property. The holding deposit goes towards your total deposit due, this means that you only need to pay the remaining balance by the 20th January. You are welcome to pay this earlier if you wish. 

All deposit payments must be sent via bank transfer to the details below (the same details that the holding deposit was sent to).

Payment Details - How do I make the payment?

All deposit payments must be sent via bank transfer to the account details below. Include the property address in the reference so we can identify the payment.

Drake’s UK Bank Account Details: 

Account Type: Business

Account Name: Drake & Co Estate Agents Ltd 

Account Number: 43015858 

Sort Code: 20-01-96

Drake’s International Bank Account Details:

Account Name: Drake & Co Estate Agents Ltd

SWIFTBIC- BARCGB22

IBAN GB25 BARC 2001 9643 0158 58

Payment References: So that we can identify the payment, you must include the property address (door number and the street/road initials) within the reference. For example: 123 Alphabet Street would need 123AS as a reference – Please remember that this is purely an example and this is not the property you are securing! For your payment references, you will need to use the address of the property you are wishing to secure.

International Payments: When sending international payments, please bear in mind exchange rates and any transfer fees that may apply. You may wish to look into using a company like Wise or Revolut, as this may save you time and could be cheaper.

When and why is the deposit required?

A deposit is required to protect the landlord from financial losses if a tenant damages the property or doesn’t comply with the terms of their contract.

Most landlords and agents require the deposit to be paid in full within 14-30 days after securing the property. Here at Drake & Co, we understand that tenants may need some more time to gather the funds, therefore we allow tenants until the 20th January to pay the remainder of the deposit.

You are welcome to send payments early if you wish. 

How much is the deposit?

Deposit amounts vary for each property.

Each tenant must pay a holding deposit to secure the property. The holding deposit goes towards the total deposit due, the remainder of the deposit is due by the 20th January.

You should have received an email which included all of the tenancy information and payment amounts, please keep the email safe as you will need to refer back to it. If you are unable to find this email or are unsure of the amount you need to pay, please contact us on 0161 224 2134, or via email info@drakes.co.uk.

Is my deposit protected and will I get this back?

Once you have paid your deposit, Drake & Co forward the payment over to your landlord and they will register this with their chosen government backed deposit protection scheme (TDS, DPS, myDeposits etc). You will receive a copy of the deposit protection certificate in due course. 

Deposits are fully refundable, subject to any damages, arrears and/or the cleanliness of the house at the end of your tenancy. Your landlord will be responsible for returning your deposit to you dircetly at the end of your tenancy.

Useful Information and

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How is rent calculated and when is rent due?

Rent is usually calculated per calendar month – not on a four week basis. 

Your initial rent payment is due on or before the 20th June, rent is then due on or before the 1st of each month following. 

Please see our email correspodnence and your Tenancy Agreement for full details about the rent payments due, which will be specific to your tenancy.

What if we change our mind or somebody drops out?

If you and/or your housemates no longer wish to continue with your application to secure the property, you must let us know immediately, please email us using info@drakes.co.uk.

If only one person no longer wants to proceed with the tenancy, the remainder of the group are welcome to continue with the application to secure the property. You would need to let us know about this as soon as possible. The group would be allowed some time to find another person to join the tenancy, the deadline for this would be confirmed by staff once you have contacted us to discuss the next steps involved in this process.

Please be reminded that holding deposits would be non-refundable if the tenant/s chooses not to enter into the agreement. If the Tenancy Agreement has already been completed, releasing you from this would be at the landlord’s discretion and there may be additional charges involved.

Does the deposit come off the rent?

The deposit is not used towards the rent. The rent for the property is a separate payment to the security deposit and has a different purpose.

The rent is the payment agreed between landlord and tenant for you to rent the property from them. 

The deposit is required to protect the landlord from financial losses if a tenant damages the property or doesn’t comply with the terms of their contract. The deposit is held by the landlord or their deposit protection scheme throughout the duration of the contract, and is fully refundable, subject to any damages, arrears and/or the cleanliness of the house at the end of your tenancy.

Does each person have to provide a guarantor?

Yes, each tenant will be required to provide their own guarantor for the tenancy who we would contact if that tenant falls into arrears, or agree to one of the alternative options.

Please see the Guarantors section above, which provides detailed information and advice about the Guarantor requirements. 

What if I can't provide a UK Guarantor?

Please see the Guarantors section above, which provides detailed information and advice about the Guarantor requirements, as well as alternative options available if you are unable to provide a Guarantor.

Is it an individual or joint tenancy agreement?

All tenants will sign a Joint Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement. This means that you are all joint and severally liable for the property and any payments due.

We are unable to offer individual agreements as this is not standard practice.

Who is the landlord of the property?

The landlord will differ depending on which property you have secured. You can find the details for your landlord within your Tenancy Agreement. 

Drake & Co do not own or manage your property, we are employed by the landlord to collect deposits and documentation on their behalf, we then forward all of these over to the landlord. The landlord manages the property themselves throughout the duration of your tenancy. You will need to communicate with your landlord directly using the details within the tenancy agreement. 

Is the bills package capped?

The Inclusive Bills Package is subject to a fair and acceptable usage allowance. The allowance is designed to be generous and if tenants are responsible with their energy usage, you are unlikely to exceed this. The allowance only applies to your energy and water usage. For full information about the bills package and allowance, see the example bills agreement included above.