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 need to complete these five easy steps to secure your accommodation.

  1. Complete your online Application Form and provide ID (due immediately to secure property)
  2. Pay your Holding Deposit (due immediately to secure property)
  3. Provide a Guarantor (guarantor’s application and agreement due within fourteen days)
  4. Sign your Contracts (to be signed within five days of receipt)
  5. Pay the remainder of your Deposit (due by 20th January)

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.

All required documentation, including ID and guarantor details, must be submitted within 14 days of paying the holding deposit. If any tenant fails to provide the necessary documentation within this timeframe, they forfeit the tenancy, the landlord may readvertise the property, and the holding deposit(s) will be non-refundable.

Step 1- Application Forms and IDs

Each tenant must complete the online application form and provide copies of their ID.

These are due immediately.

The application 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.

Photos of your ID (passport and student ID) must be attached to the application form. If you don’t have these to hand at the time, you must send photos of these to us via email (info@drakes.co.uk) within 24 hours. 

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

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 2 - Holding Deposits

Each tenant must pay a holding deposit, equivalent to one weeks rent.

These are due immediately.

All payments must be sent via bank transfer to the details below.

The holding deposit goes towards the total deposit due. The total deposit is equivalent to five weeks rent (excluding bills) per person. 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.

By paying the holding deposit, you confirm your intention to proceed with the tenancy and for the property to be reserved whilst pre-tenancy checks are completed and documents are collected. All tenants are required to provide the necessary documentation, including ID and guarantor documentation, within 14 calendar days of paying the holding deposit.

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 equivalent to one weeks rent (excluding bills) to secure the property.

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.

The total deposit is equivalent to five weeks rent (excluding bills) per person. The holding deposit goes towards the total deposit due, the remainder of the deposit is due by the 20th January.

Is the holding deposit refundable if we change our mind?

By paying the holding deposit, you confirm your intention to proceed with the tenancy and for the property to be reserved whilst pre-tenancy checks are completed and documents are collected.

All tenants are required to provide the necessary documentation, including ID and guarantor documentation, within 14 calendar days of paying the holding deposit. The Tenancy Agreement will be sent for your review and signature at the landlord’s earliest availability.

The holding deposit may be retained by the landlord or agent and will be non-refundable if:

  • Any tenant withdraws from the tenancy at any point, whether before or after the contracts are sent;
  • Any tenant fails to provide the required documents, including ID and guarantor documentation, within the 14-day period, allowing the landlord to readvertise the property;
  • Any tenant fails to sign the Tenancy Agreement;
  • Any tenant provides false or misleading information which materially affects their suitability to rent;
  • Any tenant fails a Right to Rent check; or
  • For joint tenancies, the holding deposit is paid for the property as a whole. This means if any one tenant fails to meet their obligations, the full holding deposit may be retained and will not be refunded.

The holding deposit will be refunded in full only if the landlord decides not to proceed with the tenancy for reasons unrelated to the tenants.

Step 3 - Guarantors / Alternatives

All tenants must provide Guarantors for their tenancy.

Each Guarantor must complete an application form and sign a Guarantor Agreement.

These are due within fourteen days.

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

Once the Guarantor has submitted their application, the Guarantor Agreement will be sent to them via email for digital signing. The Guarantor Agreement must be completed within fourteen days of securing the property, as we cannot send the Tenancy Agreement without these.

Click below to see the Guarantor requirements, the process involved with completing the guarantor documents, and alternative options if a tenant is unable to provide a suitable guarantor.

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 must complete an application form so we can verify their eligibility and sign a Guarantor Agreement, 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 using the following link: www.drakes.co.uk/guarantor-application/

On the application form, they will need to include their own details, as well as your name and the address of the property you are securing, 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 requirements.

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

Once the Guarantor has submitted their application and this is accepted, the Guarantor Agreement will be sent to them via email for digital signing.

The Guarantor Agreement must be completed within fourteen days of securing the property, as we are unable to issue the Tenancy Agreement until these have been returned.

If the Guarantor Agreement is not completed within the fourteen-day period, the property will be readvertised and the holding deposit will be non-refundable.

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

Guarantor Application Form
Guarantor Agreement

Once the guarantor has submitted their online application, it will be processed. If accepted, the Guarantor Agreement will be sent via email for digital signing.The agreement must be read carefully, completed in full, and digitally signed within fourteen days of securing the property.

The Guarantor Agreement is a legally binding contract. The guarantor must read and understand their legal obligations before signing and should also review a copy of the proposed Tenancy Agreement.

All requested information must be entered accurately. You will need to provide your guarantor with the property address and your full name so they can complete the agreement correctly. If you or your guarantor are unsure of any details, please contact us at info@drakes.co.uk or 0161 224 2134 for clarification.

If the Guarantor Agreement is not completed within fourteen days, the property will be re-advertised and the holding deposit will be non-refundable.

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 make alternative arrangements (for example, the options below). Please note that some options may not be available to all tenancies as it is at the landlord’s discretion to accept/allow this.

You must inform us of your decision via email, we will then provide you with more information and let you know if the landlord agrees. 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
  • 1st August – 30th March – pay monthly 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 4 - Contracts

The contracts will be sent to you via email using PropertyFile.

These must be signed within five days of receipt. 

The Tenancy and/or Bills Agreements will be sent to you via email, 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 would be non-refundable.

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). Drake & Co are a lettings agency, we act as Agent on behalf of the Landlord.

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 usually include utilities. If your utilities will be managed by Bills Paid Ltd, there will be a separate Bills Agreement. In the event that your landlord manages the utilities, the tenancy agreement will explain and include this.

Click Here to see an Example Tenancy Agreement

Bills Paid Ltd Bills Agreement

The Bills Paid Ltd 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’s Inclusive Bills Agreement is a separate contract to the Tenancy Agreement, but it would be sent to you via email using Docusign at the same time so these can be signed together easily.

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.

The total deposit is equivalent to five weeks rent (excluding bills) per person.

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 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 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. The deposit is equivalent to five weeks rent (excluding bills) per person. 

You will 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.

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.

Is my deposit protected and will I get this back?

Once you have paid your deposit, this will be protected by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS).

Deposits are fully refundable, subject to any damages, arrears and/or the cleanliness of the house at the end of your tenancy.

Useful Information and

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How is rent calculated and when is rent due?

Payments are due in full, on or before the dates stated in your contracts.

July rent is due by 20th June, then rent is due on or before 1st each month starting 1st August.

We also offer a termly payment plan for those wishing to pay in instalments using their student loans. More information about the termly payment schedule can be found here.

Payments are calculated per calendar month (pcm) – NOT on a four week basis.

If you are unsure how monthly rent is calculated, follow the steps below.

Remember: All of the example calculations shown below are for illustration purposes only. Tenants must replace the figures used with the correct weekly rent/bills for the property you are securing. You will receive an email explaining your payment amounts, refer back to this if you are unsure.

 

Step 1 – work out your rent excluding bills

Weekly rent excluding bills x Weeks in the year ÷ Months in the year = Monthly rent excluding bills

EXAMPLE: £123 x 52 ÷ 12 = £533

 

Step 2 – work out your bills payment

Weekly bills x Weeks in the year ÷ Months in the year = Monthly bills payment

EXAMPLE: £26.00 x 52 ÷ 12 = £112.66

 

Step 3 – add the rent and bills amounts together

EXAMPLE TOTAL: £533.00 + £112.66 = £645.66 per calendar month (rent including bills)

Your rent and bills are due together, as one payment each month, so you will need to send the total monthly payment to Drake & Co using the account details provided (the same as deposit payment details).

When can I collect keys and will the property be cleaned?

Keys can be collected from 2pm on the tenancy start date. Keys cannot be released to any tenant if there are outstanding payments or documents. 

The current tenancy is due to end on the 30th June (which may be only 24 hours prior). Staff will work through our inspections as quickly as possible and if we deem that the property needs cleaning, this will be booked in and completed in order of priority. We cannot guarantee that the property will be cleaned prior to your key collection. More information about the moving-in procedures will be sent in the lead up to the start of the tenancy, check your emails regularly for any updates about this.

Do we have access over the summer and is there any half rent?

All tenants can access the property from the tenancy start date. You can live in the property over the summer if you wish, but of course this is up to you.

Rent is usually due in full throughout the tenancy. There is no half rent offered over the summer, regardless of whether you opt against moving into the property at the beginning of your tenancy.

There may be the odd exception to this, in which case it would’ve been discussed with you during the viewing process and/or confirmed within our email correspondence about the tenancy details.

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 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 fell 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.

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 protected by the Tenancy Deposit 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.

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.

See more information about the contracts above.

Can we view the house again?

Unfortunately, due to the busy time of year, staff are usually fully booked conducting viewings, and it is likely that we will be unable to repeat a viewing for quite some time. It is imperative that as many tenants attend the original viewing as possible, as per our viewing terms and conditions.

Once the property is secured, the advert will be removed from our website so that other groups can’t view this.

We are able to provide images and video viewings of the property if this would be useful to you, please contact us via email (info@drakes.co.uk) to request this. 

What is included with the property?

The specific items included will vary depending on which property you have chosen. Generally speaking, the following items are usually included:

Communal areas: sofa(s), oven and hob, fridge/freezer, microwave, hoover/vacuum, washing machine or washer-dryer, tumble dryer (if applicable), dishwasher (if applicable), carbon monoxide detector, fire extinguisher/blanket (if applicable).

Each bedroom will include: bed base and mattress, a wardrobe/closet, chest of drawers (or built in drawers), desk and desk chair.

Bed sizes are most commonly standard double or small double (both of which take double sheets).

Additional furniture such as a coffee table, dining table, chairs, a TV, mirrors, shelves etc, may be included depending on the landlord/property. 

Please bear in mind that as people are currently living in the property, there may be items within the property during the viewing that belong to the current occupants.

The landlord DOES NOT provide smaller household accessories/appliances such as: kettles, toasters, cleaning products, utensils (e.g. cutlery, pots and pans), bedding, hoover bags, iron/ironing board.

Who is the landlord of the property?

The landlord will differ depending on which property you have secured. Please be reminded that Drake & Co do not own the property. 

Drake & Co are employed by the landlord to manage the property on their behalf. Staff at Drake & Co are letting agents, we secure tenancies, arrange maintenance, collect rents etc, although we usually require authorisation from the property owner beforehand.

Tenants will communicate with Drake & Co throughout your tenancy, and we act as liaison between tenant and landlord. If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach us via email (info@drakes.co.uk), telephone (0161 224 2134), or you can visit our office (Drake & Co, 161a Dickenson Road, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5HZ). 

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.