Let's Rent Coventry

Vetting tenants for your property

Coventry Council finds suitable tenants for available properties. We perform checks on housing history, immigration status, rent arrears and affordability before matching a tenant to a property.

The tenants that we match are currently homeless or at risk of homelessness. Most customers are in receipt of Universal Credit or Housing Benefit, which pay their rent either in full, or partly. Some tenants are employed or in education, so may not receive full benefits. These customers will pay the remaining amount of rent to the landlord directly each month. All bills and Council tax are the responsibility of the tenant.

Support for landlords

If any issues arise after a tenant has moved in, the council provides advice and assistance for landlords. Any rent or tenant queries can be directed to an Accommodation Officer on the Let’s Rent Scheme, who will be happy to help. Any concerns around anti-social behaviour or other criminal issues, must be directed to the police and not the council.

Property viewings

We arrange face-to-face viewings with the landlord and tenant, giving them a chance to meet. If landlords are not local, they can send a representative or employ a letting agency on their behalf. 

Responsibilities of the landlord

Let's Rent+

The management of the property is the sole responsibility of the landlord or their letting agent. This includes any repairs, damages or property maintenance. Wear and tear is not considered to be damage, so would not be covered. 

If any damage is caused by the tenant, we offer a ‘paper deposit’ to landlords worth five weeks’ rent. A paper deposit means the deposit will be paid at the end of the tenancy if damage has been accrued by the tenant. This is subject to evidence.

We offer a free initial inspection, however all subsequent inspections are the responsibility of the landlord. It may be worth considering completing inspections every quarter.

Let's Rent+ Managed

• Inspections - Every new tenant would have a first month settling in visit/inspection followed by subsequent quarterly inspections to include a check out; these would be written into the AST as part of the agreement, dates and times agreed in advance. Building relationships with tenants, meaning less risk for arrears, damage, and less cost to LRC
• Maintenance - Any maintenance issues would be reported to LRC – it would be pre-agreed with the landlord whether they want to use their own contractors or have repairs reported to them directly, LRC would be able to manage occupiers' expectations and log repairs.
• Rent – While we would not be taking on the rent accounts, we would continue to assist tenant and landlords with arrears.
• GSC/EPC/EICR/PAT testing reminders
• Tenancy matters - Manage day to day contact with the tenant and endeavour to resolve all routine matters arising during the tenancy
• Gas/Electric/Water/Council tax - We would manage transference of billing liability between tenant and utility company.
• Tenancy agreements - The managed scheme can offer an assured shorthold tenancy blank template; this would need to be signed by the landlord
• Inventory - We would arrange an inventory and schedule of condition of the property to be agreed by the landlord and tenant. Signed at check in and check out.