Renting Properties to International Students | By Dr. Emmanuel Eni Amadi (MBA, PhD)
DETAILS REQUIRED OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OR RESIDENTS OVERSEAS
As a private Landlord in the United Kingdom, renting UK properties to international students or families living overseas, but planning to move to the UK for studies or work could be very complex, especially if the potential students or families are still domiciled in their home countries while attempting to secure a family home in the UK before their arrival.
Landlords must have a clear understanding of the UK legal requirements before renting out their properties. It is on this note that this page is dedicated to explaining the journey, and insight from making inquiries from their home countries Overseas or within the UK to actually signing the contract, and finally having the keys to their desired rental accommodation.
At Amadi Global Properties LTD, before we can proceed further to help and enter any business relationships, as a LEGAL REQUIREMENT, we would need to sight the following details /documents from you:
The Main Tenant (International Student):
Proof of Right-to-Study and The Right to Live in the UK:
We would require a copy of the “Unconditional Offer Letter” from the UK University, confirming your course registration, and the commencement date.
We would thereafter contact the university directly to authenticate the letter.
Proof of studies dated within the last 3 months - if already studying in the UK.
A valid passport in date. Unfortunately, we need to sight the original government-issued document or the copy of a certified passport as a true copy by a notary public) by 28 days before the tenancy start date. This is a UK legal Requirement, Right-to-Rent.
It is our responsibility to this document is genuine.
We will then record the date we carried out this legal check.
A valid in-date visa issued by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), part of the Home Office. Unfortunately, we need to sight the original Home Office-issued visa 28 days before the tenancy start date. This is a UK Legal Requirement, Right-to-Rent.
It is our responsibility to this document is genuine.
We will then record the date we carried out this legal check.
Your three months' most recent UK bank statements - that show where you pay your rent.
Proof of address in your home country - which much be dated within the past 3 months
Proof of address in the UK - which much be dated within the past 3 months.
In addition to supplying the above documentation, we may require a full 12 months' rent in advance, including the deposit.
This must be paid from a UK bank account.
When this happens, we would follow the UK Anti-Money Laundering (AML) procedures for due diligence checks (DDC) (please visit https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/692/contents/made).
2. Details of a UK Guarantor.
Your choice of a UK guarantor should be someone you trust. Someone who is "willing", without being pressured or “under duress” to offer you some kind of favour simply because of your family relationships with them. By law, these guarantors will sign to state that they will pay the rent if the tenant, isn’t able to pay. They will also have to pay for any damage/s to the property.
If the guarantor doesn’t cover the outstanding rent or damage costs, we could take them to court. Just as we would ask you to apply for your credit check, through the credit check agency |Checkmyfile website: https://www.checkmyfile.com/checkout.htm, we would also ask your guarantor to apply for their credit check and send us their report within 24 hours. This is to check that your guarantor is able to pay the rent.
It is a legal requirement that the “Guarantee Agreement” must be carried out formally in writing
Here are the pieces of evidence we would need from your guarantor - who is either a UK citizen or an ordinary Resident with Indefinite Leave to Stay.
Proof of Identity:
A copy of their British Passport.
A copy of their UK Driving License.
Proof of homeownership:
Either mortgage statements or mortgage deeds.
Proof of Address:
e.g. Energy bills, council tax, a Letter from their GP, etc must be dated within three months of the tenancy start date. It must show an issue date.
Proof of income:
3 months’ UK bank statements (the most recent)– from the bank account that shows where they pay their mortgage and where their pay goes (if applicable).
3 months' payslips in the UK:
they must be the most recent ones.
If they have only just started their job/or only have 1 or 2 pay slips they will need to provide their employment contract signed by both them and their employer).
Written by,
Dr. Emmanuel Eni Amadi (MBA, PhD)
Founder & CEO - Amadi Global Leadership Academy.
Founder & CEO - Amadi Global Properties LTD
Founder & CEO - Emotional Rulershipp With Impact Blueprint.
