Renting

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We take good care of our tenants and they take good care of the properties they rent through Sims Williams.

Protecting the interests of tenants and landlords is our top priority and we are members of the government approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme and ARLA Propertymark.

The range of rental properties we manage covers everything from one bedroom flats in Chichester city centre, to sprawling six-bedroom manor houses in the West Sussex countryside.

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Finding your perfect rental property

We’ll spend time helping you decide what you need and want from your new rented home.

This includes working out what you can afford and identifying the best location in terms of your work and local schools to suit your lifestyle.

Thing to consider

  • Have you factored in moving costs and your deposit?
  • Do you have any pets moving in with you?
  • How long to do you plan to live in your new home?
  • Are you self-employed? If so, can you provide three years’ accounts
  • Can you provide references and proof of identity?
  • Will you need a guarantor?
Protecting your deposit and interests

At Sims Williams, we are committed to protecting the financial interests of our clients and are members of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme.

This means we’ll hold your deposit in a special, legally protected account for the duration of your tenancy.

The vast majority of our tenants have their full deposit returned at the end of a tenancy.

As members of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), we abide by the highest possible standards of tenant and landlord care, service and protection.

How does the tenancy application process work?

If you want to register with Sims Williams or have already seen a rental property you like, here’s how we’ll help you move into your new home.
We’ll arrange for you to visit your nearest Sims Williams lettings office (safely, of course), or arrange a telephone interview with a member of our team.
You will need to provide: –

  • Proof of Identity and Right to Rent – this could be a passport and visa if requested, or a birth certificate and driving licence
  • A utility bill from the last three months with your current address
  • References (if requested), from current and previous landlords
  • Information about your income and employment
  • Details of your credit history

Once you have met the above criteria and paid the Reservation Fee, you will be asked to complete and return an Application Form.

Once you have paid the Fee and your references have been accepted, we will agree a moving in date. This must be within 28 days of paying the initial reservation fee.

On the agreed moving date, you will be asked to pay the outstanding costs (including the deposit and first month’s rent) by bank transfer or debit card.

Your deposit will be moved to a separate bank account and your reservation fee will be used towards your first month’s rent.

Our Fees and Deposits

Moving in fees

Based on a property with a rental value of £700 per calendar month, here is what you would need to pay before you move in.

  • First month’s rent = £700
  • Deposit = £807 which is the equivalent of five weeks’ rent
  • Reservation fee = £161 which is the equivalent of one weeks’ rent. The reservation fee is paid when you take the property and is non-refundable if (i) you decide to withdraw at a later stage, (ii) you provide any false or misleading information or (iii) you fail the Right to Rent checks. If all goes well, this payment will be used towards the rent when your tenancy starts.

Default fees (including VAT)

  • To replace a lost key = £20.00
  • If you lose a security device, e.g. garage door remote control = The reasonable cost of replacing with the same
  • If you fail to pay rent on the due date (calculated after 14 days) = You rent payment will include an extra 3% above Bank of England rate
  • Amendments and changes to the initial tenancy agreement = £50.00
  • Court Fees = Will be charged at scale rate
  • Early Termination (Tenant’s Request) Should the tenant wish to leave their contract early, they shall be liable to the landlord’s costs in re-letting the property as well as all rent due under the tenancy until the start date of the replacement tenancy. These costs will be no more than the maximum amount of rent outstanding on the tenancy.

Why Sims Williams?

We are independent estate agents and we’ve been selling and renting property for 40 years. Our highly-experienced and qualified team have exceptional local knowledge and over 300 years of combined property experience. We provide a professional and friendly personal service alongside modern and traditional marketing techniques to get the very best for our customers.

98%

Over 98% of our customers would recommend us to their friends and family

98.3%

98.3% of our customers rated our service as better than other estate agents

40yrs

We’re independent local estate agents with 40 years experience

Our Lettings Team

David
Vawdrey

MARLA

Senior Branch Manager

01243 836055

About David…

David has extensive experience of the sales and lettings industry and worked in Surrey and Hampshire before coming to work in Sussex for Sims Williams. “Over the years, I have gained valuable experience in all aspects of estate agency, including start-ups and I am a qualified member of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA),” says David. In his spare time, David likes playing tennis and squash and has a wife and two daughters who are both at university.

Jo
Mallett

MARLA

Lettings Branch Manager

01243 836055

About Jo…

Having started working in the industry in 2008 for a corporate company as a file progressor and moving forward to a negotiator position I have worked in many aspects of the industry from valuing properties to dealing with maintenance issues. I joined Sims Williams in 2014 and thoroughly enjoy my role within the office from matching applicants to their ideal property or meeting Landlords to advise them on renting out their property to take them to the next stage in their life. I live by the sea which I love and during my spare time I partake in Pilates and am an avid baker.

About Nikki…

Having first started working in Estate Agency in 1984, Nikki now enjoys the day to day challenges presented in our Property Management centre, where she is responsible for the smooth management for our tenanted properties. Being the first point of call for many of our landlords, tenants and contractors, Nikki knows the importance of how good communication is key in keeping all parties informed. In her spare time Nikki enjoys time on the golf course and is a member of Cowdray Park Golf Club.

About Nicola…

When it comes to property management, there aren’t many people with as much experience as Nicola. Having started working in the Lettings business in 2001 in Felpham, Nicola has recently joined Sims Williams Lettings brings with her a wealth of experience. She takes great pride on the level of service she provides to Landlords and Tenants alike. Nicola takes a keen interest in the ever changing legislation relating to the lettings market and ensures that Landlords and Tenants are kept up to date. She lives in Chichester and as well as a passion for property, her hobbies include cycling and walking.

Pam
Bunting

MNAEA

Photographer/Marketing Consultant

01243 836055

About Pam…

After working for a firm of local solicitors in their conveyancing department, Pam joined the Sims Williams Walberton team in February 2000. Having lived locally for many years, Pam has a detailed knowledge and genuine fondness for the local area. Pam says, “Working as part of a great team, my role is diverse and interesting. We take the time to really get to know our customers and it’s great meeting so many interesting, friendly people.” Pam is involved in all aspects of the sales process, from photographing and measuring properties before they go on the market, to accompanying clients to viewings and negotiating the sale.

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What our clients say

AMAZING SERVICE

First time using their services amazing ! The whole process has gone really well.
Emmanuel - Tenant - Jan 14th, 2020

Swift Dealings

Good experience, swift response and support when I needed landlord to reconsider decision. Happy with the service would fully recommend.
Claire - Tenant - Apr 26th, 2021

Easy and stress free!

Needed to rent a property quickly after exchanging contracts on my sale. Viewed a property which I liked and the whole thing was done and dusted in just a few weeks after that. The application process was all done via email and was straightforward and well explained. I dealt with David Vawdrey who kept me in touch all the time and went through the signing process with me in the office. Overall what could have been a very stressful situation turned out to be very easy thanks to the lettings team. Highly recommended!
James - Tenant - Dec 2nd, 2021

Letting in Arundel

Very happy with the professionalism and attention to detail provided by Sims Chichester, particularly when dealing with the sensitive and complicated issues which sometimes arise in letting, both for landlord and tenant. Also welcome the speed with which problems have been resolved. An excellent service.
Daniel - Landlord - Aug 21st, 2023

BRILLIANT SERVICE

Would highly recommend Sims Williams. Recently moved into a rental property in Arundel with my other half. It's absolutely perfect for us. When things got a bit tricky financially, David was so helpful in pushing the move through. They were always happy to help whenever I called. Thanks so much!
Ricky - Tenant - Oct 8th, 2020

EFFICIENT, HELPFUL AND FRIENDLY

Thank you so much Jo for all your help with getting us into our flat. Jo was very professional from start to finish and made the rental process feel easy. We have nothing to fault and would definitely use Sims Williams again in the future with any rental or mortgage services.
Paige F - Tenant - Jul 10th, 2020

THANK YOU!

Can’t praise jo at Chichester branch enough, helpful, professional, knowledgeable. Reassured us throughout the whole process, moving is stressful but made easy Thank you
Penny - Tenant - 09.03.20 - Mar 9th, 2020

super efficient, speedy service

The whole process with seamless...
Nicola - Tenant - Sep 16th, 2022

Making dreams come true

Our experience with Sims Williams Letting Chichester has been phenomenal. Patient and efficient as well as understanding our personal needs and situation. Jo and the team have all assisted us to find a home. We are new to the UK and all our questions were answered and processes were explained. Everything went smoothly. Finding a home in the UK, we were told, would be really difficult and we were so worried... Sims Williams made it easy. Liaising with the landlord on our behalf and within a week we had a home. I am beyond impressed and highly recommend them. Thank you so much for making a rather stressful time in our lives that little bit easier.
Zita - Tenant - Jul 8th, 2023

Thank you to Sims Williams!

We love Sims Williams! As very happy tenants of a property in Arundel, we would like to pass on our thanks to Jo and team at Sims Williams Chichester. Jo is absolutely fab- making the rental process such a breeze and all steps a very relaxing experience. Thanks again! Marina and Edward x
Marina and Edward - Tenant - Jan 21st, 2023