Rent Protection policy

This Rent Protection Policy outlines the circumstances under which lettingaproperty.com will make rent protection payments to landlords in the event of rent arrears.

Effective Date: 23 April 2025
Applies To: Landlords on Rent Assured and Complete Care plans

1. Policy Purpose

This Rent Protection Policy outlines the circumstances under which lettingaproperty.com will make rent protection payments to landlords in the event of rent arrears. This is a direct benefit offered under the Rent Assured and Complete Care plans and is not an insurance policy.

2. Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for rent protection, the following conditions must be met:

• The property must be let under a fixed-term assured shorthold tenancy agreement of at least 12 months.

• The tenancy deposit must be protected by lettingaproperty.com.

• The tenant must not have paid rent directly to the landlord.

• There must be no unresolved maintenance or repair issues causing the rent arrears.

• The landlord must not enter any payment arrangement with the tenant without prior written consent from lettingaproperty.com.

• The landlord must authorise lettingaproperty.com to serve statutory and contractual notices (e.g. Section 8).

3. Policy Limits

Payments cease once:

• The rent protection limit is reached

• Vacant possession is gained

• The tenant pays off arrears in full

4. Rent Arrears Handling Process

Rent Assured

• After 2 months unpaid rent, lettingaproperty.com:

  • Notifies landlord and tenant

  • Issues Section 8 notice (signed by landlord)

  • Requests confirmation of compliance (valid certificates, no unresolved repairs)

• Once confirmed, first rent protection payment is made

• Further payments are made monthly until the limit is reached or possession is gained

Complete Care

• After 1 month of arrears:

  • First payment issued within 5 business days of confirmation

• After 2 months of arrears:

  • Section 8 issued and second rent protection payment triggered

• Further monthly payments follow the same process

5. Possession Proceedings

Rent protection payments depend on the landlord authorising lettingaproperty.com to issue and serve required legal notices. If the landlord withholds consent, rent protection will be voided.

6. Costs, Deductions and Recoveries

• A £120 end-of-tenancy fee applies to all plans

• Lettingaproperty.com may deduct any outstanding subscription fees or charges from rent protection payments or tenancy deposits

• If a professional inventory is not used at check-out, the full deposit may be applied toward unpaid rent

• Overpayments will be recovered from landlords

• lettingaproperty.com reserves the right to pursue tenants for unpaid rent and retain recovered funds up to the total paid out. Any excess balance will be passed to the landlord

7. Termination of Benefit

Rent protection will cease immediately if:

• The landlord intervenes and negotiates with the tenant directly

• The landlord refuses to proceed with eviction once authorised

• There is a counterclaim from the tenant that is not resolved in court

• The landlord fails to meet any requirement in this policy

8. Additional Information

This policy is subject to change and forms part of our wider Terms of Business. Where applicable, lettingaproperty.com may pause payments while legal matters are resolved.

For questions or further guidance, contact support@lettingaproperty.com.