FAQs

We would like to assure you that you can get in touch with us in the normal way.  You can contact us by phone as usual, and for maintenance reporting of straightforward queries we recommend that if you have access, you sign-up to our Customer Portal where available, which is a simple way to access information on your tenancy, make one off payments or report maintenance. 

Customers should continue to pay rent and abide by all other terms of their tenancy agreement to the best of their ability. Rent levels agreed in tenancy agreements remain legally due. The government has a strong package of financial support available, and where you can pay the rent as normal, you should do.

If your circumstances have changed as a result of coronavirus, please get in touch with us. If you are concerned about your ability to meet your rent payments we will be able to offer advice and may be able to help with a spreading of future payments.

Further information can be found as follows:

Universal Credit 

There is Government support in place to help those affected by coronavirus. Information can be found here.

Financial Support

You may not have previously claimed benefit or your circumstances may have changed. You can find out what financial support may be available to you on the entitled to free benefit calculator. To find out what you might be able to claim enter your details and you'll receive an estimate of your entitlement to benefits, tax credits and universal credit.

You can also find more information on Government support here: 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-and-support-for-employees-during-coronavirus-covid-19

If you live in Scotland or Wales you may also be able to secure support through the following links:

https://www.gov.scot/news/increased-support-for-tenants/

https://gov.wales/apply-loan-help-pay-your-rent-arrears-due-coronavirus

If you do experience financial problems that could affect your payment of rent, it will be easier for us to provide advice and look for a solution if you contact us at the earliest opportunity.   Please do not hesitate to contact us as soon as you can.

We are following government’s latest guidance necessary to help stop the spread of the virus which you can find here https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus. 

Wherever possible we are trying to conduct business as usual, however, we will only conduct viewings where it is safe to do so, in line with Government guidelines. 

Everyone involved in the moving process must continue to follow social distancing to minimise the spread of COVID-19.

Agents can meet with customers in their offices and at properties for viewings, but only where it is safe to do so for all parties and where social distancing can be maintained.  The latest Government advice can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

If you are vacating your property we may request access to undertake viewings, which will be conducted following government guidelines.

Also, if you were planning to move and now find that you no longer wish to or are unable to do so, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can support you and maintain our records.

If you are about to move home we would recommend that you check the latest position with any companies that you have made arrangements with directly and that you contact us as soon as possible to update us on your plans.  

Our partners who provide check in and check out services as well as providing information for tenancy deposit administration have modified how they work to reduce the risk from COVID-19. Therefore we will try to complete the administrative tasks associated with all move-ins and outs as quickly as possible, but some of these processes may take longer than normal.

Read Government guidance on moving during the COVID-19 outbreak

You should follow government guidance on self-isolation, which you can find here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance

You should tell anyone you share the property with immediately, so that they can take appropriate action and make informed decisions regarding shared areas and access to the property. If we need to arrange a visit to the property, please also inform us and agree to take sensible precautions. 

Government guidance is for people to continue to pay rent and abide by all other terms of their tenancy agreement to the best of their ability. Rent levels agreed in tenancy agreements remain legally due. 

We appreciate that we are in unprecedented times, and many people have financial concerns.  If you do experience financial problems that could affect your payment of rent, it will be easier for us to provide advice and look for a solution if you contact as at the earliest opportunity.  An early conversation can help us agree a plan if you are struggling to pay your rent or are incurring arrears. Please do not hesitate to contact us as soon as you can.

We understand that current Government guidance stipulates that during lockdown inspectors or maintenance workers can still visit your property if required, however this may be limited to urgent or emergency repairs and may also be subject to local restrictions or further guidance.

Please continue to report repairs in the usual way. Our customers and colleagues wellbeing and safety is our priority – and where we need to come into your home we will be following stringent measures. Where a contractor visits your home, we have asked all contractors to:

• Ask you to wait in another room while the repair is taking place – always observing the government’s advice on social distancing.
• Wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). 
• Wash their hands or use hand sanitiser upon arrival and when leaving the property (which they should supply themselves).
• Wash down any surfaces with antibacterial products that they may have come into contact with when undertaking work (using materials which they have supplied themselves).

We would like to assure you that, if for any reason we are unable to instruct works within normal time scales, all repair items that are raised will still be recorded and responded to as soon as possible but we would ask for your patience as we manage the completion of the most urgent works.  If this is the case, your Property Manager will ensure you are kept up to date as to expected timeframes.  

We will continue to operate our services and to maintain ‘business as usual’ as far as we are able. We’ll continue to follow the guidance given by the government and will continue to provide updates to you if the situation changes.  We will do everything we can to provide you with the best service possible.

If you have any further questions which the FAQs don’t cover, please email info@touchstoneresi.co.uk

Only customers and permitted occupiers who are listed on the tenancy can live in the property. ‘Live’ is defined by a guest staying longer than two weeks.

Yes, however you need to let us know in writing or via email.

Usually that’s no problem, you just need written permission from us first – otherwise you might be charged for re-decorating it back to the original state.

Please check with us first and we’ll need to authorise it in writing. If you go ahead without asking us, you may have to pay for the dish to be removed etc.

Very rarely, so please check with us first and we’ll need to authorise it in writing. If you go ahead without asking us, we’ll have to charge you for any works to restore the property to its original state.

Rent is generally paid by Standing Order. Contact us if you need any details or have a follow up question that isn’t covered elsewhere in this guide.

Anyone living at the property needs to be listed on the tenancy agreement and vetted by us. If you’d like to add another person to your tenancy agreement, please contact us. Please also be aware of the administration fees (shown in the fee schedule). Please ensure you have our written approval before any new tenants move in.

If you need to leave for more than 28 days, please notify us in writing. If you forget, it could have serious insurance consequences and you may be charged for any costs.

Each property is different so before you go ahead we need to confirm that everything is fine in writing.

For any queries about your tenancy agreement, please contact us.

Please contact us as soon as possible.

The building’s insurance does not cover your personal belongings, so please arrange your own contents insurance.

In the first instance please call your property manager. If the incident occurs outside of office hours and there is damage that requires urgent attention, please call our Emergency Helpline on 01772 667182.

Please contact us.

Please contact us in the first instance. If we can’t resolve it, you can ask for a copy of our complaints procedure.

Please contact us.

Gas: Call the Meter Point Administration Service
Telephone: 0870 608 1524

Electricity: Contact the local electricity distribution company. Then ask for the company's Meter Point Administration Service (MPAS).

North Scotland: 0800 048 3515
Central & Southern Scotland: 0330 1010 300 
North East England & Yorkshire: 0845 070 7172
North West England: 0800 195 4141

Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales & North Shropshire:  0330 1010 300 
East Midlands & West Midlands: 0800 096 3080
South Wales & South West England: 0800 096 3080

London, South East England & Eastern England: 0845 601 4516
Southern England: 0800 048 3516
Northern Ireland: 03457 643 643

Please either contact your local authority or, for banding visit www.gov.uk/council-tax-bands

If it’s not clear, please contact us.

If you know your supplier, please contact them. If not, call BT on 0800 800 151.

Rent is due on the date advised in your tenancy agreement. If you think you may have any difficulties paying your rent, please contact us as soon as possible.

No, this is against the landlord’s wishes. 

Friends and family are welcome to visit for up to two weeks. If it’s any longer than that then please contact us first.

Once they become an adult, you’ll need to add them to the tenancy agreement. So please contact us to sort it out.

Please contact us straightaway. Or if it’s out of office hours, please call our [Emergency Helpline]. If your keys can be linked to you or the property, please also inform the Police. You can check the charge for replacement keys on our fee list.

Your tenancy agreement is for a fixed period, so you need to stay at the property until the expiry date. If you need to vacate before then, unfortunately you’re legally responsible for the rent right up until the expiration date – as well as any re-letting fees.

Firstly, call the police. They’ll give you a crime reference number which your insurer will need when you contact them. Then call us. If the incident occurs outside of office hours and there is damage that requires urgent attention, please call our Emergency Helpline on 01772 667182.

If you’re unable to resolve the matter, please contact the following:

• Excessive noise: your local environmental health department.
• Abuse or threats: the Police.

No. Please refer all maintenance issues to us rather than sorting them out yourself.

This will depend on the landlord, but please contact us.

Please contact us in writing at least a month in advance of the date you want to leave. (This is two month in Scotland).