Yes, you can rent with us if you are receiving Housing Benefits. However, you’ll need a guarantor who is a UK homeowner and can pass our referencing checks. The guarantor must meet our criteria for affordability, provide a satisfactory landlord reference, and pass credit checks.

For detailed information on our referencing criteria, please refer to the relevant sections on this page.

No. Folio London are a Private Landlord, working specifically within the Build To Rent sector. We own all of our properties.

Folio London are also involved in philanthropy, as profits made are invested back into creating affordable homes through Notting Hill Genesis, the wider housing association we are part of.

We use a third-party company, Goodlord, to conduct our referencing checks. The process is smooth and guided by a bot, ensuring you provide the correct information.

You will need to submit your references on Goodlord, which includes four essential checks: ID, Income, Credit, and Residential. The signing of tenancy agreements and payment of any required monies before moving in are also managed through the Goodlord platform.

Goodlord performs additional checks using open banking, HMRC, and selected payroll providers to securely obtain data and support our affordability assessments. All occupants must be referenced before moving in.

Please note, Folio reserves the right to make decisions outside these referencing parameters.

All applicants wishing to live in a Folio home must undergo referencing. To meet the affordability criteria, the household must have a combined income of 30 times the monthly rent (Monthly Rent x 30).

Referencing criteria:

Income:

• Employed (PAYE): Open Banking, HMRC, Payroll, Payslips, and employer reference.
• Self-Employed: Most recent self-assessment tax return and submission receipt. If self-employed for less than a year, you may need to provide a guarantor or pay rent in advance.
• Unemployed: Must supply a guarantor.
• Students: Required to pay full rent in advance or supply a guarantor.
• Guarantors: Only one guarantor per property, who must be a UK homeowner and earn 36 times the monthly rent (Monthly Rent x 36).

ID: All applicants must complete an ID check, which includes uploading a photo of your passport and submitting a selfie directly through the Goodlord portal.

Right to Rent: It is a legal requirement to complete a Right to Rent check on all applicants.

• UK passport holders: We will send you a link to a trusted online service to complete.
• Non-UK passport holders: You will need to provide your ‘share code’ directly from the government website.

Credit Check: Goodlord will run a soft credit check, including searches for CCJs, IVAs, and bankruptcies. If you are concerned about your credit rating, please speak to one of our letting’s negotiators for more information.

Residential Check: Goodlord will complete a residential check for your current living situation and will require a reference from your landlord. If you are not currently renting, please discuss this with your letting’s negotiator.

Please note, Folio reserves the right to make decisions outside these referencing parameters.

You will receive a Welcome Pack from your Property Manager when you move in which will outline everything you need to know about your estate and property.

You can use our online portal to pay rent and raise a repair. Click here to visit the resident portal.

For any further queries or to find out who your property manager is please call 020 3815 0484.

Utilities are not included in your rent payments. You will typically need to pay any energy bills which may include, but are not limited to, water, electricity, gas and heat. Council tax is also payable unless you are a student, in which case you can apply for exemption via the local authority. You will also need to arrange any personal subscriptions such as broadband or TV.

Council tax bands vary depending on the property. You can check your council tax band using the following link: Council Tax Bands

When renting an apartment, please note that all furniture is included at no extra charge. Our units are offered ‘as seen,’ meaning the furnishings displayed are exactly what will be provided. We recommend reviewing the furnishings carefully, as any requests for additional furniture or the removal of existing items should be submitted, subject to your offer being approved.

For all non-urgent maintenance issues, please contact your designated Property Manager directly.

Alternatively, you can use the Residents Portal below:

Residents Portal:
Residents Portal

Property Manager Phone Line:
020 3815 0484

Emergency Repair Number: 020 3815 0000

This number is active from 5 PM to 9 AM on weekdays and is available 24 hours over the weekend.

Examples of Emergency Repairs Include:

• Heavy leaks that cannot be contained, or leaks between floors or properties.
• Electrical faults that endanger health or life.
• Complete electrical or power failure, or electrical failure in a kitchen or bathroom.
• Inability to secure your property after a break-in.
• Inability to enter your property due to a non-functional key or lock.
• If there is a fire, please call 999.

When ending your tenancy, it is essential to serve formal written notice in accordance with your break clause directly to your Property Manager at the email address foliopropertymanagers@nhg.org.uk, ensuring that all notice is aligned with your rent due date.