Tenant fees

Clear, fair &
transparent fees.

At Sears, we believe in complete transparency when it comes to renting your next home. All our tenant fees are compliant with the Tenant Fees Act 2019, meaning you’ll never face hidden or unexpected charges.

Our aim is to make renting in Bracknell, Wokingham and across Berkshire simple, affordable and stress-free from start to finish.

Below is a guide to the costs you can expect when renting a property through Sears.

  • Tenant Fees Act 2019
  • TPO member
  • Client Money Protection
  • Deposits in TDS
01

Permitted payments

Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, landlords and agents are only allowed to charge tenants for specific, government-approved costs. These include:

  • 01.1

    Rent

    The amount agreed in your tenancy agreement, paid in advance and usually monthly.

    As agreed in tenancy
  • 01.2

    Tenancy deposit

    A refundable deposit, capped at five weeks’ rent (where annual rent is under £50,000) or six weeks’ rent (where annual rent exceeds £50,000). All deposits are protected in an approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS).

    5–6 weeks’ rent
  • 01.3

    Holding deposit

    Equal to one weeks' rent. This is to reserve a property and if the tenancy proceeds, will be deducted from the first months' rent. Please note - this will be withheld if any relevant person (including any guarantor(s)) withdraw from the tenancy, fail a Right to Rent check, provide materially significant false or misleading information, or fail to sign their tenancy agreement (and/or Deed of Guarantor) within 15 calendar days (or other deadline for agreement as mutually agreed in writing).

    1 week’s rent
02

Default fees (if applicable)

These fees only apply in specific circumstances and are strictly limited by law:

  • 02.1

    Late rent payment

    Charged on rent that is 14 or more days overdue.

    3% above BoE base rate
  • 02.2

    Lost keys or access devices

    Charged at the actual cost of replacing lost keys or access devices.

    Actual replacement cost
  • 02.3

    Changes to tenancy

    If you request an amendment to the tenancy agreement (such as adding or removing a tenant), a £50 (inc. VAT) charge applies to cover administrative costs.

    £50 inc. VAT
03

Additional information

  • 03.1

    Utilities & bills

    Utilities, council tax, broadband and TV licence are the tenant’s responsibility unless otherwise stated in the tenancy agreement.

  • 03.2

    Deposit return

    All deposits are held securely and returned promptly at the end of the tenancy, subject to property inspection and any agreed deductions.

  • 03.3

    Membership & protection

    Sears is a member of The Property Ombudsman (TPO) and offers full client money protection for your peace of mind.

04

Supporting you throughout your tenancy

From move-in to move-out, our lettings team in Bracknell and Wokingham provides ongoing support, whether that’s maintenance queries, renewals, or deposit advice. Our goal is to ensure you feel informed and confident at every stage.

Questions about fees?

Our lettings team in Bracknell & Wokingham is happy to talk you through anything before you apply.

Real words, real reviews

What our clients say about us

4.9/5 Customer rating

Rating

Sears have been an incredible help throughout our search for a new property. I can't thank Kiera, Andy, and Jess enough for their patience, support, and dedication in helping us find the perfect home. Moving to a new area can be overwhelming and daunting, but they made the entire process so much easier. They were always available to answer questions, offer guidance, and support us every step of the way. Thank you, Kiera, Andy, and Jess, for your outstanding service and for making what could have been a stressful experience such a positive one. I would highly recommend Sears to anyone looking for a property!

Nelum Fiodorov

1 month ago

I have just come out of a difficult divorce and was looking to purchase a house for myself and my children. The thought of viewing properties on my own was a bit daunting for me. I first made contact with Sears Estate agents in Wokingham a few months ago and viewed two properties that they were marketing. I met Poppy at both viewings, she was warm, friendly, and professional as well as being very knowledgeable about the properties. Unfortunately, I did not have a buyer for my property so was unable to put in an offer or purchase with Sears. However, I was very impressed that Poppy and her colleague Amy, acknowledged my property search and contacted me recently about another suitable property, before it was marketed live on websites. They were very efficient in arranging a viewing for me promptly. I was met at the property by Alison, who was again, very warm, friendly, welcoming, patient and open to questions. After the viewing, I went to Sears estate agents office in Wokingham town centre, where I was met in a friendly manner and offered a hot drink, which was a nice touch. Poppy assisted me with the administration involved in putting an offer forward, as I had unfortunately left my glasses in my car! She was very helpful and patient and explained how the process of putting the offer forward to the vendor worked. I was very impressed with the office layout, clean lines, modern decor and comfortable chairs. I would like to mention that I was very impressed with my experience with Sears, Wokingham, the staff are excellent role models and ambassadors for Sears, keep up the good work. Allison Radcliffe 😀

Allison

1 month ago

Had the pleasure of being shown around by Aimee from the Wokingham office at a property answered all of my questions and was very helpful and knowledgeable of the house and local area

Robert Cox

1 month ago

Exceptional service and outstanding communication from Sears especially Matt Reynolds who assisted with the sale of shared ownership property. It has been a pleasure to deal with such a kind, professional and honest estate agent. Always communicating clearly and efficiently, keeping me updated all the time and chasing when needed. I can highly recommend! Thank you Matt!

Petra Malyjurkova

1 month ago

Poppy is a lovely estate agent who helped me find my first home, greatly appreciated and will go for their help again in the future.

andrew nash

1 month ago

At Estate Services we provide end of tenancy cleaning and property management services and it is always a pleasure to work with Jake at Sears. Jake is approachable, friendly, and genuinely easy to deal with, which makes a real difference in this industry. What I appreciate most is his honest, no nonsense approach and the way he gets things done efficiently without overcomplicating matters. Communication is always straightforward, and you always know where you stand with him. It is refreshing to work with someone who values good working relationships and treats people with respect. I would highly recommend Jake to any potential landlord and look forward to continuing to provide services to him and his team in the future. Thank you!

Nikki Surtees

2 months ago

The entire Sears team, especially Jessica, Keira, and Freddie, have been absolutely excellent from minute one. From the initial viewing right the way through to contract signings, arranging the inventory, and to payments, the team were always on-hand to assist in any way possible, whilst ensuring replies were prompt and clear. As someone who rented for 6 years in a previous property, I felt like a renting newbie again! But Sears have been a faultless, reassuring partner throughout.

Theo Tsangaris

2 months ago

Working with Poppy in the Sears team has been an absolute pleasure, communication is clear and frequent, next actions have always been addressed - we've been kept in the loop throughout our process so far. Poppy's personal approach is the reason why we have felt confidence in our buying process and we look forward to getting over the line in the coming months.

Ben

2 months ago

I cannot thank Emma and Rob at Sears enough! We had super tight deadlines to sell our home and if it wasn’t for them it wouldn’t have been achieved and we wouldn’t have had our offer accepted on our purchase. Our property was live and on Rightmove in less than a week. I had six viewings the first day, and a further three the day after. It sold within 48 hours. Professional, knowledgeable, prompt and highly commendable. Just wow - thank you!!!!

Kathryn Louise

2 months ago

Poppy at Sears has been excellent in the sale of my property. She is friendly, knowledgeable and has the highest levels of integrity. She spends time understanding the Seller and Purchasers needs….building a strong basis of trust right from the get go.

NIGEL NELMS

2 months ago