FINDING A PLACE TO RENT

Trying to find a rental, on top of figuring out who you will be living with, and keeping up with your studies can be a lot, so to help, we've compiled the key things to know here.

WHERE TO LOOK:

Use websites like:

OnTheMarket

Rightmove

UniHomes

Zoopla

Also, look out for UNIVERSITY HOUSING SERVICES, as they may have APPROVED LANDLORDS for students on their website. This will mean you can most likely rely on the fact that everything will run smoothly in your rental.

You could also look at local estate agents, however, using an online service or a university service is generally recommended as you can easily check out the company first.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

If you are planning to share with others, you need to make sure you have a clear idea on what you're looking for. Click here for a quick checklist of the key things to consider.

Now it's time to research the landlord. If you are dealing with a letting agency, don't forget to look at google reviews, and potentially student discussion pages.

Landlords or letting agents MUST be a part of a GOVERNMENT APPROVED REDRESS SCHEME, so check if they are registered with The Property Ombudsman, or Property Redress Scheme.

Additionally, you may want to check if the property needs a license and has one. Go to your local council's website and search for their "HMO register" or "landlord licensing scheme". You will then be able to search the property address.

You may also want to ask which deposit protection scheme the landlord uses. In the UK, for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, which is what students generally rent under, landlords must protect your deposit in a Deposit Protection Service, MyDeposits, or Tenancy Deposit scheme.

If you research these things, and are happy with what you find, it's now time to book a viewing. Generally you can call or email a landlord to book a viewing time.

Try not to procrastinate on this as student rentals can go quickly.

VIEWING A PROPERTY

These are the things you want to get an understanding of during the viewing. Never be afraid to ask questions to whoever is showing you around.

This is going to be your home for the next year, so you should feel free to ask whatever questions you want. If a landlord seems to be annoyed by questions, this is a red flag.

We also recommend taking photos and videos during the viewing. Especially if you are going to more than one viewing, they can easily become blurred and you forget the details of each ones. Photos and videos help you compare places afterwards.

Sometimes photos will also help you notice things you may have missed in person, like cracks or mould etc.

Videos can also be helpful if not all housemates can attend so they can get an idea of the property.

They're also helpful evidence just in case a landlord tries to deny any damage that already existed and ask you for payment, as you can show the condition it was in at the viewing. You should also take photos and videos when moving in for this reason.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Working locks on the doors and windows.
Smoke alarms fitted.
Carbon monoxide alarms fitted.
Fire exits or extinguishers if in a flat block.
Secure main door of the building.

CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY

Check for signs of damp or mould on walls - especially in the bathroom.
Watch out for cracks on walls or ceilings.
If furnished, the furniture is in good condition and clean.

HEATING, ENERGY, AND ELECTRICITY

Ask about the EPC rating, a property must be at least an E on a scale from G (the worst) to A (the best).
If your heating runs off gas then you are entitled to receive the annual service report and landlord safety check certificates.
Check the heating and hot water works adequately.
Light switches and all plugs work and are secure in the wall.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK:

What's included in the rent?

Do you get wifi, does it include bills. Sometimes landlords will offer you the choice of a bills package included in your rent, which means you do not pay your water, electricity, or gas bills every month, but it is instead included as a standard cost in your rent.

Usually bills included packages will work out to be more expensive, especially if you will be paying for this whilst away over the holidays. However, they may be a good way to protect yourself if you are not 100% certain flatmates will split the bills fairly, or properly pay their agreed amount. Some students also find it easier.

If you do choose to pay for bills separately, you pay for your usage, as well as a standing charge. A standing charge is a fixed daily fee you pay for your utilities. For electricity they are typically around the 60-80p mark per day, gas is around the 30-40p mark per day, and water is around the 20-30p mark per day. Standing charges apply even when you're away so you need to factor this in to your budgeting.

How is maintenance handled?

You need to know who will be handling maintenance, and how you report issues. This means that in the event something goes wrong in the property, you will know exactly who to contact to get the issue resolved quickly.

You need to also make sure you know your rights regarding the maintenance process.

When carrying out maintenance, landlords must provide a tenant with at least 24 hours' written notice before entering a property for a non-emergency. The only time they can violate this is if they have to enter for an emergency that requires immediate access.

You have the right to refuse entry if the proper notice has not been given, and your landlord doesn't have a valid emergency.

You also have the right to privacy. This means you have the right to peacefully enjoy the property, which includes not having your landlord enter without permission.

You should also make sure you adhere to any clauses relating to access procedures in the tenancy agreement you will sign.

It may be a good idea to ask how quickly repairs usually get done too.

How and when do you give notice when away?

Some tenancy agreements include clauses about informing the landlord if the property is unoccupied for a number of days (often 14+).

They may also want to know if you're going away during the colder months.

This is usually because, empty homes may be a security risk or in winter sometimes pipes can freeze and burst.

Therefore, it's important to understand what notice you would need to give if all housemates were leaving the property, and how you should give that notice.

Always make sure you provide written notice! Never rely on telling your landlord anything important like this verbally.

ALSO...

Before signing a contract we recommend checking with your potential landlord that they definitely have the correct safety certificates up to date - including the electrical installation condition report (EICR), and an up to date gas safety certificates.

You can also check online that they have an in date EPC by searching the property on the government website energy certificate section.

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