Here are a few important things you should know before privately renting.
You’ve just started your second term and now thinking about where you’re going to live for the next academic year. Often students look to the local area and rent in the private sector. Below are a few important things you should know before privately renting:
- Landlords have a legal obligation to protect your deposit and inform you of the government scheme that is protecting it within 30 days. If they don’t, you can take your landlord to the small claims court, where they could be held liable to pay up to three times the amount of the original deposit.
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Letting agencies charge admin fees and these can be very high! They vary in price from agent to agent and remember, this is a separate charge to your deposit or holding fee.
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Full time students DO NOT have to pay council tax.
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When your final year at University ends (normally the end of June) you will no longer be classed as a student and will then be liable to pay council tax.
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Read your Tenancy Agreement carefully and make sure you understand everything. Landlords may try and add unfair clauses. The Students’ Union offers a free contract checking service.
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Burglars target student properties. Make sure you find a property that is secure with sufficient locks on the doors.
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Do not feel pressured to sign your contract too early. Circumstances change quickly and you may find yourself paying a lot of money to get yourself released from a contract that you’ve signed!
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However don’t choose your housing too late. In an ideal world, you should have found your house by April, before the stress of your exams begins. Try not to leave it as a mad rush over the summer.
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Make sure you get a TV licence. If you are on a joint Tenancy agreement, you will need one TV Licence between one household. If you are have individual Tenancy Agreement, you will need one for each room that occupies a TV, or uses On Demand or Watch Live services.