Top Tips for Moving In To Your Uni House

As the new term approaches, we know many of you will be moving into your new rented homes. Whilst this is a very exciting time, it is also important that you know what to expect and your responsibilities. We’ve put together some guidance to help you settle in without any drama.

Your rights and responsibilities

It's important that you are aware of your legal obligations as a tenant in a rented home. These include:

• Paying the agreed rent on time as well as other bills such as utilities (depending on your housing contract).
• Taking care of your house, including paying for any damage you or your housemates cause.
• Giving your landlord access to the property for repairs or inspections, as long as they have given at least 24+ hours' notice.

As a tenant, you have important rights including:

• Living in a safe and well-maintained property.
• Living in the property undisturbed by the landlord or their agents.
• Having your deposit protected if your housing contract is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy.
• Protection from excessive and unfair charges.

Check out our Living advice for more information about what to expect during your tenancy.

There is also more information about private renting available on the Government website.

What you should expect on move-in day

Move-in day can be very exciting, but also a bit stressful. Here’s what you should expect:

• A clean and well-maintained property with all furniture included within your contract.
• Your landlord or agent should be there to give you your keys, answer any questions and show you where important utility points are e.g fusebox, boiler etc.
• You should receive an inventory from your landlord that you should fill out/check as soon as possible. Make sure the inventory is an accurate representation of how the property is when you move in - any damage/cleaning issues should be recorded here.
• Take this opportunity to meet your neighbours!

After moving in, you can start sorting out things like utility bills - check out our Moving In Guide for guidance about this!

Red flags

Unfortunately, over the years, we have dealt with dodgy landlords and agents. Here are some red flags to keep an eye out for when moving in:

• Missing furniture/appliances that were included within your housing contract. Make sure you note this immediately with photo evidence if possible and contact your landlord.
• The house is not satisfactorily clean. Take photos as evidence and bring this up with your landlord. Keep these photos for when you move out.
• It’s not clear where your deposit is held. Most student houses are Assured Shorthold Tenancies which means your deposit must be protected within a Government scheme. You should be given the “prescribed information” about your scheme within 30 days of paying the deposit.
• You don’t know who your landlord is. An estate agent can handle your check-in and enquiries but you have a legal right to know who owns the property.

If you have any worries about the property before, during or after moving in, our advisors can help. Contact us at advice@su.rhul.ac.uk with an outline of the situation and we’ll be in touch.

Looking after your home: Dos and Don'ts

Do

• Ensure good ventilation to avoid damp and mould. You can do this by keeping windows open for at least 20 mins a day and heating the house between 17-20 degrees celsius.
• Keep all drains and plugs unblocked. You can buy unblocking aids and products from all supermarkets.
• Ensure you tell your landlord in writing (email/text) if you need them to fix something.
• Read our fire safety article and look into booking a free Safe & Well visit by Surrey Fire Service who can provide you personalised advice on staying fire safe.
• Apply for your council tax exemption. You can do this on the Runnymede Council website.

Don't

• Lose your keys! Your landlord has the right to charge you for a new key and for the locks to be changed.
• Miss your bin days. Rubbish build-up can attract rodents and pests, which you will be responsible for removing. You can check your bin days here.
• Make excessive noise. Noise complaints not only create tense relationships with your neighbours but can also lead to a misconduct investigation against you by the University. Read more about being a good neighbour here.
• Smoke on the property. It can stain ceilings and create a lasting unpleasant smell which you will be penalised for when you leave.

We talk about more dos and don’ts and other helpful information in this article and our Living page on our website.