Renting With Us

Renting With Us: A Step by Step Guide

Think early

Start thinking about houses in November for the following July. The best houses are all booked by December.

Friends

Find a group of friends to suit the house size.

Research

Check out the uni lets direct website.

View

Ring to arrange a viewing 07540 634719 or 01666 575141, and to check availability.

Book it

Agree to take the house. To secure the house each tenant will have to pay a non refundable £300 holding charge, straight away (which is half of the total final deposit).

Contracts

Sign the contract soon after paying this holding deposit. This is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement (AST), which is supplied by the National Landlords Association. This contract will be a Joint and Several Liability contract which means you are all responsible for each others’ responsibilities with regard to rent, damages and any other obligations. Please make sure you fully understand the possible implications of this. This style of contract is completely normal when renting student houses.

Guarantors

Along with the signed contract we will require a completed Guarantor Form, normally from a parent. This means the Guarantor will pay for any of the tenants’ rent under the contract in the event that a tenant fails to meet their obligations.

Contract term

The contracts are normally 12 calendar months with varying start dates and start in August.

Just before Tenancy begins

A week before the contract starts you pay the rest of the deposit i.e. another £300 each, making the deposit £600 per person. You will also pay the first calendar month’s rent in advance.

Deposit protection

We then register this with MyDeposits, a protection scheme for rental deposits.

Rent payments

You will set up a standing order for the rent to be paid directly to us from your bank account for the following 11 months.

Late payments

If rent is paid late, then there will be an administration charge of £10.00 per week per tenant for every week until the rent is paid up to date.

Pick up the keys

At the start of the contract we will meet to go through an inventory/condition report to agree how the house looks at the start of the contract. At the end of the contract we will repeat the process. You will be expected to return he house in the same state as when you found it. Any extra cleaning or damage will be charged for by deduction from the deposit. Some wear and tear will be allowed for. We will remind you what is expected in detail before the end of the contract.

Bills

When you move in you will need to organise accounts with utility providers such as electricity, gas, water and broadband. One TV license will be needed for the whole house. You should be exempt from Council Tax but you will need to complete student declarations. These are good life skills for you to learn, but we can help and advise if necessary.

Inspections

We will make quarterly inspections to check the house for any maintenance issues and to check that the house is being used in a reasonable manner. We try to keep the houses in good order so you will be expected to look after the house and keep it reasonably tidy. We will give ample notice of inspections.

Visits to the house

If we or our tradesman need to visit the house for maintenance or any other reason, we will always try to let you know the day before by email. We try to minimise such visits to respect your privacy.

Any problems

If you have any problems during your tenancy, you can contact the Landlords directly, at any reasonable time.