Housing Risk
Moving out of university accommodation to a private rental can feel daunting, but there are a few things you can do to ensure you are prepared and keep yourself protected.
Finding private accommodation
Save the Students’ Guide to Viewing Student Accommodation is a great place to start and they even have a printable House Viewing Checklist to take with you to viewings. It is important to ensure you are renting from a reputable landlord. The website Rate Your Landlord allows students to give their landlords a score based on categories such as Value for Money, Security and Deposit handling, so it’s a great place to start. Although it can be tempting to find a house to share with your friends, it’s not always the best solution. Save the Students has 5 reasons why you should and shouldn’t live with friends, and some things to discuss before deciding to live together.
Signing the contract
Before you sign the contract, you should make sure your money is going to be safe. Be cautious if the landlord asks for rent to be paid in cash or if properties seem very cheap. Your landlord will usually ask for a deposit but this should be no more than 5 weeks’ rent and by law, this has to be kept in a Government-approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme. Have a look at Shelter’s article on the upfront costs of private renting to check you are not being charged too much. Once you’ve decided on where you would like to live and have been issued a contract make sure you get it checked by the Students’ Union Advice Centre before signing it to make sure it doesn’t include any costly clauses that may cause you problems down the line.
Moving into private accommodation
One of the first things you should do when moving into a new property is take photos. These photos should show the cleanliness of the property, any stains or damage, and the condition of furniture and mattresses. This will help you when you move out of the property as the landlord can take repayment for any damage out of your deposit before they return it to you. It is also important to ensure your house meets fire safety standards. The London Fire Brigade have advice on their website about what fire precautions landlords should organise and West Midlands Fire Service have some general advice about how to keep yourselves safe from fires. Don’t forget to protect your belongings from theft or damage by getting contents insurance – check out Save the Student’s useful guide to contents insurance to find the best providers.