Where to Start...

Studentpad

www.studentpad.co.uk/worcester The University of Worcester recommends using the Studentpad website to find accredited student properties. The website provides comprehensive property details, photographs and contact details for landlords.

The Studentpad password will be released during Housing Week

Accreditation The University of Worcester only advertises properties that are, or are in the process of being, accredited by Worcester City Council. To be accredited it is necessary for the property to meet minimum standards in relation to:

Fire, gas and electrical safety Amenities Furniture and furnishings safety Security Fitness

Finding Properties

Whilst we strongly recommend students use Studentpad to find properties, there are several letting agents and companies in Worcester who will rent to students.

Please remember: The properties advertised may not be accredited They might ask for large deposits or a guarantor They can refuse to rent to students They might not be as accommodating as a student landlord They might ask you to commit to a longer tenancy agreement than a student landlord would

Looking for Housemates?

If you are looking for housemates

to share with next year, then

Studentpad has three message

boards to help you out;

accommodation available,

accommodation wanted and find

a flat mate.

Top tips When Viewing Properties

Safety

Does the property have the following:

Smoke detectors (wired to the property’s main electrical supply)

Fire extinguishers on each floor

Fire doors fitted with self closers

Valid Gas Safety Certificate (issued by a Gas Safe registered engineer)

Electrical safety standards

Furniture compliant with the requirements of Fire Safety Regulations 1998

Housing Checklist

Use our Housing Checklist as a

helpful reminder of what to look

for when viewing properties.

A copy of the checklist is

included with this guide.

Further copies are available

with the Studentpad password

from Monday 11th February.

Joint or Individual Tenancies?

If you pay a retainer to hold the property over the summer, you do not have the right to live in the property during this period. Retainers are not usually refundable. However, if you pay lower rent over the summer period and it is indicated in your contract as such, then you have the right to live in the property.

Both the University of Worcester

and the Students’ Union always

recommend that students sign

individual tenancy agreements.

This means that if one person

decides to leave then they are

usually solely liable to find a

replacement tenant and pay the

rent. Joint agreements share the

liability so if one tenant moves

out the others will share

responsibility.

Summer Rent / Retainer

The Financial and Legal Stuff

Tenancy Agreement

Never sign anything that you haven’t read or don’t

understand

Seek advice before you sign. Both the Accommodation team and Students’ Union are available to read through any agreements before you sign.

Remember a tenancy agreement is legally binding

Your tenancy agreement should include:

Contact details for the landlord/managing agent How much and when rent should be paid and what it includes (i.e. are bills included) Length of agreement (usually 10-12 months) The terms of notice. A clear statement of whether students can leave the tenancy early and any conditions.

Guarantors

Inventories

If you have a joint tenancy, any

guarantor will also be jointly

liable for overdue rent or

damage caused by the other

tenants.

Your landlord may ask you to

provide a guarantor who agrees

to cover costs if you don’t pay

the rent, or cause significant

damage to the property.

A guarantor will usually be a parent or

guardian

It is important to read the guarantor

information carefully to check the

liability

Landlords sometimes ask international

students for a UK based guarantor

When moving in to your property your landlord should provide you with an inventory for the contents of your room, this may include communal areas.

Deposits

It is usual for your landlord to

require a refundable deposit

equivalent to one month’s rent;

the maximum being two months’

rent. This is held against damage

or unpaid rent and should be

refunded within 10 days of the

end of your tenancy.

Always obtain a receipt for any

money given to the landlord,

stating what the payment is for

and the date received.

Your landlord is legally required to secure

your deposit in a Tenancy Deposit

Scheme. Within 30 days of receiving your

deposit, the landlord must provide you

with details of how the deposit is

secured.

Check your inventory carefully

and with your landlord present,

making amendments to the

signed inventory if items are

missing or damaged. This is

useful in claiming back your

deposit at the end of your

agreement, as it’s an accurate

record of the condition of the

property that you moved into.

An inventory is a list of all the items of furniture and furnishings that should be in your property and includes comments on any damages or defects.

HMO (Houses with Multiple Occupation)

A household is described as

being a group of people that are

living together as a unit that

generally have a relationship

together e.g. families, partners

etc. A student house is usually

described as being more than

one household because the

residents live independently from

one another.

Three or more tenants forming

two or more households*

*Household

Jargon Buster—Glossary of Terms

Accreditation

Properties that have been accredited by Worcester City Council are

assessed against stringent criteria to ensure that they are safe to

occupy. The landlords of these properties are also required to

adhere to a strict Code of Conduct governing how they conduct

their business.

Some landlords will ask for a

guarantor. A guarantor is the

landlord’s insurance policy

against a tenant defaulting.

The guarantor will be held

responsible if the tenant fails to

pay the rent.

Guarantor

Inventory

An inventory is a detailed list of

all furniture and items included

in the property (e.g. cooker,

fridge, TV etc) and the condition

that they and the surroundings

are in.

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

An amount the tenant pays to

the landlord to ensure that the

property is reserved for them

until the start of the new

academic year, and to ensure

that the landlord doesn’t enter

into any other contract that

would affect its availability.

This is the legally binding

contract between yourselves and

the landlord that sets out the

terms of agreement of you

renting the property.

Tenancy Agreement

It is a legal requirement for your

landlord to secure your deposit

scheme and they must confirm

this with you within 14 days of

receiving it.

Retainer Joint tenancy agreement: if all

of you living in the house sign

one agreement, then you are all

jointly responsible for the terms

and paying the rent.

Individual tenancy agreement:

this is the preferred agreement

as you are responsible for

yourself with regards to rent,

your room etc. However you

will normally still be held jointly

responsible for any damage in

communal areas.

Be a Good Neighbour

Please remember that moving into private rented accommodation

means that you are moving into the local community. Not everyone

around you will be students or living the same lifestyle as yourself.

Please be considerate and remember to behave in a way that

doesn’t upset those living around you.

For advice, contract checking

or more information:

Worcester Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) A charitable organisation that provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. 01905 611371 Useful Websites: Citizens Advice www.adviceguide.org.uk Shelter http://england.shelter.org.uk

Further Information

Student Pad goes live Wednesday 13th February

Contract Checking Service Drop in Sessions, 1-5pm

Wednesday 13th February Thursday 14th February Friday 15th February Peirson—Study & Guidance Centre

Contract checking available in

Peirson at the times and dates listed

above. Outside of these hours please

email accommodation@worc.ac.uk

Housing Information Sessions Pick up your Studentpad password & Housing Checklist Monday 11th & Tuesday 12th February, all day Peirson—Study & Guidance Centre

University of Worcester Accommodation

01905 855300 accommodation@worc.ac.uk Worcester Students’ Union, Student Advice Service

01905 543210 thesas@worc.ac.uk

Housing Week 2013