Updated: 16 September 2022
Once you have finished your first year in halls it is time to find private accommodation. Here’s a few helpful hints to find the right student property for you.
Picking the right housemates
Living with friends can be great fun but it is important that you carefully choose the right housemates to ensure there is no conflict and you can concentrate on your studies and enjoying University life.
Below are a number of points to consider:
- Are they clean and tidy?
- Are they early birds or party animals – Is this similar to you?
- Do they have any habits that could cause concern – Smoking, poor hygiene?
- Do you have common interests?
Area
Most University towns tend to have areas more densely populated with students than others. When choosing the location of your student property please consider:
- Is it close to public transport links?
- Is it close to the campus?
- Is it close to amenities?
- Is it close to other students?
- Is it safe?
Budgeting
Prior to starting to look for student rented accommodation it is important to budget carefully and calculate what monthly rental you will be able to comfortably afford. When calculating you must include the additional costs of, utilities and telecommunications as these are rarely included in the asking rental, along with course fees, food and socialising.
Viewing
When you have decided which properties make the shortlist Goadsby will organise a viewing for you. Please be advised you, or your representative, must view the property before an offer can be put forward.
Application Stage
Once you have found your potential new student home you will be given a copy of our specimen tenancy agreement and asked to complete a student and guarantor application form; We will require personal information from yourself including confirmation of your University placement and you will require a guarantor.
A guarantors responsibilities are to undertake all obligations of the tenancy agreement, this will include unpaid rent, all out goings i.e service costs and dilapidations for the full term of the tenancy on a joint and several liability basis.
This is usually a parent, but could be any adult as long as you have their consent.
At this stage we will check that you have the Right to Rent in the UK; we have a legal obligation to check, and take copies of, your passport and, if required, copies of your residents visas. We will also require a copy of a recent (within the last 6 months) utility bill and/or bank statement.
If the landlord accepts your offer to rent the property it will then be ‘let subject to references’ and we will commence reference checks.
Once the references have been returned they are forwarded to the landlord for approval.
During Your Tenancy
If we manage the tenancy for your landlord you will contact us if you have any maintenance issues Find out more about our Property Management team
You will pay your rental to us, by standing order, on the date specified in your agreement. Please note this must come in one payment from you not separate payments. We will conduct property visits quarterly; these are an opportunity for you to highlight any issues you have and for us to check the property is being kept in a clean and tidy condition.
We will contact you during the tenancy to see whether you wish to extend for the next academic year or vacate at the end of the tenancy; if you wish to extend, and the landlord is in agreement, we will prepare the extension paperwork.
At The End of The Tenancy
Should the tenancy end we will write to you to confirm the tenancy end date and you’ll be expected to return all the keys, along with a note of your forwarding address, to the local Goadsby Office by midday on that day. A Check Out report against the ingoing inventory will be prepared to record the condition of the property at the end of the tenancy, usually the following day. You may, if you wish, be present at this time but it is not a requirement.
A copy of this Check Out report will be forwarded to both you and the landlord. On the basis of this report the landlord will decide whether to make any deductions from your deposit for dilapidations. He will then give us written instructions to return the balance of the deposit to you.
Please note that the property should be left in a clean and tidy condition and the contents (if furnished) left in the same location as on the ingoing inventory. If this is not the case, it is likely that the landlord will instruct that deductions to be made from the deposit for cleaning etc:
To ensure the best possible Check Out report, please read the following very carefully:
- All furniture and contents should be put back in the original positions as listed on the Inventory.
- Cleaning should be to a good or professional standard.
- Carpets should be cleaned to a good or professional standard.
- Net curtains should be washed and drapes be left in a clean and fresh state according to any particular instructions.
- Fridges should be defrosted, cleaned and turned off. Remember to leave the door ajar to prevent mould.
- Cookers should be thoroughly cleaned with an appropriate cleaner. Do not use chemical cleaner on self cleaning panels.
- Extractor hoods and back plates should be clean and the hood have a new filter fitted.
- Cupboards and drawers should be emptied and cleaned.
- Marks should be carefully removed from furniture, walls and paintwork.
- Windows and window frames should be thoroughly cleaned.
- Soap dishes in washing machines should be thoroughly cleaned.
- Gardens should be left in a neat and tidy state with lawns mown and borders weeded.
- Rubbish should be removed from the property as charges may be incurred for the clearing of rubbish after the tenancy has ended.
- Garage & garden sheds should be cleared of all your possessions/rubbish and left as found – if not the cost of removal will be deducted from your deposit.
- Arrangements should be made for post to be redirected/forwarded automatically.
- Forwarding address must be provided.
- Standing Orders should be cancelled.
- Utility accounts should be closed and settled.
- Chimneys should be swept if an open fire has been used.
- Not to allow any composters installed to remain at the property at the end of the tenancy without obtaining written permission from the Landlord.
- Please ensure that all your belongings are removed from the property at the end of the tenancy. Failure to do so will result in removal charges being made by the landlord, the costs for which will be proposed as a deduction from your deposit.