Don’t rush!
Beware of agents who say all good houses go early, or there are few houses. There are more houses than students and great houses become available throughout the year. Be prepared to look at a lot of houses to get what you want. It will be worth it.
Do good neighbours become good friends?
Choose who you share with carefully. That guy/girl in the flat next door might be nice now, but you will be living together until June 2009. Can you really put up with their love of hip hop, played all through the night at full blast?
What you see is what you get.
Set minimum standards for the group. What do you want in a house: location, room sizes, double glazing? Stick to this, and make sure you see all the rooms, including locked ones, before handing over any money.
Beware of promises.
Be willing to live with the condition the house is in when you see it, no matter what promises are made. If anything is promised, make sure it is written in the contract before you sign. Use the Union Letting Agency or the University as your first choice.
Size does matter!
Large houses (3 storeys plus, 5+ students) have to have a licence and ALL rented houses have standards which, by law, have to be met – find out what these are before you look.
Play safe.
Never view a property alone, go in a group
Stash your cash.
If you hand money over be sure you know what it is for and get a receipt. You may not get an agency fee back, even if you don’t take the house. Beware of post-dated cheques.
The name’s Bond…protected Bond.
Bonds/deposits have to be protected in a Government authorised scheme and you have to be given full details. This will ensure your bond is safe
There is no escape!
Contracts are usually joint, meaning that all tenants who sign it are legally bound by it. There is no notice period. You are stuck with that house, and those people, until the end of the contract.
Think twice, get advice.
If you are not sure about any aspect of looking for a house, contact the Union Advice and Representation Centre, look on the Union website, talk to other students, and always chat to current tenants.
