Private Sector Accommodation

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Private Sector Accommodation
Important information for international
students Thursday 27 November 2008 Mo
Onyett Student Welfare Adviser Fran
Stanton International Student Support
Co-ordinator Amanda Robb Senior Accommodation
Assistant
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Student Support Office Finding Accommodation

• What type of accommodation is available?

• Shared House/ Flat
• Most affordable and most popular in York
• You have your own bedroom and share kitchen and
  other communal facilities with housemates.
• Lodgings
• Room in house with resident landlord
• Self-contained flat
• Not many available
• Very expensive

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Student Support Office Finding Accommodation

• Where and when to look
• University List (available February 2009)
• Properties on the list will meet standards of the
  Code of Best Practice.
• www.york.ac.uk/admin/accom/local.yrk/
• newprivatelist
• Private landlords/letting agents
• Landlords and letting agencies advertise their
  properties on flyers, to let signs, internet,
  letting agency office windows.

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Student Support Office Finding Accommodation

• Choosing where to live
• Viewing is essential!
• Make sure you view the property yourself before
  you agree to take it
• Be aware of personal safety when viewing
• Location - where is it in relation to the
  University?
• What you see is what you get
• If the landlord promises to refurbish before you
  move in make sure you have the details in
  writing
• If you are unsure, keep looking
• Check Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

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Student Support Office Finding Accommodation

• How much will it cost?
• Usual rents are around 60-65 per week but some
  may be more or less.
• The most expensive properties are not necessarily
  the best.
• Cheaper properties tend to be advertised later in
  the year
• You are strongly advised to take out insurance to
  cover all your belongings
• On top of rent you will usually be expected to
  pay utility bills Gas, electricity, water,
  sewerage, telephone, internet and TV Licence.
• Council Tax

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Student Support Office

• Any questions?

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Student Support OfficeReserving Accommodation

• Deposits
• Once you find somewhere you like you will need to
  reserve
• the accommodation
• Some landlords/ agents ask for a holding deposit
• Others may ask you to sign a tenancy agreement
  straight away, pay a tenancy deposit
• Some may ask for payment of rent at this stage
• Some may not ask for money at this stage (rare)
• Which ever you are asked to do be sure you want
  the accommodation before you pay a deposit and
  consider the method of payment you use
• Some check credit references and/or request
  guarantor.
• Must be protected in a tenancy deposit protection
  scheme.

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Student Support OfficeReserving Accommodation

• Methods of payment
• Bankers draft or personal cheque is the best
  method of payment as your payment can be traced
  and cancelled if necessary NOT CASH.
• However you pay you should always ask for a
  receipt and keep it somewhere safe.
• Before paying make sure your landlord or agent
  has explained clearly what your money is for and
  what will happen if you choose not to move in on
  the agreed date.

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Student Support Office Housing Contracts

• Checking and signing
• Sign a Tenancy Agreement (sometimes called a
  contract)
• Before signing an agreement you should have
  looked around the property and be sure you want
  to take it.
• Your landlord or letting agent should give you at
  least 72 hours in which to read the agreement
  before you sign.
• Check your agreement carefully yourself and have
  your agreement checked by a Welfare Adviser
  before signing
• The agreement should state how long you will be
  allowed to live there for, how much rent you will
  pay, when and how you will pay your rent. It
  should also have the name and a UK contact
  address for the landlord.
• Once signed the agreement is binding for the
  whole of the fixed term.

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Student Support Office

• Moving in to the property
• Be there on the first day of your tenancy
• Before moving the day agree a time to meet your
  landlord at the property on the first day to
  collect your keys
• Your landlord should provide an inventory
• Walk around the property checking the inventory
  with your landlord
• You should have at least 7 days to check the
  inventory after you move in
• Tell your landlord immediately if there are any
  faults.

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Student Support Office

• Reasonable expectations of landlord and tenant
• Report any faults as soon as possible, do not try
  to fix them yourself without permission of the
  landlord
• Thorough cleaning of kitchen and bathroom
• Vacuum cleaning of carpets
• Maintenance of garden
• Disposal of rubbish, find out collection times
• Check what your agreement says about guests
• Do NOT sub-let without the permission of your
  landlord.

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Student Support Office

• Rent Guarantee Scheme
• The University may be able to act as your UK
  rent guarantor (for non EU single students).
• More details available from
• www.york.ac.uk/admin/accom

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Student Support Office

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Student Support Office

• Any questions?

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Student Support Office
Mo Onyett Student Welfare Adviser Fran
Stanton International Student Support
Co-ordinator Amanda Robb Senior Accommodation
Assistant Student Support Office Sally Baldwin
Buildings, Block B Telephone [phone]
4140 Email student-support_at_york.ac.uk
Accommodation Office Information
Centre Telephone [phone] Email
accommodation_at_york.ac.uk