New year - new experiences. My first ever blog post from my lovely SIII. I wish you all loads of new experiences in 2013. Here are a few pics to get you in the mood.
Housing Survival Guide
Here's something that never got published, may be because this information will hurt the real estate business. Well, no matter what I believe we should all know our rights. So read on for a few tips I can offer from my own struggles.
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| Image courtesy of Jeroen van Oostrom at FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
Living in town? Looking for a house to share with your mates next year? Then read on. By now most of us should have settled in our new student accommodation wherever it may be. However, if you are experiencing some issues with your new house or have already started looking for a new student pad for next year, then the following tips are for you.
1. Shop around. With so many student accommodation websites and lettings agents this may seem like a tedious task. But it does pay off to spend some time on finding out what the average market rents for shared houses in different areas are. There are very good deals if you start looking early and are willing to pay a deposit. Alternatively, you can wait until prices drop for a bargain last minute deal just before term starts.
2. Don’t skip viewings. These provide the best opportunity to get down to the nitty gritty of housing matters. Be prepared to ask important questions, such as utilities and maintenance arrangements, and look for causes of concern, especially mould marks and wall cracks which could get worse once you start living there.
3. Read your tenancy agreement carefully. Then read it again. It is possible to be put on a separate agreement even if you are sharing the house with your friends. In this way you will not be liable for any damages caused by others. Pay particular attention to the utilities, communal areas maintenance and landlord’s responsibilities clauses. These will tell you who is responsible for repairs and maintenance and help you avoid any fines.
4. Protect your deposit. Under the Housing Act 2007 all private landlords and/or lettings agents are obliged to protect your deposit in a government approved deposit scheme. This should be done within 14 days of the landlord receiving the deposit and you should receive notification that this has been done. Contact your landlord or lettings agent if you have any questions regarding this as soon as possible so that you won’t have to deal with problems when the time comes for getting your deposit back.
5. Seek help. If you are having any trouble with your accommodation, think you are treated unfairly by your landlord or are unsure of your responsibilities and contract obligations, then speak up! There are a number of people and organisations that you could turn to. The university has appointed several community wardens for popular student housing areas in Loughborough. If you have any questions you can find contact details and advice at www.lboro.ac.uk/services/community-wardens/. There is also a Citizen Advice Bureau in the town centre which can help you with a wide range of housing matters. It also provides expert advice on certain issues by telephone, drop in appointments or at www.citizenadvice.org.uk.
Finally, if you just want to know more or prefer seeking advice online don’t forget to check www.direct.gov.uk’s section on student housing under the Education and Learning tab.
Good luck!
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