AccommodationServices

House hunting in the private

sector 2016 - 2017

Richard WilkinsPrivate Sector Liaison Officer

House hunting – 2016 - 17

Part 1 Different options

Part 2 Getting started and where to look

Part 3 The Accommodation Office – how we can help

Part 4 Issues to look out for & top tips!

1. Different options

1 Sharing a house or flat

2 Self-contained

3 Lodgings (live-in landlord)

Sharing an house or flat (HMO)

Pros Cons

Widest choice (location, size etc) Tied into a contract (up to 12 months)

Less expensive option Usually means dealing with bills

Part of “student experience” Neighbours not students

Greater freedom (than halls) No 24 hour security/Porters’ Lodge

Choose your housemates Messy/very tidy housemates?

Self-contained (studio apartment, 1 bed flat etc)

Pros Cons

Own space More expensive (rent and bills)

Not disturbed by others’ lifestyles Isolating

No in-house conflicts Less choice/availability

Control of own bills/usage

Lodgings (live-in landlord)

Pros Cons

Quality often higher Living by someone else’s rules

Bills usually included (cheaper) Limited security of tenure

Flexible contract (licence) Not necessarily with other students

Quieter Isolating

Getting started and where to look #1

What kind of accommodation do you want?

Where do you want to live?

Who do you want to live with?

What can you afford?

Getting started and where to look #2

The Accommodation Office online data base (Student Pad)

Lettings Agents

Other web sites (Spare room, Right move , gum tree etc)

Word of mouth

Social network sites (Facebook)

The Accommodation Office #1

Online accommodation data base (Student Pad)

Accommodation Fairs (Spring/summer)

Website (www.fxplus.ac.uk/accommodation)

Online (via The Compass) telephone/drop-in advice

Facebook group (“Find a student housemate, Falmouth Cornwall”)

Falmouth and Penryn Student Pad

Falmouth & Penryn Student Pad (www.falmouthpenrynstudentpad.co.uk)

Data base of available properties

E mail alert facility for new properties

Message board facility (student-to-student )

Relevant Advice Pages

Extensive search functionality

Accommodation Fairs 2017

Saturday 11th March 2017

Saturday 6th May 2017

Saturday 12th August 2017

Issues to watch out for……..

1.Contracts and licence agreement

2.Letting Agents

3.Right To Rent

4.Damp/mould

5.Living in the community

6.Viewing properties – top tips!

Issues to watch out for……..1. Contracts

Assured shorthold tenancy agreement (e.g. shared

house, self contained studio)

Individual or joint?

Fixed term (no break clause?)

Up to 12 months including summer months

Bills or no bills?

(Not the same as halls contract)

Issues to watch out for……..1. Contracts

Lodgings – accommodation with a live-in landlord

1. More informal arrangement (not a tenancy)

2. Little “security of tenure”

3. No deposit protection covers lodgings arrangements

Issues to watch out for……..2. Lettings Agents

Lettings Agents provide a lot of student accommodation in Falmouth & Penryn

Check their fees (Admin)

Landlord/agent responsibility

Issues to watch out for……..3. Right To Rent

From February 2016 all landlords have a duty to ensure that anyone they offer a tenancy to has a right to rent.

Only people with a right or permission to be in the UK have aright to rent property

You may therefore be asked to provide some documentation before signing a tenancy:

Passport or National ID cardBiometric Immigration document

Issues to watch out for……..4. Mould/damp

Cornwall is a “damp” county

Many older student houses were not built/designed for communal living

Is it damp (landlord) or is it mould growth caused by condensation (tenant)?

Ask the landlord about the heating/ventilation system (On house hunting checklist)

Talk to current occupants

Issues to watch out for……..5. Living in the

community

1.Living in town is very different to living in halls on campus

2.Neighbours not always students

3.Noise

4.Litter/waste/recycling (ask landlord)

5.Parking

Top tips for viewing properties #1

Always view properties together

Don’t just take a friend’s word for how good/bad a property is!!

Top tips for viewing properties #2

Take our house hunting checklist with you

Top tips for viewing properties #3

If possible…………talk to the current house mates

If the house/flat is not currently a student dwelling (and in Falmouth) please check with landlord if he is aware of Article 4 Planning Directive + speak to Accommodation Office

Top tips for viewing properties #4

Have your deposit ready!

Make sure you know what you’re handing over:

Holding deposit (refundable or not?)Security Deposit (refundable or not?)Admin/reference checking fee (usually not refundable)

Top tips for viewing properties #5

Take your passport/i.d with you

Top tips for viewing properties #6

If in doubt…..don’t take it!!

Contact us

The Accommodation Office

Glasney LodgePenryn CampusTreliever RoadPenryn TR10 9FE

Log enquiries via The Compass

01326 253 741

www.fxplus.ac.uk/accommodation