REGISTER NOW WITH YOUR STUDENTS' UNION AND JOIN CLUBS & SOCIETIES...

HOUSE HUNTING

 

In Bolton there is no shortage of rented housing. Student housing tends to be confined to specific areas such as Deane, The Haulgh, Gilnow, Halliwell, Heaton and Great Lever.  Shop around to get the best deal.

 

Remember, the best properties are not necessarily available earliest in the year, so don't rush in and opt for the first house you see. There is a Landlord list available from the Student Information Centre in Eagle Mall which is updated every month, so make sure your list is up to date.

 

Think carefully about who you want to live with as you will be living with those people for at least nine months, in previous years the Advice Unit has assisted with many students who are in dispute with their housemates.

 

Do not rely on your friends' judgement. Try to see the property for yourself or you could end up with the box room, and don't leave your accommodation search until the last minute such as during enrolment, when all you may be left with is the best of a bad bunch.

 

Where to Look

 

Make sure you know who advertises properties and where:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

House Hunting Checklist

 

It is very important to do your own basic survey of the property before committing yourself to it. This tends to be overlooked by many students or is given a 'cosmetic' viewing by students. Time and attention given now will save lots of unnecessary worry and hassle in the future.

 

Once you have found details of the properties you wish to consider, contact the landlord and arrange an appointment to view the house.

*Some of the things to look for are:

 

Location

 

State of Repair (Inside and Out)

 

Safety and Security

 

Furnishings

 

The Rental Agreement

 

 

 

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

 

If you are asked to pay a deposit for private accommodation , your landlord must 'protect it' by using one of the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (TDS) set up by the Uk Government. These Schemes have been set up to stop landlords illegally withholding deposits at the end of the contract, and it will also resolve disputes about the return of deposits if this should arise.

 

Once you have paid your deposit, your landlord has 14 days to lodge the money with one of the TDS. Before the 14 days have passed your landlord must provide you with the following information:

If your landlord fails to give you the above information, you can apply to the County Court; they can order the landlord or agent to either repay the deposit to you or to lodge the money in a TDS immediately, if they fail to do this they can be ordered to pay you three times the amount of the deposit you paid.

 

For further information please contact the Students' Union Advice Unit.

 

 

Inventory

 

As one of the uses of a deposit is to make good any repairs or replace items damaged by the tenant. You are advised to complete an inventory.

 

If an inventory of the contents of your property is provided with your contract, then you should check these items and their condition. Both you and the landlord should sign and date the inventory upon agreement. Ensure your landlord has a copy and you keep a copy for yourself.

 

If no inventory is provided then you are advised to create one yourself. This will establish the state of the property when you move in. Send a copy of the inventory to your landlord. Upon agreement, the inventory should be signed and dated by both parties.

 

A common area of dispute is over how much deposit should be returned to the student or where the landlord withholds payment due to damage to the property or replacing items, it is here the inventory becomes a useful tool to determine the amount returned.

 

 

At the end of your tenancy

 

You should try and speak to your landlord one month before the end of the tenancy or before you leave the property to arrange a mutually acceptable method of returning any deposit due.

 

You should:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember, you cannot be charged for fair wear and tear to the property. If you are concerned that you may not get your deposit back or your landlord is not available to inspect the property before you leave, it is important to be able to prove that you have not damaged the property, and you have left it in a clean and tidy state.

 

 

 

 

Your Tenancy Agreement /Contract

 

The majority of landlords in Bolton will issue you with a standard contract and ask you to sign it. The agreement defines the relationship between the tenant and the landlord and ensures that both parties are clear of each other's responsibilities. The specific areas of the contract should include:

 

Length of Tenancy
This will usually be for a fixed term of one academic year from September to June. You should only agree to a period that suits you, as you may not be able to end the tenancy earlier. If you want to stay in the property over the summer period then this may be negotiated with your landlord but make sure you are paying rent and not just a retainer.

 

Costs
Can you afford the rent, bills and household upkeep? The cheapest all inclusive accommodation are the University's Halls of Resident at £60 per week inclusive of all heating and lighting costs. Over the years, there has been a steady increase in the number of applications to the University Access to Learning Fund due to rent arrears and other associated costs. Ensure you calculate the true cost of how much you will need to budget over the year. The Advice Unit can help you with this.

 

Tenants' names
If you sign a 'joint tenancy', then all the names of the tenants will appear on one contract. This means that you are jointly and severally responsible for the payment of rent and 'well being' of the property. For example, if your housemate doesn't pay his/her share of the rent, the landlord could demand it from the other tenants.

 

If you have an 'individual tenancy' you will still be jointly responsible for the communal areas, but you will have sole responsibility for your share of the rent.

 

Providing Notice
It is unlikely that your landlord will include a 'get out' clause in your tenancy agreement, so make sure the property is where you want to live, and the people you want to live with. However, if your tenancy agreement allows you to give notice to quit then you should provide notice in a letter to your landlord including your name, address of property and name of the landlord. You must give at least 28 days notice.

 

Subletting
You will not be allowed to sublet the property; only those named on the agreement must in resident in the property.

 

Get it checked
You are strongly advised to get your tenancy agreement checked before signing it. Beware of landlords who pressure you into signing on the day by saying 'I need a decision now as there are other students waiting to see the house' or who will not allow you to take the contract away to get it checked. Contact the Advice Unit who can check your agreement for you.

 

Spending a little extra time in finding the right place at the right price under the right conditions can save you time and money later in the year. If in doubt, check with the Advice Unit.

 

Housing Costs and Bills
In addition to your deposit and rent you will have to pay for gas and electricity unless your rent is inclusive of these. You may alsohave to pay water rates and an advance quarterley charge for the telephone connection. You may also want to rent a TV, video or washing machine, so it is important to bear these costs in mind. Don't forget if you get a TV you will need a licence.

 

The tenancy should also clearly state who is responsible for the utility costs, water rates and any Council Tax.

 

Amount of rent, method and frequency of payment
The rent stated in the contract should be the actual rent you have agreed to pay for the duration of your tenancy. The day when the rent is due should be included. Most landlords will prefer the rent to be paid monthly, but you can agree to pay termly if it helps you to budget better. Monthly cheque, cash with receipt or standing order are the only sensible ways to pay rent.

 

Do not use post-dated cheques, as banks cannot accept any responsibility if they are cashed earlier and you will be charged.

 

 

REPAIRS

 

Firstly, and most importantly, if a property is in need of extensive repair do not sign an agreement for it. Landlords may try to influence you with promises such as 'it will be done when you move in' or 'I'll get it seen to next month'.

 

Responsibility for the upkeep of the property is divided between the landlord and tenant, although if you are renting through an agent, they may have certain responsibilities. Make sure these responsibilities are clarified before you sign any agreement.

 

Tenants responsibilities

 

Landlord responsibilities

The best way for getting repairs done is to report them immediately in writing. Do not wait for a minor problem to become a major repair as the landlord could accuse you of acting negligently.

As a general rule, you should allow two days for an urgent repair and 21 days for a non-urgent repair.

Do not agree to any clauses, which expect you undertake unreasonable repairs such as repairing the guttering, etc.

If your landlord refuses to carry out repairs when properly requested, you can contact:

Some students may consider withholding their rent as a means to get the landlord to carry out repairs. This could constitute a breach of contract. You should seek advice first from the Advice Unit.

 

 

GAS

 

All landlords are legally required to ensure that all gas appliances in a property are safe and checked annually by a person who is registered with the Confederation of Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) or a British Gas engineer.

 

When you move into the property the landlord must give you a copy of a CORGI certificate, which demonstrates that the appliances are safe. Ideally, you should ask to see this certificate when you are viewing properties.

 

Gas appliances must be safe and have sufficient ventilation in order to prevent a gas leak or carbon monoxide poisoning, which can kill in minutes.

 

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Gas appliances must be safe and have sufficient ventilation in order to prevent a gas leak or carbon monoxide poisoning, which can kill in minutes.

 

Carbon monoxide is difficult to detect because it is colourless, odourless and tasteless. However, there are danger signs which you should be aware of such as sooting or staining marks on around the appliance, a yellow or orange flame instead of blue, pilots lights that frequently go out, condensation in the room.

 

Symptoms of CM poisoning are:

If you suspect a gas leak you should:

Electricity
It is your landlords responsibility to maintain and repair electrical supplies in the property including sockets and wiring. Danger signs of faulty supplies are switches that give sparks, plugs that heat up. You should never overload sockets with lots of adaptors!

 

Fire safety
As a minimum, most properties will have smoke alarms to detect smoke or fires. Shared properties have a much greater risk of fire usually caused in the kitchen or individual rooms.

 

Furniture
All furniture in the property should contain upholstery, which complies with The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (and amendments). Furniture regulated by this rule include:

 

Therefore, furniture should be fire resistant and should have a label to prove it. Again, check for these when viewing properties.

 

If the property has had an electrical check in the last five years, then your landlord should be able to show you a NICEIC certificate.

 

Handy Hints to Prevent Fires

 

 

Harrassment and Eviction

 

Harassment
Under the law, all tenants have the right to 'quiet enjoyment' of their home. This means that you should be able to live in the property without unreasonable interference from your landlord. It is an implied term of the contract and therefore will not be written into your agreement.

 

Harassment often conjures up extreme scenarios although this is not the case, examples of harassment can include:

If your landlord is harassing you, keep a dairy of events in case you need to take further action.

 

What can I do about it?
Try to resolve the matter with the landlord yourself, either verbally or in writing. If this fails or you are uncomfortable about doing this or want advice on how to approach your landlord, do not hesitate to contact the Advice Unit for help. On occasions, it may be necessary to pursue legal action to end the harassment.

 

Illegal Eviction
You cannot be forced out of your home without a court order!

Many students often have misconceptions about the landlord's power in relation to eviction. If a landlord threatens to dispose of your personal belongings, change the locks or just asks you to leave, these attempts are illegal and constitute a criminal offence.

If the landlord threatens violence by 'bringing the heavies round' to physically throw you out of the house or you have actually been denied access to your home, you can call:

 

A common reason for eviction is where the tenant has rent arrears or breached a term of the tenancy. Even if this is the case, the landlord will need to obtain a court order. If you are concerned that your landlord may threaten eviction due to rent arrears you should seek advice as soon as possible.

 

Security
Students often overlook this issue. Remember, student properties are often found in clusters and are a prime target for theft especially during the Christmas, Easter and summer period. Victims of theft also find themselves in financial difficulties as they try to either replace or repair any item.

 

When you are viewing properties consider the following:

 

 

Handy Hints to Prevent Theft

Insurance
Again, this area is often overlooked by students and considered to be an unnecessary expense. Checking with your parents to see if you are covered by their home contents insurance can reduce expense. If not, see if you can be added on.

If you take out your own insurance then always read the terms and small print carefully. If you are not sure you can either check with your parents or contact the Advice Unit.

 

What to do if you are burgled

Things to remember when you move in



Movie Beat Summer Trailer

Latest News