Monday 23-01-2023 - 14:11

Searching for your first shared student house is an exciting time. But before you get distracted by the cheap rent or the local pubs, there are some important things to bear in mind.

A year’s rental agreement is a long time if you later find out there’s a serious damp problem, or you don’t feel safe in the local area.

Use this guide to get all the information you need at a student house viewing and feel confident when you sign a tenancy agreement.

Do Your Research Before You Go

Finding a rental property that’s up to scratch can take time, but it’s worth the effort when you move in. That’s why we’ve created a new My Rent, My Rights area – it’s full of useful resources to help you understand your rights as a student tenant.

Before you go, make a list of all the questions you want to ask the estate agent – use our house-viewing checklist below to help you.

If you don’t know the area, investigate it further by asking friends and family and looking on Google Maps. What is public transport like and what is the route back to the property?

Things to Consider When You’re There

Take a good look around the area. Would you feel safe at night and are there decent streetlights on your main routes home? How would you get to the nearest supermarket and could you carry shopping back easily?

Try to coordinate the viewing time so that everyone you’re planning to live with can see the property. And remember to take lots of pictures and videos to help you compare places later.

Questions for the Current Tenants

If you get a chance, talk to the current tenants to find out if they’re happy with the state of the property. Ask them why they are leaving and whether the landlord is quick to fix issues. This can give you an invaluable insight into what it would be like to live there.

Stay Safe When Viewing a Property

Follow these top three tips to stay safe when you’re looking round a property:

1. Never take large amounts of cash with you
2. Don’t go alone. If this is unavoidable, always let someone know where you’re going
3. If you feel unsafe at any point, trust your instincts and leave

House Viewing Checklist

Work through this list to make sure you don’t forget anything at your viewing…

Outside the House

• Is anything broken? Look for cracks in the guttering, roof, windows and doors.
• Are the walls in good condition?
• Is the garden tidy and who’s responsible for garden maintenance?

Inside the House

• Is there enough shared living space?
• What furniture is included?
• Are the bedrooms big enough?
• Is it well maintained?
• Are there signs of damp or mould?
• Are there enough toilets, showers and radiators?

Location

• Is the property in a good area for you?
• Are there transport and shops nearby?
• Do you feel safe in the area?

Your Landlord

• Do you have the landlord’s full name and address?
• Do they have an HMO license suitable for the property?
• Which deposit scheme will your landlord use to protect your money?

Safety and Security

• Does the landlord have a gas safety certificate, provided by a Gas Safe engineer within the past 12 months?
• Are there working smoke alarms/C02 detectors?
• Are there enough plug sockets in each room and are they free from damage?
• Are all windows lockable?
• Do the front and back doors have strong locks?
• Does the property have a carbon monoxide detector?
• Has the property been burgled? If so, what has been done to reduce the risk?

Contract

• Have you thoroughly read and understood the contract? Don’t be afraid to ask the landlord or agent if anything is unclear.
• Have you confirmed the dates of the contract?
• How much is the monthly rent and how much will house bills cost?
• Do you need a UK-based guarantor?
• If the landlord’s agreed to fix things is this confirmed in writing with a deadline?

Remember, you can’t be charged for referencing, administration or credit/ immigration checks. You can be charged for late payment of rent, lost keys/fobs, ending your tenancy early or changing/assigning your tenancy.