Student Rental FAQ’S

PRE-TENANCY

Q. How long are the tenancy agreements for?
A. Normally 46 weeks but this depends on the property.

Q. Do you do credit checks?
A. We have the facility to do credit checks if necessary. We also require every tenant to have a Guarantor. This Guarantor needs to be a UK resident, a homeowner and fully employed.

Q. Are all properties furnished?
A. Yes, all properties come furnished including kitchen appliances.

Q. In 2 or more bedroom properties, can more than one person live in the same room?
A. No, the price is per person in relation to the number of bedrooms in the house.

Q. Are pets allowed?
A. No

Q. Are there any administration fees?
A. No

Q. Is there a bond?
A. Yes and this is returned to you at the end of the agreement. The amount will depend on the specific property and will not need to be paid again should you choose to re-sign the property for the following year.

Q. Are bills included in the rent?
A. No. Water Rates, Gas and Electric will all be paid by the tenants. Some properties do offer all inclusive rent but please speak to our office regarding this.

Q. Do you have any houses where I can just rent one room?
A. Yes we have individual rooms to let within shared student houses. In these you will have your own room, but will share communal facilities.

Q. Do you provide kitchen utensils or do we need to bring our own?
A. Our properties are fully furnished, but we do not provide items such as kitchen utensils and bedding, therefore you will need to bring these with you when you move in.

Q. Is the internet installed?
A. This varies from property to property.

Q. Do you do viewings on Saturdays?
A. Yes we are open for viewings on Saturdays from 10am to 1.00pm.

Q. How long in advance do we need to book if we want to look at some houses?
A. We need 24 hours to inform current tenants of viewings on properties. To arrange a viewing call us on 01695 581260.

Q. Do you offer a Summer discount?
A. Generally we don’t, but certain properties may have summer discounts if maintenance works are planned.

Q. Do you offer properties with bills included?
A. We don’t tend to but this will vary from property to property.

Q. Can I use my own furniture?
A. Yes. However please make sure you arrange your own storage for NSW Properties furniture and remove any personal items before you leave.

TENANCY

Q. How often do we have to pay rent?
A. If you are a student, the rent is paid in three installments as per your tenancy agreement to coincide with the academic terms of University. We do ask for a minimum payment of 2 weeks rent at the commencement of your tenancy. This is to tide you over until your Student Loan is paid to you.

Q. How do I pay the rent?
A. Rent is paid either in to our bank account or by card which can be taken over the phone or in our office.

Q. Can my parents pay my rent?
A. Anyone can pay your rent on your behalf; however the legal responsibility lies with you.

Q. Who holds my Deposit?
A. The Deposit is safeguarded by the Tenancy Deposit Solutions Ltd, 3rd Floor, Kingmaker House, Station Road, New Barnet, EN15 1NZ, Tel No: 08717 030552, Fax: 08456 343403, E-mail: info@mydepsoits.co.uk

Q. What happens if I fall into arrears?
A. We appreciate that sometimes things can be tight however rental payments must be paid on time. If you fall in to arrears you will be charged and all guarantors and other tenants will be informed of the debt. Please refer to your tenancy agreement for details on charges that could be applied. The sooner you let us know of any extenuating circumstances the quicker we can try and work with you.

Q. Can I leave the contract earlier should I want to?
A. You can do, however you and the other tenants will need to find someone to assign over your tenancy. Once a suitable tenant is found they would need to fulfill all the necessary requirements and we would then need to add the new tenant to the contract. The cost of this procedure is £100 and is payable by the outgoing tenant.

Q. What happens if I have a maintenance issue with my property?
A. Small repairs and the day to day running of the property are the tenant’s responsibility, however in certain circumstances you may not be able to solve the problem and therefore NSW has the relevant tradesmen to assist with these issues. However you will be charged for any call outs made which fall under the tenant’s responsibility or which are deemed unnecessary.

Q. How can I advertise my property/room if I cannot fulfill my tenancy agreement?
A. You can advertise your property for free by using websites such as Gumtree, Facebook and Myspace. You will also be able to advertise on the NSW website.

Q. Can I decorate?
A. Unfortunately re-decoration is not allowed.

Q. Can I put a lock on my bedroom door?
A. Locks are on all bedrooms in all properties and you will be provided with a key for your room along with keys to the house on the first day of your tenancy.

POST TENANCY

Q. What do I need to do in order to get my bond back?
A. For NSW Properties to process your bond we need proof of payment of your final bills for Water, Gas, Electric and Council Tax. This proof can come in either the form of either a letter from your supplier explaining that your account is clear or your final bill and a stamp from the post office stating the amount that has been paid. Added to this the property should be returned in the same condition as you received it on the first day of your tenancy.

Q. How long does my bond take to process and what format does it come in?
A. Your bond will be refunded to you 10 days after we have agreed with you that everything in the property is fine and no deductions are to be made and we have received proof of payment for your final bills. Once the bond has been processed it will be returned to you in the form of a cheque made payable to the tenant.