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STUDENT ACCOMMODATION CENTRE

PRIVATE HOUSING TALK2 March 2009

Exhibitors

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WHAT SERVICES DOES THE STUDENT ACCOMMODATION CENTRE PROVIDE?

• Help in finding a property• Details of registered agents and access to their lists• Access to the Student Accommodation Centre database• Advice on tenancy agreements/licences• Information on guarantors/references• Information on Tenancy Deposit Protection• Access to computers within the Student Hub area

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WHAT FACTORS SHOULD I CONSIDER?

• Do I want to live by myself or with friends?• Where do I want to live? • How far do I want to travel?• What type of accommodation am I looking for?• How much will it cost?

ACTON

PADDINGTON

HAMMERSMITH

KENSINGTON

SOUTH KENSINGTON

FULHAM

WHAT TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION IS AVAILABLE?

• Room in a house or flat share

• Bedsit

• Studio

• Flat / House

• Student Accommodation with other organisations

PRIVATE SECTOR - STUDENT ACCOMMODATION PROVIDERS

• UNITE – Properties Liberty Living - Properties

2.5 Minutes Student Film

• Do we need a slide here?

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PERSONAL EXPENSES

In addition to your rent

• Food £45.00 per week (approx)• Travel £16.20 per week (approx)• Study Materials £ 6.50 per week (approx)• Laundry Costs £ 5.00 per week (approx)• Telephone Usage (Mobile) £10.00 per week (approx)• Socialising £25.00 per week (approx)• Miscellaneous Items £20.00 per week (approx)

(clothes, newspapers etc) _________ £127.70 per week (approx)

These figures are approximate

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SHARED EXPENSES

The figures below are based on 3 people sharing

• Gas £ 3.50 • Electricity £ 3.50• Water £ 2.20• TV Licence £ 1.00• Telephone £10.00• Broadband £ 2.00• Cable TV £ 4.00

________£26.20

These figures are approximatePer person, per week

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STAYING FRIENDS

• Set up joint bank account

• Kitty for washing up liquid, toilet paper etc

• Set rules for cleaning kitchen, bathroom

• Set rules for sharing food

• Set rules for guests

• Emergency contact list i.e. floods and electrical faults

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WHERE DO I START?

• Student Accommodation Centre Database

• Student Accommodation Centre Lists

• Student Flat Share Lists

• Websites

• Letting Agents

• Private Accommodation Providers

PERSONAL SAFETY WHEN VIEWING PROPERTIES

• What time of day should you visit the property?

• How are you going to get there?

• What is the area like?

• How do you keep yourself safe?

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WHAT DO I LOOK FOR WHEN I AM VIEWING A PROPERTY? – It’s Your Life!• The condition of the property

• Furniture is fire retardant

• Ensure that fire safety features are adequate , e.g. smoke detectors, fire alarms and fire extinguishers

• Electrical fittings are correctly installed, e.g. no loose wires or faulty plugs

• All gas appliances i.e. boilers and fires have a Gas Safety Certificate

issued by a (CORGI) Registered Engineer.

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WHAT COSTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH RENTING ACCOMMODATION THROUGH A LETTING AGENT?

HOW MUCH MONEY WILL I NEED?

• Holding deposit £ 350.00• Six weeks’ rent, in most cases, as a deposit £2,280.00• One month’s rent in advance £1,646.66• Tenancy Agreement costs £ 350.00

__________£4,626.66

Divided by 3 = £1,542.22 per person in advance

Mr Bean – 3 Minutes

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WHAT TYPES OF CONTRACTS ARE AVAILABLE?

• Assured Shorthold Tenancy – AST• Common Law Tenancy• Licence

It is advisable to get some assistance in checking

any documents you may have to sign

TENANCY DEPOSIT PROTECTION

• Insurance Scheme

• Custodial Scheme

– What do you get?– When should you receive the information?

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WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN I MOVE IN?

• Check the inventory thoroughly

• Take photographs

• Take meter readings for the gas and electricity

• Contact the utility companies and transfer the gas and electricity accounts into your name

• Take out insurance for your own belongings

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WHAT DO I DO WHEN MY TENANCY ENDS?

• Ensure that an Inventory check out has taken place by the landlord/letting agent

• Make sure all bills have been paid• Ensure the accommodation is clean• Make sure all rubbish is removed• Take photographs• Return the keys

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WHY HAS MY DEPOSIT NOT BEEN RETURNED?

• Failure to return all keys at the end of the Tenancy

• Unpaid rent• Missing items• Damage to the property• Non removal of rubbish• Non payment of bills• Rogue Landlord• Property inadequately cleaned

EXPECT A DEPOSIT DEDUCTION

NO DEPOSIT DEDUCTION

BUYING PROPERTY

• What type of property?

• What should I look for?

• What are service charges?

• What do I do next?

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THANK YOU

• Don’t forget to speak to all the exhibitors in the Main Dining Hall on the Level 1

• Refreshments now available

• Complete the Questionnaire to win Fantastic Prizes