What do I have to pay prior to the start of the tenancy?
How do I know I'll get my security deposit back?
Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
When do your houses get booked up?
When can we view your houses in Loughborough?
What type of tenancy agreement will we be signing?
How is rent calculated and paid?
Can I access the Internet in my room?
Is there a TV point in my room?
Landlords never maintain their houses, do they?
There is no application fee or tenancy fee for my student houses in Loughborough.
To confirm your reservation for a house I do ask you to sign a tenancy agreement and before the start of the tenancy there is a returnable security deposit of £250 per tenant to pay (see below).
I am a professional landlord with a properly designated client account. At the commencement of the tenancy you will be issued with a detailed statement of condition and inventory and asked to check and sign it.
Once the tenancy has finished I will check the property (with you) and subject to their being no damage and no cleaning required, your security deposit will be returned within 28 days of the end of the tenancy.
The Housing Act 2004 requires all landlords who take a security deposit for tenancies starting after 06 April 2007 to join a government-authorised tenancy deposit scheme.
As a member of the National Landlords Association I have registered as a member of a government-authorised insurance-based scheme operated by Tenancy Deposit Solutions Ltd (a company jointly owned by the National Landlords Association and Hamilton Fraser Insurance Services Ltd) - see website www.mydeposits.co.uk for more information.
All my houses are let under joint tenancy agreements and so each house has Nominated Tenant who will be the point of communication for the Scheme Administrator.
The Housing Act 2004 defines an HMO as being any bed-sit, house or flat which is occupied by people from more than one family. A new definition brings shared student houses into this category and standards for amenities, room sizes and management apply.
Larger HMOs - defined as being those houses that are shared by five or more occupants and that also have three or more habitable floors - must be licensed by the local authority.
It seems to get earlier each year so my advice is this: the early bird catches the worm. Many students form groups during the autumn term and start house hunting in spring term in preparation for the following academic year. But because my houses are so popular, last year I had enquiries during October / November and everything had been booked up by Christmas.
So the sooner you secure your accommodation with me for next year, the better. Later in the year, choice can become severely restricted.
I'll make an appointment pretty much any time to suit you and show you round myself. Often the current tenants are happy to show you round, so just knock on the door and ask - this will also give you the opportunity to ask for inside information about me, as a landlord, and my houses.
I only let my student houses in Loughborough to groups of students who want to fill a whole house and the tenancy agreement is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy as defined in Section 20 of the Housing Act 1988, see sample contract (65KB PDF file).
The wording is as recommended by the Student Advice Centre (on the first floor in the Union building). The tenancy runs from 01 July for 12 months and I will ask each of you to sign a single tenancy agreement as joint tenants.
Rent for the house for the whole year is specified in the tenancy agreement and is calculated based on the average price per room per week multiplied by 52 weeks and the number of rooms.
Each student is responsible for an equal share of the house rent paid quarterly in advance, by standing order, usually from the bank account of a parent or guardian.
Yes, every room in every house has an Ethernet network point hard wired to a Web Safe Router ready for connection to a high-speed broadband modem. All you need do is decide which ISP you want to go with and what broadband package you want.
The router allows PCs in every room to be online simultaneously with no loss of speed. Only one broadband account is required so the cost is shared with your housemates. Virgin Media has some fantastic package deals for students.
Yes, all my houses have a new digital and terrestrial TV aerial and state of the art TV distribution system. So, every room has a TV point supplying high quality digital and terrestrial TV signals. If you subscribe to cable or satellite TV you can even watch this in your room as well.
Electricity and gas: the accounts are in my name and I pay the bills on your behalf, so you will never get cut off by the utility supplier. However, you are responsible for reimbursing me for the electricity and gas you use during your tenancy.
I research the whole market, on a regular basis, for the most competitive rates and switch to the best supplier. I achieve further discounts for operating a dual-fuel online account and for paying by monthly direct debit. The combined total for gas and electricity, per person for the whole year, is likely to be in the region of £240 to £280. The actual amount of bills will depend on power and gas usage i.e. how long the central heating is programmed to come on for, etc.
Meter readings are taken at the start and end of the tenancy and each quarter between. I forward the readings to the supplier for bills to be produced and I copy the bills and send you a statement.
To budget for utility payments most tenants elect to pay £5 each per week, added to the rent, to put towards the gas and electricity used. This gives an allowance for the whole year of £260 per person. At the end of the tenancy, it is agreed that if the total cost of the gas and electricity used during the tenancy is more than £260 per person then the extra over amount is paid to me. It is also agreed that if the total cost of the gas and electricity used during the tenancy is less than £260 per person then the amount under is reimbursed. It is a very workable scheme and avoids having to pay bills in larger lump sums typically around £130 twice a year. It also means that you only pay for what you use and encourages responsibility towards the environment.
Water bills: are my responsibility and there is no charge passed on to you.
Media and communications accounts (inc. TV licence): are your responsibility and you must decide what services you require and contact the relevant supplier directly yourself.
Council tax: I advise Charnwood Borough Council when your tenancy starts. Full time students living in shared private rented accommodation solely occupied by students are exempt from paying council tax.
Insurance for buildings and contents (owned by me): is my responsibility and there is no charge passed on to you. You are responsible for insuring your own personal possessions.
I keep my Loughborough student houses in tip-top condition and I ask you to let me know straight away if there is something in need of repair. I deal with all maintenance problems promptly and always arrange a suitable time and date with you to carry out the work.
Just have a look round any of my houses in Loughborough, ask the current tenants and make up your own mind.
Charnwood Borough Council operate a Preferential Parking Scheme that enables residents and permit holders within the scheme area to park close to premises (within the appropriate on street parking bays), without restriction. Residents are allowed one preferential parking permit free of charge, valid for 12 months (one additional permit is also available at a cost of £20).
See http://www.charnwood.gov.uk/23/5004.html for further details.
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