Along with the advice and information supplied by the Accommodation Service,
on selecting property, we would also like to help prepare you for any
problems, which may occur during your tenancy.
However, we are well aware that most students have a problem free period of
occupancy, but please consider the points below which may be of use in future.
Gas safety ^top
All rented property or rooms should, by law, have a current CORGI safety
certificate, (Confederation Of Registered Gas Installers). This test is intended
to certify that the gas supply to the property is safe and that there is
adequate ventilation, in areas where gas appliances are sited.
Points to note:
- You should ask to see a valid certificate of gas safety before you sign a
contract and a renewal certificate if the old one has expired before you move
in.
- All properties listed with the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside
have had a current certificate checked before being included on any register.
- If you are concerned about any gas appliance advise, your landlord
immediately.
- If you smell gas or suspect a leak call British Gas first!
www.britishgas.co.uk
Security ^top
Because you are a student, you are not entitled to any higher security than
any other sort of householder and as with any property your own security can be
enhanced by your own vigilance. Too often students report theft or damage where
there has been no evidence of forced entry or damage to any part of the
property.
Many landlords provide as standard, locks to room and burglar alarms, which
is about as good as you can get. Student insurers like: Endsleigh insurance and
campus insurance,offer student specific insurance policies.
Points to note:
- Make sure all doors are locked and windows are closed, locked if possible,
whenever the property is left vacant. Even, if you are just popping out to the
shops.
- Consider leaving lights on while you are away from the property (timer
devices are not too expensive and can be set to turn on and off at various
times).
- If your room has a door lock fitted use it while you are away from the
property.
- If you are going away for a long period advise the landlord, security checks
may be able to be arranged, but don't forget that the landlord cannot watch the
premises 24 hours a day.
- Make sure you have a student, type possessions insurance.
Fire safety is split into 3 categories and then the specific provision for
any property is dependant on the type of letting, which is in force at the
premises.
Fire Protection: Protection from fire is provided by the materials
used on doors and materials within a property and usually fitted as standard to
property, which is considered as multiple let or declared as a House in Multiple
Occupation (HIMO). This would usually consist of fire doors being fitted to
doorways, which open onto the access route of the property (i.e.. hallways
landings staircases and corridors). Also much of the construction of walls and
ceilings will have been designed to reduce the risk of fire spreading.
You as a tenant should also find that any soft furnishings will be fire
resistant and these will include, mattresses, curtains, chairs and settees.
Fire/Smoke Detection: All student property should have some form of
Fire/Smoke Detection as a matter of good practice and you as a potential tenant
should insist that a minimum provision is made within your or any property that
you may consider letting.
Again as with Fire Protection, the mandatory provision can vary depending on
the type of letting in force at the property and is governed by a properties
HIMO status.
A brief guide is as follows:
- All houses and flats should have at least a single point battery operated
smoke detector sited in the hallway or landing area and preferably two, one at
each point.
- 2 storey properties (i.e. ground and first floor) would in the case of best
practice have an inter linked smoke alarm system which has a smoke detector head
fitted in all rooms, which will react in all rooms should smoke be present in
any of the others.
- 3 storey properties or larger 2 storey properties (i.e. 6 or more rooms)
should have a hard wired Fire Alarm system (this is noticeable by a control
panel usually fitted in the hallway.) This again has detector heads fitted in
all rooms and would activate in all areas if smoke is detected in any other
area.
Please note that if your alarm indicates a fault or activates accidentally
you should advise the landlord and not attempt to repair the problem yourself.
this is mainly to protect you from doing any damage to an expensive item of
equipment but moreover to ensure that qualified personnel maintain the integrity
of the system.
Fire Escape: In property of 3 stories or less it is not mandatory to
have an external alternative escape route. It necessary in property deemed as
HIMO to have a protected route out of the building by means of fire doors with
closures and smoke seals and protected halls and staircases. The exit doors
should be able to be unlocked without the use of a key.
This provision is again, qualified by the type of letting in force at the
property. For further clarification contact the Accommodation Service or the
Lincoln/Hull City Council Environmental Health Office (Housing Section).
Referral on rental situations are often the most common from student tenants
due to the varied range of difficulties which can occur to make it difficult to
pay your rent on time.
The contract of occupation you have or will sign is the document, which
determines when, and how much you have to pay, and that is the bottom line you
have to pay. There are very few circumstances in which you will be able to avoid
the payment and all of those require prior consent of the landlord. So if you
know that you have a problem with cash flow you must speak to your landlord at
the earliest opportunity. Honest information is required and make sure that you
meet any rearranged deadlines, which may be agreed.
Failure to meet rental demands can cause problems for yourself later and
could also affect you co-tenants if you have a joint and several contract.
Contracts ^top
Most contracts signed by students are Assured Shorthold Tenancies, which have
a clear start and finish date and agreed amounts for payment and the dates on
which those amounts should be paid. Once signed, this document is usually
non-negotiable and will remain in force until the end date of the contract. Any
flexibility in terms of such a contract is at the sole discretion of the
landlord.
Contracts for accommodation can appear straightforward but can often require
close reading prior to signing.
You should look out for the following:
- Can you pay the rental as agreed?
- Are you responsible for other tenants rent if they default?
- Are you responsible for external vandalism at the property?
- Are you responsible for the cleaning of windows, upkeep of any gardens/yards
or outbuildings?
- What are your responsibilities for cleaning, when and what?
- Can you fix posters to walls and what method of fixing is acceptable?
Inventory ^top
This is a document that can be seen as trivial but can be valuable at the end
of a tenancy if there are, any questions on the items supplied within the
property or in fact the condition at the time of you moving into the property.
Many students find it difficult to discuss deposit refunds when there is no
documentation to prove or disprove the state of an item that may have been
recharged for, at the end of the year. A well prepared, inventory can save you
money from your deposit at the end of your tenancy agreement.
Deposits ^top
The deposit is a sum of money held by the landlord against damage, required
cleaning, outstanding rent or missing items within the property. You should have
this money returned soon after you have left the property, unless any matters
require recharging against the sum as indicated above.
Landlords ^top
The landlord should be an ally to a tenant and should allow you to occupy the
property without any need to interfere with your day to day, life. However some
tenants do not always help themselves, in dealing with their landlord, or
occasionally a landlord can operate without consideration and cause some
conflict between themselves and their tenants.
Frequent problems from the student to the landlord are:
- Levels of noise/music - Turn it down or be considerate of the time of
day/night
- Late notice of repairs - Report faults quickly and allow contractors entry
to deal with the repair
- Poor housing management - Keep the house as tidy as possible and regularly
remove refuse from the house
Frequent problems from landlords to students are:
- Irregular visiting times - Unless a repair has been reported you should have
notice of a visit.
- Contractors arrive too early - Most contractors start at 8.00am and may have
many jobs to do.
- Delay in repairing jobs - Make sure the repair was reported in the first
place and ask when it will be done
Generally students do not experience any of the above but please seek advice
if any of the above do, cause you a problem.
Furniture ^top
Any concerns over the condition of furniture should be reported in the
inventory, however you should have made sure that the provision is adequate for
your purposes and will last for the duration of your tenancy. Damage, however,
accidental is your responsibility and should be reported to the landlord as soon
as possible. Please be aware that should an item of furniture fall into
disrepair through general wear and tear, you should have advised the landlord of
this fact before the item breaks, otherwise it can be considered as damage.
Many student property contracts hold you responsible for the costs of
replacing broken glass at the property, make sure that you have clarified this
before you sign the contract. Cracks and marks to windows should be detailed on
the inventory.
Any blockages, which, occur to the drains around the property may be your
responsibility to have cleared. Again check this out before you sign the
contract. Good household management can avoid expensive call out charges by
drain clearance companies.
The condition of all carpets and floor surfaces should have been detailed on
the inventory. Failure to record such matters could result in you being charged
for cleaning, repair or replacement at the end of the tenancy.
Decorations ^top
The condition of walls and decorations should be detailed in the inventory
and clarification should be requested of what you can do to the walls in the
house.
- Can you use blue tak? - Are there any existing marks from a previous tenant
- Should you use pins? - Is there any marks left by previous tenants
- Is the wallpaper fixed properly - are there any peeling corners/pull marks
from a previous tenant.
- Are scuff, scratch or movement marks detailed on the inventory.
The reinstatement to decoration in rooms is one of the most frequent
referrals dealt with by the Accommodation Service and can be very costly
depending on what kind of contractor is used by the landlord.
If you require further details on any of the above please do not hesitate to
contact the Accommodation service.
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