students renting first house.....uhoh!!
Discussion
haia!
can anyone offer help to some relatively clueless first year students???
me and two of my flatmates are renting/letting a house for the first time, and having looked at some real s***pits in the last week, we finally found the perfect place today! so exciting! we sign the contract tomorrow and put our deposits down (£180 - is that reasonable??) which apparently covers both the deposit and the admin fee of the company we're dealing with.
basically im really looking for some tips and advice on how to deal with it, as one tenant that we spoke to (from another house we viewed) mentioned that we should keep an eye on them. i dont really want us to go getting involved with a dodgy company that may rip us off at the end of and during our tenancy agreement, as this house is totally perfect for us and we dont want to pass up the opportunity!
so if any of you fellow PH's have any info from past experience etc that might help us, it would be very much appreciated!!
thanks very much
claire
can anyone offer help to some relatively clueless first year students???
me and two of my flatmates are renting/letting a house for the first time, and having looked at some real s***pits in the last week, we finally found the perfect place today! so exciting! we sign the contract tomorrow and put our deposits down (£180 - is that reasonable??) which apparently covers both the deposit and the admin fee of the company we're dealing with.
basically im really looking for some tips and advice on how to deal with it, as one tenant that we spoke to (from another house we viewed) mentioned that we should keep an eye on them. i dont really want us to go getting involved with a dodgy company that may rip us off at the end of and during our tenancy agreement, as this house is totally perfect for us and we dont want to pass up the opportunity!
so if any of you fellow PH's have any info from past experience etc that might help us, it would be very much appreciated!!
thanks very much
claire
The best advise I can give is read the contract before you sign it and make sure you are all happy with it.
If you are giving the owner a deposit try and make sure it is held by a third party - (Estate agents etc)as its easyier to get it back at the end of the tenancy.
check that the house you will be renting has safety certificates for all the electrics and most of all the gas boiler. (if there is one) for your own safety.
Well I hope this helps a bit.
Have fun and dont party to hard.
If you are giving the owner a deposit try and make sure it is held by a third party - (Estate agents etc)as its easyier to get it back at the end of the tenancy.
check that the house you will be renting has safety certificates for all the electrics and most of all the gas boiler. (if there is one) for your own safety.
Well I hope this helps a bit.
Have fun and dont party to hard.
I have just been through exactly the same process and have to admit it is daunting.
From what ive heard the main thing to be aware of is the length of the contract. If it starts in early August, for example, they may try to charge you for 13 months because the next group won't want to pay for a month when they are not in the house. Its worth checking the dates on the contract and agreeing when the tennancy ends.
Its also wise to take a good look through the house and point out anything that you think will need mending or replacing and make them agree to do this before you move in. For example, the landlord has agreed to put in a secure place to store my bike in the back yard.
£180 sounds ok for a deposit. Our house is privately leased, not through an agency like most and our deposit is £43 (one weeks rent) but ive heard of other people paying £300+ on houses that are really in demand.
It might also be worth going round the house to chat to the current residents to find out what they think and if they have had any problems.
Hope this helps, like i said its all new to me too.
I'm sure lots more advice will come in during the day!
Bernie
From what ive heard the main thing to be aware of is the length of the contract. If it starts in early August, for example, they may try to charge you for 13 months because the next group won't want to pay for a month when they are not in the house. Its worth checking the dates on the contract and agreeing when the tennancy ends.
Its also wise to take a good look through the house and point out anything that you think will need mending or replacing and make them agree to do this before you move in. For example, the landlord has agreed to put in a secure place to store my bike in the back yard.
£180 sounds ok for a deposit. Our house is privately leased, not through an agency like most and our deposit is £43 (one weeks rent) but ive heard of other people paying £300+ on houses that are really in demand.
It might also be worth going round the house to chat to the current residents to find out what they think and if they have had any problems.
Hope this helps, like i said its all new to me too.
I'm sure lots more advice will come in during the day!
Bernie
busta said:
Its also wise to take a good look through the house and point out anything that you think will need mending or replacing and make them agree to do this before you move in. For example, the landlord has agreed to put in a secure place to store my bike in the back yard.
If the place is furnished then you should be given an list of the contents. Be completely anal about checking this over and be sure to highlight any discrepencies. Also scour the flat for any damage and make a note of this on the contract or similar before you sign it and make sure the letting agent agree the items as well. If there is anything serious then I would even suggest taking photos with some kind of dating evidence in the shot (newspaper etc etc).
The easiest way for the agent to rip you off is to not give you your deposit back because of some spurious missing item or damage to the property.
The main things to worry about, as said above, are the safety certificates for the gas & electricity. The other thing is security - especially if it's in a student area (We used to get cleared out every 6 weeks, despite gates on the doors & windows), although a mate of mine did his masters in Leicester and it wasn't nearly as bad as Leeds for that sort of thing. Doesn't have to be a fortress, just doors & windows that close & lock properly, otherwise the insurance folks may not be so keen to pay up.
£180 sounds very reasonable - I remember ours being £162.50 (month's rent) 12 years ago. The folks in there at present should be a good bet for any horror stories of damp/insects, etc. , but they won't have tried to get their deposits back yet, so won't know.
Worth asking them if anything's gone wrong (things always will to some degreee), and if the landlord's any good at getting things fixed quickly - that's much more important. We were without carpets and internal doors for 6 months after someone nicked the hot water tank and two of the radiators over the Xmas hols and flooded the place
(the room doors were locked - this was no obstacle); another landlord was great at coming round the same day if anything went wrong - although his skills at fixing it weren't the greatest, the will was there.
Oh, and I've always found the returning of deposits to tenants to be something which landlords view as entirely optional.
If you like the house, live in it. After all, mice can be caught, insects can be squashed, fires can be put out (sometimes with the damp), and landlords can be harassed until they fix it, which most will, if you harass them enough.
£180 sounds very reasonable - I remember ours being £162.50 (month's rent) 12 years ago. The folks in there at present should be a good bet for any horror stories of damp/insects, etc. , but they won't have tried to get their deposits back yet, so won't know.
Worth asking them if anything's gone wrong (things always will to some degreee), and if the landlord's any good at getting things fixed quickly - that's much more important. We were without carpets and internal doors for 6 months after someone nicked the hot water tank and two of the radiators over the Xmas hols and flooded the place
(the room doors were locked - this was no obstacle); another landlord was great at coming round the same day if anything went wrong - although his skills at fixing it weren't the greatest, the will was there. Oh, and I've always found the returning of deposits to tenants to be something which landlords view as entirely optional.
If you like the house, live in it. After all, mice can be caught, insects can be squashed, fires can be put out (sometimes with the damp), and landlords can be harassed until they fix it, which most will, if you harass them enough.
I had a nice Indian lady as a landlord who was doing race relations no favours. She tried to screw us, pulled the "No speeky English" card everytime the something needed fixing. When it came to our deposits, don't get me started. The roof had holes in it and the place was a 
dump.
3rd year, I got the ultimate pad with a great mate and this little "Gemima Puddleduck" who turned out to be a nightmare. Watchout for interesting house relationships.
Golden Rule:-Do not screw your flatmates, otherwise a total nightmare will ensue
dump. 3rd year, I got the ultimate pad with a great mate and this little "Gemima Puddleduck" who turned out to be a nightmare. Watchout for interesting house relationships.
Golden Rule:-Do not screw your flatmates, otherwise a total nightmare will ensue
All good advice here.
Scrutinise the inventory with a fine tooth comb.
Photograph everything.
Check the CORGI certs for all gas equipment.
If you start from the premis that everyone, the landlord, the letting company and all the utility companies are going to try and fk you over, that's a good start.
Scrutinise the inventory with a fine tooth comb.
Photograph everything.
Check the CORGI certs for all gas equipment.
If you start from the premis that everyone, the landlord, the letting company and all the utility companies are going to try and f
k you over, that's a good start.gixxerrider said:
If you are giving the owner a deposit try and make sure it is held by a third party - (Estate agents etc)as its easyier to get it back at the end of the tenancy.
If it is through an agents, don't assume that they will be holding the deposit, get them to confirm it. One flat I lived in was rented through an agency but (unknown to us) the owner hed the deposit.
She was on the start of a 6 week holiday when we moved out so getting our deposit back took longer than anticipated.
gixxerrider said:
The best advise I can give is read the contract before you sign it and make sure you are all happy with it.
If you are giving the owner a deposit try and make sure it is held by a third party - (Estate agents etc)as its easyier to get it back at the end of the tenancy.
check that the house you will be renting has safety certificates for all the electrics and most of all the gas boiler. (if there is one) for your own safety.
Well I hope this helps a bit.
Have fun and dont party to hard.
All excellent advice apart from the last bit.
Party like a monster, chap.
If you go through your Uni accomodation office, they will have a list of approved landlords, however in practice, all this means is that the house is up to a minimum standard and has all the correct paperwork (Gas safety Cert etc..).
However, renting privately or through the Uni, you should read your contract and if possible, get someone who knows what they're looking at to have a glance through just to make sure everything's on the level, most landlords will use a standard tennancy agreement anyway.
You should check what happens during holidays (some places will charge you half rent) and make sure you know exactly what utility bills you will be liable for.
Taking photos before you move in is a good idea both for you and your landlord, make sure you take electricity/gas meter readings and if furnished, you should check through the inventory carefully.
I'm sure there are some evil hairy landlords out there who are trying to make a fast buck at the expense of a hapless student, new to the big wide world. But remember that there are also a lot of people for whom your new home is a long term investment (possibly in lieu of a decent pension) in which they take pride in running in a friendly and professional manner, they'll want to make sure your tennancy is as pain free as possible, but they'll also want a house left at the end of your stay.
At the end of the day, if everything else checks out, make sure the place 'feels' right, then go for it!
Good luck.
Dave
However, renting privately or through the Uni, you should read your contract and if possible, get someone who knows what they're looking at to have a glance through just to make sure everything's on the level, most landlords will use a standard tennancy agreement anyway.
You should check what happens during holidays (some places will charge you half rent) and make sure you know exactly what utility bills you will be liable for.
Taking photos before you move in is a good idea both for you and your landlord, make sure you take electricity/gas meter readings and if furnished, you should check through the inventory carefully.
I'm sure there are some evil hairy landlords out there who are trying to make a fast buck at the expense of a hapless student, new to the big wide world. But remember that there are also a lot of people for whom your new home is a long term investment (possibly in lieu of a decent pension) in which they take pride in running in a friendly and professional manner, they'll want to make sure your tennancy is as pain free as possible, but they'll also want a house left at the end of your stay.
At the end of the day, if everything else checks out, make sure the place 'feels' right, then go for it!
Good luck.
Dave
pmanson said:
Take photos of everything!!!!!
Absolutely everything. Make sure they are actual photos rather than digital.
I've just been through a load of hassle getting my deposit back from an Estate Agent. (Not a student any more). But that was to the tune of £600. Also make sure you read the contract and what pertains to holidays. So say you have to pay half board, other full board, some say you have to vacate and then resign. £180 per person seems reasonable, but how many of you are moving in?
Also check out who's responsible for the water rates. When I was a student, my house mates and I were left with a £90 bill from the previous tennants, for gas, which we wern't told about before taking over the supply. Check these.
thanks so much guys for your help!
me and the girls have just got back from the estate agents, having read and signed the contract and handed over £180 each....ouch!!
everything seems in good order, and all stipulations of the contract were simply common sense and no different to what we signed for our halls this year. its all quite exciting stuff, but then theres the worry of having to pay £260 a month on rent, with bills to pay aswell. our contract starts in july, as we're hoping to live there in order to get a job etc to pay off overdrafts!
all of a sudden i feel like such a grown up, and its very daunting, but i know it will be worth it in the end. all advice given so far had been noted and taken heed of, photos are a definite, and going through everything with a fine tooth comb is also a must. we were told yesterday by the current tenants that the landlord is sound, and very willing to repair or maintain anything that requires attention, and many things are new in the house anyway. but its still good to know.
thanks again guys for your help, was a welcome reassurance for what could have, and still could be, a tedious process...its still early days!
claire
me and the girls have just got back from the estate agents, having read and signed the contract and handed over £180 each....ouch!!
everything seems in good order, and all stipulations of the contract were simply common sense and no different to what we signed for our halls this year. its all quite exciting stuff, but then theres the worry of having to pay £260 a month on rent, with bills to pay aswell. our contract starts in july, as we're hoping to live there in order to get a job etc to pay off overdrafts!
all of a sudden i feel like such a grown up, and its very daunting, but i know it will be worth it in the end. all advice given so far had been noted and taken heed of, photos are a definite, and going through everything with a fine tooth comb is also a must. we were told yesterday by the current tenants that the landlord is sound, and very willing to repair or maintain anything that requires attention, and many things are new in the house anyway. but its still good to know.
thanks again guys for your help, was a welcome reassurance for what could have, and still could be, a tedious process...its still early days!
claire
Make sure that your landlord is always on the other end of the phone - we had a washing machine that kept breaking down last year (filling with water then just locking up with peoples clothes in), and an oven with a door that kept dropping straight off its hinges to the point where we had to wedge the thing shut with the kitchen table. Also, the boiler kept jamming on full (happened on a roasting summer night once which made me feverish for a week). And every single time we rang the guy to see if we could get it fixed, he couldn't come. He was quite quick to pocket the rent, mind you (despite the fact that my room was like a tall coffin with a window he managed to fleece me for £55p.w.), and upgraded from Ford Fiesta to Audi TT pretty quickly.
Keep an eye on them, and if possible, try and speak to some of his or her existing tenants.
Keep an eye on them, and if possible, try and speak to some of his or her existing tenants.
I have just secured my 05/06 house. it's great!!! semi detatched house (in a "student's-ville" of terraces) off road parking, fully enclosed back garden, secure as possible) shed for the bicycle!
I'm happy!
Basically, I hope you have chosen the correct house mates. It really can make all the difference. And when you do move in, don't be affraid to tell your housemates when you feel they are out of line. It's best to keep things out in the open, rather than have someone walk in on you bitching about them.
There is a massive difference between a gang of people in halls and living in a house with someone.
Back to the house thing, I'm sure most has been covered already, I am in my first year of private sector accom. and I was lucky, relativly nice house, decent landlord.
Pester them until things get done, then they'll be much more ready to help you in the future. If you lay back and let them walk all over then they will continue to do so. go in hard. let them no you'll take no shit from them.
I'm happy!
Basically, I hope you have chosen the correct house mates. It really can make all the difference. And when you do move in, don't be affraid to tell your housemates when you feel they are out of line. It's best to keep things out in the open, rather than have someone walk in on you bitching about them.
There is a massive difference between a gang of people in halls and living in a house with someone.
Back to the house thing, I'm sure most has been covered already, I am in my first year of private sector accom. and I was lucky, relativly nice house, decent landlord.
Pester them until things get done, then they'll be much more ready to help you in the future. If you lay back and let them walk all over then they will continue to do so. go in hard. let them no you'll take no shit from them.
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