Tips for moving in

So you’ve finally got the paperwork for your new student accommodation and a year of excitement awaits.  But first you need to move in, so let’s get all the admin and paperwork out of the way first so you can get on with enjoying life in a student house.

Know before you move in:

The inventory records everything included in the student property and the condition you took it over in.  Triple check the inventory and take your own pictures – this is what will be used to determine how much of your deposit is returned at the end of the tenancy.  Make sure to carry out safety checks on windows, locks etc and raise any concerns with your landlord immediately.

Landlords are legally required to carry out a Gas Safety Certificate every 12 months so ensure you have a copy of this.

Boring it may be, but make sure you check all the utilities are in your name with moving in date and the latest meter readings so you don’t get any nasty surprise bills owed by previous tenants.  Anything not included in your tenancy such as broadband will need to be set up.

Register with local dental and doctor surgeries, as well as registering to vote.  If you are bringing a car, you will need to sort out if a parking permit is needed.

Don’t forget to tell friends and family your new student address as well as the University, bank, mobile phone company etc.

What is a tenancy agreement?

In simple terms, student tenancy agreements are a contract between you and your landlord.

The tenancy agreement gives certain rights to both you and your landlord, for example, your right to occupy the student accommodation and your landlord’s right to receive rent for letting the accommodation.

Once a tenancy agreement is signed the tenant is fully liable for the agreed rental schedule set out by the landlord. If rent is not paid on time the landlord has rights to demand this payment.

Make sure you read the tenancy agreement thoroughly and have a clear understanding of what it includes, length of agreement and what you are allowed to do i.e. can you put posters on the walls? 

What’s the deal with deposits?

There is only one deposit for each lease, although it is shared. It covers rent, damage to the house and/or contents, unpaid bills and other breaches of the lease.  This is normally one month’s rent but can vary so make sure you double check the deposit and any fees required upfront.

One deposit covers all breaches by any tenant listed on the lease. Everyone named on the lease is equally as well as solely liable for every rent payment or breach of lease.

There is a parental guarantee to cover individual tenants but the joint deposit is additional security for the Landlord.

Deductions from deposits can be made for not cleaning properly, not removing rubbish, damage to carpets and/or property etc. The biggest items where your deposit is at risk is rent arrears, going over your capped budget on bills and not cleaning the house to the correct standard on leaving.

How is my deposit protected?

All student deposits, even those for student accommodation, are covered legally by deposit protection schemes approved by the Government. These all provide for a dispute resolution scheme and arbitration. The parties can go to court in any event (but this is rarely used these days).

There are time limits for protection of the deposit by the Landlord and he has to serve notice of the protection of the deposit on the Tenant. The Landlord cannot withhold part of all of the deposit without the Tenant having recourse to deposit dispute procedure.

Our Top Tip: read your tenancy agreement and fully understand it!

For more help with your Gloucester student accommodation please contact us by calling 07791 248744, email enquiries@glsh.co.uk or visit Citizens Advice.