When international students search for accommodation in the UK, they may encounter many complex situations. With its diverse culture and unique legal system, the UK can be particularly challenging for newcomers. This article aims to provide a comprehensive and easy-to-understand overview of the critical elements of a rental agreement to help students understand their rights and responsibilities as tenants. Whether you are renting for the first time or just want to clarify some details, this article will serve as a valuable resource to ensure a smooth and successful stay in the UK. Additionally, we will compare the features of student accommodation to help students get more options.
Don’t forget to consider the bills.
In the UK, most social housing tenants are responsible for paying their own bills. When calculating your rent, don’t forget to factor in monthly bills. However, uhomes offer a variety of student accommodation Manchester with bills included for students. Generally, everyday bills include gas (Gas), electricity (Electricity), broadband (Broadband), water (Water), and an annual TV license fee if you have a TV and watch live TV. uhomes covers all these bills for you, saving you much time and giving you access to an easier and happier student life in the UK.
Also, when looking for a house, remember to check the energy performance certificate (EPC) of the house. The higher the score, the lower your monthly bill expenses may be. The orientation of the house also determines whether the winter lighting is sufficient, which affects indoor temperature; if the house windows are equipped with double-glazed insulation (Double-glazing), the insulation effect will be better, which will improve the evaluation result of the energy performance certificate score.
Look up the detailed information
Reviews on rental websites are a valuable source of information, where all students who have lived there can leave genuine feedback, which will help new students get a real sense of the student accommodation Nottingham. Additionally, asking your classmates or friends is also a worthwhile option to consider. If you have friends or classmates who have lived in a student apartment, they can give you the most authentic living experience. Rent and housing conditions vary by region, so you can ask your classmates about the most economical living options based on your budget. In this regard, the advice of older students can save you a lot of money, and some student unions also provide free rental manuals and consulting services. When you view a property, if the current tenant is living there, you can also ask about their living experience. They are definitely the people who know the room the best.
Protect Your Deposit
When renting a private residence in the UK, signing a tenancy agreement usually requires a deposit of 4-6 weeks, depending on the property. Your landlord must place the deposit amount into “Tenancy Deposit Protection” within 30 days of receiving the deposit, which is guaranteed by the government to protect the rights of tenants. If the tenant has fulfilled their contract, the landlord or letting agent must return the entire deposit, provided that there has been no damage to the property and rent and bills have been paid on time. This must be completed within 10 days of the end of the tenancy. Even if there is a dispute over the deposit with the landlord, the deposit will be protected by TDP.
Read the rental contract carefully.
Most contracts will state that if the lease is terminated, the tenant needs to give at least one month’s notice (Notice) to the landlord. However, in some cases, advance notice may be required for 2 months or even 15 days. This information will be clearly stated in the contract and should be carefully reviewed before signing. Additionally, suppose the property is in poor condition. In that case, taking photos before moving in is advisable, including any scratches on the walls, stains on the carpet, and damage to the furniture. This should be documented and communicated with the landlord beforehand to avoid any disputes at the end of the lease.
Daily Safety Tips
Due to the fact that many students like to go out for entertainment late at night, student housing areas are gradually becoming targets for thieves. For students, it is advisable to choose areas with good security when renting a house, and crime rate statistics can be found on the official website of the British Police. If you are worried about your property being stolen indoors, you can also buy property insurance to provide additional protection for your laptop, mobile phone, iPad, etc. In addition, many British houses have smoke detectors in the kitchen; if the smoke is too thick or the humidity is too high, it may trigger an alarm. In this case, it is advisable to open the window, ventilate as soon as possible, and then press the alarm button. In some student dormitories and apartments, once the alarm goes off, everyone must go downstairs and gather in the courtyard, waiting for the dormitory staff to check for safety hazards before returning.