Author: Student Haus

Looking for a place to live at uni can be exciting, but before you rush into signing a tenancy agreement there’s a few things you should check.

If you want to make an informed decision when choosing a student house to rent, make sure you go to property viewings prepared with a list of questions to ask.

In this article, we’ve come up with a list of 10 to think about when viewing student accommodation to ensure you don’t end up with any nasty surprises.

10 most important questions to ask when viewing student accommodation

1. Is the tenancy agreement a sole or joint agreement?

Student tenancy agreements are either joint agreements or sole agreements. A joint tenancy agreement makes all tenants jointly liable for the property and rent payments. That means that if one tenant stops paying, the others are responsible for ensuring their payments are covered. With a sole tenancy agreement, each tenant has their own contract and is liable for their own payments and actions only.

• How much is the deposit and which deposit scheme is used?

Before moving into a student property, you are usually required to pay a deposit. The deposit provides the landlord with some financial security if you stop paying rent or damage the property. Deposits are usually equal to about one month’s rent and landlords are required by law to pay your deposit into a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme.

• Are bills included?

Always check what bills (if any) are included in the price of your rent. If bills are not included then you will need to arrange and pay for all your utilities, television licence, and internet separately.

When you rent from Student Haus, you have peace of mind that the price of all our student accommodation is inclusive of all bills and internet, making it easier for you to budget and saving you the hassle of having to communicate with lots of different service providers.

• What are the tenants’ responsibilities?

Some landlords ask more of their student tenants than others. Asking this question may reveal any additional responsibilities contained within the tenancy agreement. Some common additional responsibilities include things like requesting that tenants maintain the garden and mow the lawn, asking student tenants to pay for the property to be professionally cleaned at the end of the tenancy agreement, or allowing the landlord to inspect the property regularly.

• Are tenants required to pay rent over the summer months?

Most student tenancy agreements run for a fixed term of 12 months, which means you will end up paying for your student property throughout the university holidays. This may or may not be a good thing, depending on your circumstances and where you plan to spend your holidays. Some landlords may be prepared to be flexible with your contract length, so it’s always worth asking the question.

• What furniture and appliances are included?

Don’t automatically assume that the items you see in the house when you view it are there to stay. Sometimes when viewing a property, some of the furniture you see may belong to existing or previous student tenants.

• Is there car parking or bike storage?

Not everyone will require a car parking space or bike storage, but if you do plan to drive or cycle whilst at university then this could be a real deal breaker. Even if you don’t drive, having a car parking space available can be very useful for visitors. Some city centre areas may even require you to pay extra for a parking space, so asking the question during a viewing can save you from incurring an unexpected cost later down the line.

• What Energy Performance Rating does the property have?

Finding out how the house is heated and what its Energy Performance Rating is, is more important than ever with energy prices and the cost of living being as high as they are, particularly if bills are not included in the price of rent. Ask if you can see the property’s Energy Performance Certificate to check its rating. A rating between A – C is reasonable, anything much lower and the property may have insulation problems and could be a little cold or difficult to heat in the winter.

• How are phone signal and wi-fi strength?

A good wi-fi connection and phone signal are both essential for most students. Asking the question can reveal any known problems in the area.

• What security does the house have?

Crime rates can be higher than average in some student areas, so security systems like burglar alarms and security lights can be a real bonus, but unfortunately aren’t that common in student accommodation. Check if the doors are secure, the type of locks they have, and whether individual bedrooms can also be locked.

For further help or advice on finding a student property to rent in North West England, including Liverpool, Manchester, Bolton and Salford, get in touch with our team of student letting agents here at Student Haus by calling us on 0161 694 6427.

As a student landlord, you are obliged by law to adhere to rules and regulations that ensure your student accommodation is safe and the service you provide to tenants is fair.

In this article, we look at some of the key rules and regulations surrounding student accommodation and student letting.

What is a student house?

Most students spend their first year at university living in halls of residence, which are often found on the university campus.

Afterwards, many students move on to cheaper off-campus student accommodation.

While there are several different types of private student accommodation to choose from, the most common type is student houses owned by private landlords.

Most landlords letting a house to students are required to apply for a house in multiple occupation (HMO) licence.

This is required if the student house is going to be shared by three or more tenants from different households.

What responsibilities are imposed by law on a student landlord?

Listed below are what we believe to be some of the most important responsibilities of student landlords.

Ensure the property is fire safe

It is a landlord’s responsibility to ensure that their student accommodation is safe and free from hazards. This includes ensuring the property meets all relevant fire safety regulations. Student houses should be fitted with smoke alarms on every floor and all furniture and furnishings should be fire safe. Larger HMOs should also be equipped with a fire extinguisher.

Arrange regular safety checks for gas appliances and electrical equipment

It is the landlord’s responsibility to arrange for gas appliances and boilers to be serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The property’s electrical system should also be checked for safety by a professional once every five years. Landlords should provide their tenants with a copy of the valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) and Gas Safety certificate when they first move into the property.

Use a government-approved deposit scheme

Most landlords take a deposit at the start of a tenancy to give them some financial protection if the tenant causes damage to the property or misses rent payments. The Housing Act 2004 states that landlords must place tenant deposits into a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme (TDP) within 30 days of receiving it. The landlord is also obliged to provide the tenant with the details of the scheme that their deposit is in.

Register with the ICO

Landlords are required to obtain their tenant’s personal details and keep them on file. This requirement classes them as a ‘data controller’ which means they must ensure that they are following the principles of GDPR (general data protection regulation) and register with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Perform right-to-rent checks

All landlords, regardless of whether they let to students or not, must carry out a right-to-rent check on all new tenancies. This involves asking to see the relevant identity documents that prove the tenant’s right to rent. Student landlords should also ask to see a letter from the tenant’s university confirming their registration with the university and place on a course. Landlords should make a copy of the documentation that they see to keep on file.

Carry out property repairs and maintenance

It is the landlord’s responsibility to carry out any repairs to the property’s structure, pipes, wiring, heating, hot water, and bathroom fixtures. Repairs and maintenance should be carried out as soon as possible, particularly if they pose a threat to the tenant’s health, security, or well-being.

Provide tenants with notice before visiting

Landlords are obliged to always provide student tenants with at least 24 hours’ notice if they plan to visit the property for any reason and should not show up unannounced.

How can Student Haus help with student tenancies?

Student lets can be lucrative, but they are also subject to more complex rules and regulations than regular buy-to-lets.

If you require any help or advice getting set up as a student landlord or running your student let, particularly if you have never been a landlord before, you could benefit from the student landlord services that we offer here at Student Haus.

We offer a let-only or a fully managed service, allowing landlords to choose a level of support that suits their requirements and budget.

We have already helped numerous student landlords throughout North West towns and cities including Liverpool, Salford, and Bolton to get the best returns from their investments.

For further information about any of our services or advice about landlord regulations, give our team a call on 0161 694 6427.

Landlords should make sure they’re aware of the rules surrounding who pays council tax for rented student accommodation before they draw up a tenancy agreement.

Whether or not council tax needs to be paid on a property that is being let to students, and who is responsible for paying the bill if there is one, depends on several factors.

In this article, we will explore the council tax exemption rules and whether the responsibility to pay the bill falls with the tenant or student landlord.

Are students exempt from council tax?

In most cases, full-time students are exempt from paying council tax while part-time students are still required to pay it.

If a student house is only occupied by full-time students, then the property is exempt from council tax.

If there is a mixture of students and non-students living in a property, then the students are still exempt and the bill goes to the non-student/s.

The following people are exempt from paying council tax:

• Full-time students
• People aged under 25 who are enrolled on a government training scheme
• People aged under 20 who are studying a course up to A-levels
• Student nurses
• Those employed in an apprenticeship and earning less than £195 per week

To be classified as a full-time student you must be on a course that is at least a year long and requires at least 21 hours of study each week.

If you are a part-time student rather than a full-time one, then it is likely that you will need to pay council tax. However, you may be able to get a discount; check the government website to see if you are eligible for one.

The exemption is only applicable while all tenants qualify. As soon as a student’s studies end, they will be liable for council tax.

Who should pay council tax?

Whether the responsibility to pay the council tax bill falls with the student or landlord depends on whether the property is an HMO (house of multiple occupancies).

Any students who are liable to pay council tax and have a sole tenancy, or a joint tenancy, will need to arrange to pay the bill themselves.

However, it is the landlord who should arrange to pay any amounts owed for council tax if the property in question is an HMO and students each have an individual tenancy agreement.

Usually, if this is the case, the landlord factors the cost of the council tax into the rental price.

Landlord responsibilities for council tax

As well as being responsible for paying the council tax bill for student HMOs, landlords must also pay council tax for the property during any period where the property is empty with no one living in it.

For further help or advice for student landlords, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team of specialist student letting agents at Student Haus by calling us on 0161 694 6427.