Moving into student digs for the first time can feel exciting and terrifying in equal measure.
As well as doing all your own cooking and cleaning, you’ll also need to handle it if something goes wrong with the property that you’re living in.
This may involve communicating with your landlord and making sure that you are well-informed about your rights as a tenant.
In this article, we identify five of the most important tenancy rights every student should know about.
Your landlord must provide you with notice before they visit
It’s every student’s worst nightmare.
You’ve hosted a party the night before and now you’re in your pyjamas eating leftover pizza while cramming for tomorrow’s exam when there’s a sharp rap on the door… it’s your landlord.
The good news is that, legally, you shouldn’t have to deal with this scenario unless the property is on fire, or there is some similar emergency, at which time you’d probably be relieved for a bit of help.
Your landlord should always give you notice of at least 24 hours if they are going to be visiting the property, providing you with a bit of time to tidy up!
Gas and electrical safety
It is your landlord’s responsibility to ensure that your student property is safe and free from hazards. This includes ensuring that all gas appliances and electrical equipment have been professionally checked and approved as safe.
Gas appliances should be serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer and a copy of the gas safety certificate should be provided to you when you first move into the accommodation. The electrics in the property should be inspected once every five years.
Eviction
No student should ever have to worry about being wrongfully evicted. If you are paying your rent and behaving yourself then your landlord cannot legally ask you to leave.
Student landlords can only legally evict you for one of the following reasons:
- You’re at least two months late paying your rent
- You are breaching the terms of your student tenancy agreement
- You are using the property for illegal purposes
- You are being a serious nuisance to neighbours
- You have let the property fall into an unacceptable state
Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP) scheme
When your landlord takes your student tenancy deposit, they are legally obliged to put it into a government-approved Tenancy Deposit Protection scheme.
Your deposit should be put into a TDP scheme within 30 days of you handing it over to your landlord and they should provide you with information about which scheme it is in.
Repairs to the property
While you can’t be calling your landlord in to change the lightbulb, they are required to arrange for any major repairs required as quickly as possible.
This includes repairs to the property’s structure, pipes, wiring, heating and hot water, and bathroom fixtures.
If you cause any damage to the property or its contents, accidentally or otherwise, then you may be required to arrange for this to be fixed yourself.
Here at Student Haus, our team of letting agents helps students across the North West find student lets from reliable student landlords in popular university cities including Bolton, Salford, and Liverpool.
For further help finding student accommodation or advice surrounding tenant rights, give our team a call on 0161 694 6427.