Considerations when looking for private accommodation

If you are looking for private accommodation, there are a number of things to consider.

There are different types of accommodation available to you. These include:

•      private student accommodation
•      private house or flat (where you and your flat mates have exclusive living in an individual property), or
•      a house or flat share (where you rent a single room with other people you do not know).

You will need to consider whether you prefer to:

•      live alone
•      with people you know, or
•      with people you have not met before.

There are advantages and disadvantages to all options.

When looking for a private property, you will find many resources online.

When viewing a property, it is important to pay close attention to the detail of the house or flat. There are lots of questions you should ask when viewing a property.

Rules and regulations

There are also strict rules and regulations in the UK to protect both you (the tenant) and the person who owns the property (the landlord).

York St John University is unable to help you when it comes to reading or signing a contract, so you must read through everything very carefully. Tenancy contracts are legally binding and very hard to get out of so you must think about them and read them thoroughly before signing.

When you sign your contract, you will also need to pay a deposit, normally 1 to 2 week-s rent. Your money should be held in a secure deposit scheme. There are also strict rights and obligations that you will have as a tenant.

Most landlords or agents will ask you to provide details of a guarantor, when applying for a private let. This is someone who would be responsible for paying your rent, in the event of you being unable to make the payment yourself.
 

In certain circumstances it can be difficult for you to find a guarantor (for example if you are an international student), as guarantors must be based in the UK. There are services available which can assist you with securing a guarantor, such as Housing Hand and UKGuarantor. These are services developed for students, graduates and professionals. They act as your UK guarantor, so that you can secure private accommodation. These services do have associated fees. UK Guarantor has a handy Guide to Guarantors, which is well worth a read.

York St John University cannot, under any circumstances, act as your guarantor.

When you move into a property, you should take a note of the condition of the building and its contents, as well as details of any utilities (for example, electricity meter) and there will be paperwork that you will need to keep a record of. It can help to take photos so that you have a visual record of the condition of the property and its contents.

You must also make sure that you are exempt from paying Council Tax, which is a tax on residential properties. Read our other articles about Council Tax exemption for further information. If you will be watching television or live streaming, you will need to check whether you need to pay for a TV license.

Sometimes, you may find that you have problems with your property. You may find that something does not work properly or you may accidentally break something. For advice on how to report any accidents or repairs that are required, please click here. This will also give you information on what do to if the problem does not get fixed by your landlord.