House
hunting is a pretty big thing to do in London, for the first time,
especially if you still phone your mum asking how to open baked
beans. So here is a handy guide for all of you nervous freshers (you
can thank me later).
- You don't have to start flat hunting until after exams.
Your
friends at other Uni's have had their houses since Christmas, but
don't worry! The housing turnover in London is so quick that flats
go on the market only 1 or 2 months before the let agreement starts.
Don't freak out if you haven't signed a contract by June – you can
find flats for September as late as August.
- The ULU Housing fair is a waste of time.
Every
fresher everywhere in London queues for hours to get into the housing
fair, but it is mostly full of overly expensive flats. Plus all of
the information they give you is easily accessible via a quick google
search and on uni websites. Instead, make the most of
your time by
going into as many estate agents as possible to get good value
viewings.
- House hunting is expensive!
Make sure
you have a bit of money saved, or an overdraft to dip into, because
when you have chosen your flat, you will need to hand over a lot
right away! You will need to pay a deposit to take your flat off the
market, plus non-refundable agency fees, and often 2 months rent
up-front as well. (Not to mention the travelcard you will need to get
to all of your viewings!) Because the turnover is so quick, you
sometimes need to make one expensive decision directly after a
viewing, so be prepared, and keep your bank account as full as
possible.
- You don't have any rights until you have signed a Tenancy Agreement.
There is a
lot of paper-work to get through, and it can be confusing. When you
put down your deposit, to take your flat off the market, you will
get a receipt for it, but this does not confirm you can move in. Our
estate agents promised us that we did not need to sign anything
else, until the day we were supposed to move in – which was when
they told us that we couldn't move in for another month without
signing the tenancy agreement. Do not leave your estate agents
without a copy of this vital contract!
- The Smarter you dress, the better house you'll find.
Everyone
knows estate agents try and mug students off, so acting like you know
what you're talking about can really help. My friends wore suits,
didn't let on that they were renting for the first time, and ended up
in a good value newly built apartment, full of young professionals.
My flatmates and I admitted that we were baffled and ended up in an
expensive ex-council block. If agents think you're going to be good
tenants, they'll give you a good house.
- Mould doesn't show in the summer.
You will be
shown flats in the summer, when they don't need any heating, have
good natural light, and mould has had a chance to dry up. However,
you will be living there in the winter, so if you have a chance ask
the current tenants if the boiler is good, if the neighbours are
nice, even if the estate agents are quick to deal with problems.
You'll be gutted if it turns out your flat which at first seemed
amazing is actually a health hazard.
- You have grounds to sue your landlord if they do not protect your deposit.
The law
states that the ridiculous amount of money you place as a deposit,
must be protected. Your landlord has 30 days after receiving the
money to insure it with one of 5 independent firms. You should get a
certificate stating they have done this, but you can independently
check your money is safe by calling the agencies yourself. If they
have not protected your money you can sue them – and who wouldn't
want a few extra quid for sportsnite? Landlords must also provide you
with a smoke alarm, energy efficiency certificate for your property
and must not break any terms of the contract. All the legal stuff is
out there online, but if anything seems odd talk to ULU housingservices. They are really helpful, and they are always on the student
side!
