Once you have chosen your accommodation, you have to sign a tenancy agreement with the landlord, which is usually for a year. As this is a legally binding document, make sure you can afford to pay the rent for the period before signing it.
Be ready to pay between £20 – 50 per person as administration costs to the estate agent. You will also have to provide a copy of your student status letter from your university and an identification document like your passport.
The agent usually collects the rent for the landlord by asking for a standing order on your bank account where the rent is automatically transferred to the agent’s account.
While renting private accommodation, you have to pay a month’s rent and a damage deposit of about a month’s rent at the start of the tenure but as long as you maintain the property, you will receive the deposit on moving out.
As there are some landlords who get difficult while returning deposits and tend to make deductions for damages you may have not done, it is advisable to keep photographs of the interiors of the property on moving in and then compare these photos with the condition on moving out to make sure you have proof of getting a complete refund on the deposit.
If something goes wrong in the year, you can call the agent or landlord as per the tenancy agreement. This is because solving regular problems of wear and tear like leaking bath faucets is the responsibility of the landlord.
In some cases, you may also have to pay an estate agent’s fee on signing the rental agreement. Don’t forget to ask if utility bills have to be paid separately, or are included in the rental fee.
International students are suggested to get some tenants’ contents insurance from dependable brokers for an extra £10–15 a month. This is because student properties are usually targeted by burglars.
