Parents Questions

    1. Can you give me some guidance as to the terms and conditions of the student housing contract?

      The contract can be complex.  If you are  a parent you were probably not present during pre-contract explanations and question and answer sessions.  Most questions are answered in FAQs.  Your son or daughter, as one of the housemates, can probably fill in any gaps.  The core terms of the contract are normally listed on the first few pages. 
    2. How do you hold deposits?

      WE SELDOM REQUIRE A DEPOSIT
      Any deposit held in connection with an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) is held in accordance with the rules governing Tenancy Deposit Protection Schemes (TDPS).  Most of our houses require no deposit. 
    3. What is your policy on drugs?

      Drugs other than those prescribed by a doctor or pharmacist are prohibited if the law prohibits their use.  See our web page on this topic Drugs

    4. My child has almost finished their first year in halls.  When is the soonest we can drop off their possessions?

      You can leave your possessions over the summer anytime after the current tenants have vacated the first room - by agreement and appointment. 
      Do note cleaning issues on our FAQs on this topic 
    5. Can you explain how to calculate the rent bills? 

      See Rent Calculator - find the link which describes your question and click the link which will jump straight to your answer. Price comparison page 
    6. When is the soonest  my child can reserve the house for next year?

      Student Letting Cycle - Tips 
      Houses can be reserved for the new academic year as soon as we are certain those that are becoming vacant.  This can be as early as September.
    7. By what date do current tenants need to inform you they wish to remain for a second year.  Will they get first refusal? 

      Student Letting Cycle - Tips 
      Current student tenants will normally get first refusal, unless they have upset the neighbours or otherwise breached the contract in a significant way. 
      Students looking for a house begin their search in October and start reserving by November, therefore current tenants need to confirm they wish to remain before another group beats them to it.  We almost always prefer to let to our current tenants and so, provided they inform us of their desire to remain early, they will get first refusal.
    8. Why do you need SURETIES or GUARANTOR AGREEMENTS?

      Students have very little financial history upon which to assess risk.  Should a tenant owe rent and bills or cause damage to the house, we are able to approach the parents to recover our loss.  Because tenants are more loyal to their parents than to a landlord they are unlikely to allow this embarrassing situation to arise. 
    9. As guarantor, will I be responsible for the other tenants on the contract?

      Where we let a 5 bed house to five tenants we request parents to be liable for only one fifth of the total rent and bills regardless of the recommended room rent which the tenants are free to adjust between themselves.  By limiting each parent’s liability to only one fifth you will never pay more then your child’s share of liability.
      In the event of a claim we would first approach the tenant in debt, then the parent of the child in debt, then all the tenants jointly and severally, but NOT the parents of the tenants who are not in debt.
    10. My child is a MATURE STUDENT and is too old to expect parents to be guarantors!  Is this compulsory?

      Without a guarantor we have very little protection should a student not pay rent and bills or damage the house. 
      If you pay the whole years rent in advance we may agree to waive the guarantee as our risk is reduced. You may also be entitled to a discount!
    11. Can someone other than a parent be a guarantor?

      Guarantors must be resident in the UK and are usually parents and home owners. 

      If your parents are unwilling, unable or unsuitable to act as guarantors, another family member or friend in a responsible position, may do so.  An unemployed relative is unlikely to be suitable.
      If you pay the whole years rent in advance you do not need a guarantor (and you will receive a discount).
    12. How much do we have to pay when we book a house?

      a. You pay an admin fee immediately your reserve a house. 
      b. A portion of the first quarter's rent is payable in advance. This Advanced rent is payable soon after reserving - either as a holding deposit or alternatively as advanced rent toward the first quarter's rent.
    13. When can we collect the keys? 
      On 1st June or 1st July?

      The current tenants do not officially leave until the end of June so it would be a breach of security if two groups simultaneously had access to the same house keys.  We will protect your possessions in the same way at the end of your tenancy.

      We will meet the first tenant to arrive and enable acces with a spare key.  The other tenants keys will be left in the bedroom doors.  The keys are supplied to the first housemate to arrive (usually in September).   Thereafter we ask tenants who have not moved in to liaise with those who have moved in.
    14. When can we move our belongings into the house?  On 1st June or 1st July?

      Your tenancy does not begin until 1st July so you cannot move your belongings into the house until this date. 
      1st June is when the remainder of the first quarter's rent is due.
      With the current tenants permission, by prior appointment, as provided in the contract, we would lock the new tenants (you) possessions in the first room vacated by the current group. 
    15. “We are current tenants returning for a further year.  Do we need to take our possessions away or lock them in one room or can we leave them as they are?

      Yes, you can leave your possessions in your house as they are, but at your own risk.
    16. Do tenants need to clean the house even if we are staying a further year? 

      If some of your housemates are leaving and new tenants are arriving, the common parts of the house need to be cleaned as well as vacant rooms by the outgoing and remaining tenants.  Previous tenants wil be held jointly responsible for the costs of cleaning.
    17. My son is joining an existing group who all arrived some time ago.  The house was professionally cleaned at the outset but the house is not clean now.  Who is responsible for cleaning?

      Where a tenant joins an existing group then the tenant is co-opted into the original agreement and effectively becomes part of their group and takes the house as he finds it.  It may not be practical for landlords to arrange an interim cleans for the benefit of a replacemnt tenant.  Together all tenants are responsible for cleaning and maintaining the house in a clean condition throughout the tenancy.  This is in contrast to those tenants arriving together for the first time who would rightly expect the house to be clean.  Exceptions might include back to back tenancies where the departing group have not left the house sufficiently clean and the new group arrive before the landlord has little time to clean before the next group move in.  In such a case the landlord will continue cleaning until complete, even tough this may overlap the arrival of new tenants.