STUDENT-LETTING-CYCLE

STUDENT TENANT
LETTING CALENDAR

The following is a guide to a student tenant life cycle for the first two years from arriving at university in September year one.

See also Events    and   History of Leydon Aquisitions
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Where students remain for two years the cycle for year two is repeated and you can leave your house and possessions undisturbed during the summer vacation. You can also elect to remain over the summer
You might notice that even where a student resides for only one year, we will have been in contact for almost two years due to the advanced booking prior to occupation of your house.

Year one - First year students

SEPTEMBER
First year students arrive at university to live in halls of residence for the first year
(Second year students returning.)
First year students establish friendships.
Consider potential housemates: could I share a house with this student for a whole year?
It is better to select housemates with caution at the outset.
See what student friends are like under pressure before agreeing to share a house.
If you wanted to brush your teeth but the label on the tube of paste had been removed, the best way to be sure of what is inside the tube is to give it a squeeze. The contents could be caustic! Who wants to brush their teeth with shoe polish for an academic year?

Unreasonable, dominating, inconsiderate students do not make good housemates...
Say no! Bullying [includes girls!] is not tolerated in any house - police action and eviction.

OCTOBER
Student housemates form groups of friends who may be suitable housemates.
Students must decide letting criteria from a student house before viewing.
Determine what you can afford, whether you prefer ensuite, or non-ensuite bedrooms. Parking, location, features Student Features.
Ideally students want the best locations which are always reserved first.
So book early and get the best houses and the best locations - probably the best housemates too - early birds are proactive and preempt problems! Latecomers are more likely to be reactive, often resulting in incompatibility and late payment problems.
A leisurely afternoon in October could save several stressed days house hunting in January! Why do this to yourselves? We see this madness every year!
Know the information before viewing:
Is a deposit required
How much is the admin fee?
How do I pay
Canterbury Landlords are unlikely to keep a house for students who can't afford to demonstrate their committment to a property until student loans arrive during January - students can change their minds leaving a property vacant. Get organised ahead of time.

Organized students browse accommodation web sites early
These students want to rent the best house before other students.
November sees the highest number of page views on our web site.
Web browsing always precedes house viewing.
Thus, this is when you can expect houses to start being reserved.

NOVEMBER
Wise students arrange viewings for late October and early November.
Once you have reserved a house do not delay paying and signing contracts.
Failing to provide your details may result in letting to others instead.

In November lots of students view and reserve houses before going on to sign contracts - http://www.leydonlettings.co.uk/faq.html

DECEMBER
Students still reserving, paying admin fees, returning pre tenancy questionnaire forms.
Many students signed contracts prior to leaving Canterbury for Christmas vacation.
These students relax and enjoy Christmas holiday having secured their house.
JANUARY
Many students still house hunting but viewing and chasing fewer available houses.
Some students having left it too late make rash decisions to live with incompatible housemates.

Meanwhile those students who reserved houses early are deciding who is having which bedrooms - not where to live!
Many contracts still being signed by students returning from Christmas holiday.

Some information, payments and forms still to be received including:
Each housemate's contact information to enable Leydon Lettings to send Draft contract.
Pre-tenancy Questionnaire?
Parental Guarantor?
Standing order?
Deposit or Admin fee and Advanced Rent still to pay?
Appointments to sign contracts
(no need to bring draft as a new copy is provided for each party to the contract)
http://www.leydonlettings.co.uk/documents.html

FEBRUARY
No vacancies left. One or two students have fallen out and groups seek substitute replacement tenants.

MARCH
Reminder to current tenants that final quarter's rent is due next month.
Chase up standing orders not confirmed for next academic year (new and returning tenants).
Students preparing for exams (no time for house hunting)

APRIL
Students leave for Easter Vacation
Tenants with discounted summer rents to advise whether they wish to remain in summer.
Summer holiday bookings for those houses otherwise unoccupied by students.
Full rent tenant houses are not let to holiday makers.
Two year resident tenants on half rent - these houses not let to holiday makers.

MAY
Establish proposed dates for leaving possessions over summer.
See link: FAQS = ARRIVING FOR THE FIRST TIME
Letter to current tenants reminding the need for MINIMUM CLEANING STANDARD prior to viewings etc starting in October.

JUNE
First Quarter's rent due.

Reminder to inform landlord if students intend to arrive in July.
See link Ariving for the first time
Detailed letter from Leydon lettings to each housemate with details of:
links to manuals; list of things tenants need to consider e.g. to use the internet connection.
FAQs re: Deposit/Key Return and End Of Tenancy Questions e.g. leaving possessions
Leydon Lettings automatically advertise all houses as available one year in advance.
We only remove the advert when whole groups of tenants confirm they wish to remain a further year Re-Booking!

In June we conduct house inspections by professional cleaners with written report on condition.
Start inspecting full-rent-houses to be occupied in July - then reduced rent houses due to be occupied in September.
Out-going tenants not charged for report.
Tenants leaving houses damaged sent copy of report and bill for repair.
Deposits where held returned.

Year two - first year students become second year students:

JULY
Full rent tenants arrive to occupy full rent houses.
(Third year students may have swapped house from year two or may be continuing in the same house from year one).

Holiday lettings commence.
Renovation of houses commence or continue
General maintenance commences and includes checking condition of:
Shower heads, hoses, risers, scale build-up or evidence of leaks.
Engage professional cleaners for each and every house to ensure the houses are acceptable. Where houses are vacated and left sufficiently clean a report is provided by the professional cleaners to say the house is acceptable and needs no further action.

Deposits are returned where retained following independent cleaner's report.
Where no deposit is retained the cleaner's report and bill for cleaning is forwarded to the tenants for payment.

AUGUST
Renovation of houses draws to completion.
Holiday lettings end.
General maintenance completed

SEPTEMBER
'Half-rent' second year student tenants arrive in Canterbury to occupy houses
Tenants report any previously undetected defects found at the property.
Leydon Lettings effect repairs or explain how things work Fault Finding- heating, internet, shower, location of isolation switches and valves for power, gas, water and internet. See the manual for your house Where Is It...? on our website just click to your property and it is all there!:

OCTOBER
Second quarter's rent due
Student tenants begin to confirm whether continuing the tenancy for a second year.

Re-booking third and final year students confirming their intention to remain.

NOVEMBER
View houses where students fail to confirm intention to remain for a second year.

Re-booking third and final year students confirming their intention to remain.

DECEMBER
View houses where students fail to confirm intention to remain for a second year.
Students leave for Christmas Vacation
Carry out any vavation renovations and repairs beofre students return.
Re-booking third and final year students confirming their intention to remain.

JANANUARY
View houses where students fail to confirm intention to remain for a second year.
Third quarter's rent due

FEBRUARY
No vacancies left. One or two students have fallen out and groups seek substitute replacement tenants. This may involve re-viewing of some houses. Re-drafting contracts to include substitute housemates.

MARCH
No vacancies left. One or two students have fallen out and groups seek substitute replacement tenants. This may involve re-viewing of some houses. Re-drafting contracts to include substitute housemates.

APRIL
Students leave for Easter Vacation
Fourth and final quarter's rent due
House inspections

MAY
Letters to tenants reminding the need to CLEAN AND CLEAR  the house TO THE MINIMUM STANDARD ahead of the final inspection at the end of the tenancy.
Letter to tenants regarding new arrivals in July
Leydon Lettings Student Accommodation Calendar Letters and events
Standing Orders
Annual Payments
Delayed Payments and Fees
Unsure or Unable to Move in
Summer Residency
Moving In
JUNE
First Quarter's rent due
Non payment is normally first indication of a student's intention to drop out of a group or uni.
Advertise houses needing substitute tenants.
Arrange viewings for replacement tenants - very time consuming
Arrange draft Contracts
Arrange signing substitute tenants.
Interim house inspections
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