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Student renting guide

Your guide to renting as a student. From finding your group, calculating your budget, attending property viewings, to reserving your house. You can find it all here.

For over 30 years, Leydon Lettings has been providing student accommodation in Canterbury. With qualified letting agents, property negotiators and property managers, we are an experienced team. We hope this short guide to letting a student property in Canterbury will help you as you begin your exciting journey of finding your new home.

Find your group

It's likely this is the first time you have rented a home. Finding the right people to live with is a crucial step to having an enjoyable time in your new home. Think carefully about how many friends you want to share with and who they might be. Students are usually 'Joint and Severally Liable', meaning you are all equally responsible for the actions and inactions of others in the house. This could also include your rent. Living with those you can trust, is really important. 

Agreeing on a budget

Agreeing on a budget with your group of friends is the next step to finding your new home. House prices can vary depending on what you are looking for. Be prepared to pay more to live closer to university and Canterbury city centre. Canterbury has excellent transport links so you're never too far from university, shops or the city centre.

At Leydon Lettings we have homes to meet all budgets, spread across every key location in Canterbury. Room prices are calculated individually so you can be sure to find a house that meets the budget of each person in your group. 

October is the ideal month to start viewing

We like to provide our current tenants with first option to remain or relocate to one of our many other houses. We will write to you during your first term asking if you would like to renew your tenancy for a further year. You will be provided with a deadline to confirm before we market the house to other applicants. 

As you will recall, student viewings begin in October/November as students often want to organise accommodation well in advance of the next academic year. With a month’s absence during the Christmas break and many houses let by the New Year, there is no time to lose during the first term.

Signing the contract

We will provide you with a copy of the Government's How to Rent Guide which has useful information to help you with signing a tenancy agreement. The tenancy agreement will likely be one of the most important documents you have signed, so it's crucial you and your guarantor fully understand what it is you are signing. Leydon Lettings will always be transparent with information so make sure you ask us any questions you have about the agreement. 

You will likely sign an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement (AST) which will set out the terms of your tenancy and cover your obligations and your landlords' obligations. Agreements for you and your guarantor should be signed within five days completing your application form. We will guide you through every step and offer you assistance when needed. 

Deposits and Inventories

Most landlords request a security deposit which will be kept securely in a government approved deposit scheme: e.g. the Deposit Protection Service (DPS). It's important you carefully read the inventory you will be provided with at the start of your tenancy as it could affect any deductions that may be claimed at the end of your tenancy. 

Since the 1st June 2019, there is no longer a charge for administration.  Instead, tenants  pay a holding deposit which is used to secure the property prior to signing your tenancy agreement. The holding deposit is used as a contribution towards the first months/quarters rent. 

Moving In

Before you move in, it is important you complete a few checks. If you are responsible for organising the bills for your tenancy, it is important this is done at the very start of your tenancy, even if you do not move in immediately; e.g. if you pay a discounted summer rent and do not move in until September, bills should still be set up from the first day of your tenancy which is likely to be the 1st July. Utility companies may charge out-of-contract rates if you do not set up an account on time. 

Students are also exempt from paying Council tax but you must notify the Council and confirm your student status. More information can be found on the Council website. 

If your property is managed by Leydon Lettings, we will provide you with a helpful Welcome Pack which will provide essential information about looking after your new home. It will outline your obligations as a tenant and explain important things to consider throughout the year. 

Managed vs Non-Managed houses

Leydon Lettings manages many houses let to students. This means that all communication, whether about rent or maintenance, should be communicated through Leydon Lettings. However, some houses are managed by your landlord. Therefore, Leydon Lettings will assist in establishing your tenancy agreement (including viewings, application forms, referencing and tenancy agreements), but day-to-day management is organised by your landlord.

If you are unsure if a property you are interested in is managed by Leydon Lettings or the landlord, please contact us and we will happily assist. 

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