1. © Imperial College LondonPage 1 STUDENT ACCOMMODATION CENTRE PRIVATE HOUSING TALK 2 March 2009

2. Exhibitors

3. © Imperial College LondonPage 3 WHAT SERVICES DOES THE STUDENT ACCOMMODATION CENTRE PROVIDE? Help in finding a property Details of registered agents and access to their lists Access to the Student Accommodation Centre database Advice on tenancy agreements/licences Information on guarantors/references Information on Tenancy Deposit Protection Access to computers within the Student Hub area

4. © Imperial College LondonPage 4 WHAT FACTORS SHOULD I CONSIDER? Do I want to live by myself or with friends? Where do I want to live? How far do I want to travel? What type of accommodation am I looking for? How much will it cost?

5. ACTON PADDINGTON HAMMERSMITH KENSINGTON SOUTH KENSINGTON FULHAM

6. WHAT TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION IS AVAILABLE? Room in a house or flat share Bedsit Studio Flat / House Student Accommodation with other organisations

7. PRIVATE SECTOR - STUDENT ACCOMMODATION PROVIDERS UNITE – Properties Liberty Living - Properties

8. 2.5 Minutes Student Film Do we need a slide here?

9. © Imperial College LondonPage 9 PERSONAL EXPENSES In addition to your rent Food£45.00 per week (approx) Travel£16.20 per week (approx) Study Materials£ 6.50 per week (approx) Laundry Costs£ 5.00 per week (approx) Telephone Usage (Mobile)£10.00 per week (approx) Socialising £25.00 per week (approx) Miscellaneous Items £20.00 per week (approx) (clothes, newspapers etc) _________ £127.70 per week (approx) These figures are approximate

10. © Imperial College LondonPage 10 SHARED EXPENSES The figures below are based on 3 people sharing Gas£ 3.50 Electricity£ 3.50 Water£ 2.20 TV Licence£ 1.00 Telephone £10.00 Broadband£ 2.00 Cable TV£ 4.00 ________ £26.20 These figures are approximate Per person, per week

11. © Imperial College LondonPage 11 STAYING FRIENDS Set up joint bank account Kitty for washing up liquid, toilet paper etc Set rules for cleaning kitchen, bathroom Set rules for sharing food Set rules for guests Emergency contact list i.e. floods and electrical faults

12. © Imperial College LondonPage 12 WHERE DO I START? Student Accommodation Centre Database Student Accommodation Centre Lists Student Flat Share Lists Websites Letting Agents Private Accommodation Providers

13. PERSONAL SAFETY WHEN VIEWING PROPERTIES What time of day should you visit the property? How are you going to get there? What is the area like? How do you keep yourself safe?

14. © Imperial College LondonPage 14 WHAT DO I LOOK FOR WHEN I AM VIEWING A PROPERTY? – It’s Your Life! The condition of the property Furniture is fire retardant Ensure that fire safety features are adequate, e.g. smoke detectors, fire alarms and fire extinguishers Electrical fittings are correctly installed, e.g. no loose wires or faulty plugs All gas appliances i.e. boilers and fires have a Gas Safety Certificate issued by a (CORGI) Registered Engineer.

15. © Imperial College LondonPage 15 WHAT COSTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH RENTING ACCOMMODATION THROUGH A LETTING AGENT? HOW MUCH MONEY WILL I NEED? Holding deposit£ 350.00 Six weeks’ rent, in most cases, as a deposit£2,280.00 One month’s rent in advance£1,646.66 Tenancy Agreement costs£ 350.00 __________ £4,626.66 Divided by 3 = £1,542.22 per person in advance

16. Mr Bean – 3 Minutes

17. © Imperial College LondonPage 17 WHAT TYPES OF CONTRACTS ARE AVAILABLE? Assured Shorthold Tenancy – AST Common Law Tenancy Licence It is advisable to get some assistance in checking any documents you may have to sign

18. TENANCY DEPOSIT PROTECTION Insurance Scheme Custodial Scheme –What do you get? –When should you receive the information?

19. © Imperial College LondonPage 19 WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN I MOVE IN? Check the inventory thoroughly Take photographs Take meter readings for the gas and electricity Contact the utility companies and transfer the gas and electricity accounts into your name Take out insurance for your own belongings

20. © Imperial College LondonPage 20 WHAT DO I DO WHEN MY TENANCY ENDS? Ensure that an Inventory check out has taken place by the landlord/letting agent Make sure all bills have been paid Ensure the accommodation is clean Make sure all rubbish is removed Take photographs Return the keys

21. © Imperial College LondonPage 21 WHY HAS MY DEPOSIT NOT BEEN RETURNED? Failure to return all keys at the end of the Tenancy Unpaid rent Missing items Damage to the property Non removal of rubbish Non payment of bills Rogue Landlord Property inadequately cleaned

22. EXPECT A DEPOSIT DEDUCTION

23. NO DEPOSIT DEDUCTION

24. BUYING PROPERTY What type of property? What should I look for? What are service charges? What do I do next?

25. © Imperial College LondonPage 25 THANK YOU Don’t forget to speak to all the exhibitors in the Main Dining Hall on the Level 1 Refreshments now available Complete the Questionnaire to win Fantastic Prizes