university of southampton-housingguide
TRANSCRIPT
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It may be obvious, but this
How To guide is aimed at
providing most of the answers
to the most commonly asked
quesons. Every year, students
face the same issues, and all the
answers to successful renng
are in this handbook.
This publicaon is put together by SouthamptonUniversity Students Union and the University of
Southampton. If you need more help, then you have
two opons, either pop into the Students Union Advice
and Informaon Centre (SUAIC) or the Universitys
Accommodaon Service. Details of both can be found on
the back cover of this booklet.
This handbook is also available in alternave formats on
request. Email: [email protected]
whoisthis
guidefor?
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FINDING A HOUSE
YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN RENTING
WHO TO CONTACT FOR FURTHER HELP
Where do I start? 4
The DOs and DONTs of renng 5How much rent should I pay? 7
Cons and Contracts 8
How do deposits work? 9
How do I check out a house? 28
What is communal living like? 13Am I really a member of the community? 14
Moving in! 15
Who is responsible for repairs? 16
What is the Private Housing Service 17
Love your pavements and manage your
waste & recycling 19
What is Harassment? 20
How do I stay safe at home? 21
How do I stay safe and keep my stu safe? 23
Help! Im being evicted 24
What happens when my tenancy/contract
ends? 25How do I contact SUAIC or the
Accommodaon Service? 26
Ourguidewil
ltakeyouthrough:
contents
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The Students Union and the Accommodation Serviceare committed to promong quality and safety in the
private housing sector. The partnership iniave between the
University of Southampton, Southampton Solent University and
Southampton City Council has introduced the Southampton
Accreditaon Scheme for Student Housing (SASSH). The
Scheme aims to encourage close co-operave working between
the University, landlords and tenants, giving formal recognion
to properes meeng or exceeding the minimum standards.
The Scheme also looks to further improving private rentedaccommodaon in Southampton. You can nd a copy of the
SASSH Property Accreditaon Standards in the landlords
secon ofwww.sassh.co.uk. Property lisngs for the following
academic year begin to be published in January. It has been
noceable that certain agencies and landlords have been keen
to encourage lengs and speculaon long before the rst
lisng as it gives them greater opportunity to charge higher
rents and increase their prots.
DONT feel pressured into nding a house too soon.
There are enough properes to go round, so please dont
panic about nding a house. Last year some landlords were
adversing empty houses aer the academic year had started!
This does not happen every year and you should not be
complacent but it does show that there is me to make a
sensible choice.
To tackle early leng of properes and the resulng inated
rents the SASSH housing list is released on www.sassh.co.uk
from January onwards, and are updated constantly throughout
the year.
All private rented properes adversed through the SASSH
programme must have a current gas safety cercate and all
shared properes must also have current electrical safety
cercates and be ed with hard wired smoke detectors.Students should note that the University is not in posion to
recommend parcular o campus accommodaon and has no
facilies for inspecng private rented properes.
WHEREDOI
START?
when shoul d i start l ooking?
January - SeptemberThe SASSH Housing List is adversed on www.sassh.co.uk
from 10th January 2011. Youve got a few months aer that tocheck out several houses, and landlords - nd the best one for
you!
The Accommodaon Service and the Students Union Advice
and Informaon Centre (SUAIC)stay open throughout the
summer vacaon.
summer rent
Many students agree to pay rent from July onwards. The
earlier you sign up the sooner you will start paying rent. If you
are paying rent you have a right to live in the property. If the
property is going to be subject to renovaon over the summer
period or the property is not available for you to live in, you
should not be expected to pay rent. Seek assurances in wring
that any works will be completed by your agreed move-in date.
If you are going to leave any belongings in the property whilst
builders have access ensure that they are completely secure and
consider whether you have them insured.
Most tenancy agreements will require you to pay rent for 52
weeks, however many landlords are open to negoaon on
rent for the summer vacaon. It is always worth discussing areduced rent for this period if you do not intend to stay in the
property before the start of term - landlords will somemes
agree up to 50% although a 15-25% reducon is more common.
what is t he SASSH housingl ist and why shoul d i use it?
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SASSH Housing List Properes available for the 2011/12
leng year will be published on www.sassh.co.uk fromMonday 10th January 2011. We recommend that you look
here rst!
Noce boards Postgraduate students can use the noce
board in the Sta Club. Beware of unauthorised noces in
halls of residence and around the campus. Some landlords,
whom the Accommodaon Service will not adverse, try to
nd tenants in this way.
Word of mouth Many students nd accommodaon byasking others about the house they will be vacang. This
is also a useful way to nd out about your prospecve
landlord/lady.
DOs&DONTsT
HE
OFRENTING
Check the name of your landlord with the
Accommodaon Service - they can advise you if they
know of any previous problems.
Inspect properes thoroughly.
Get your contract checked by SUAIC or the
Accommodaon Service before signing it.
Put in wring (and keep a copy of) any requests for
repairs, furniture, etc.
Get wrien conrmaon from the landlord of any
promises to carry out repairs, provide furniture, etc. Ask for a copy of the Gas Safe inspecon cercates
for all gas appliances at the property.
5
where shoul d i l ook?
dos Hand over money without geng receipts.
Be rushed into making a decision. Its beer to lose
your (apparently) dream house than to spend a yearliving with noisy neighbours, damp, and an unscrupu-
lous landlord.
Pay retainers. You could nd you sll lose the
property, with no guarantee of geng your money
back.
Agree to move into a property in a poor state of
repair.
Dont trust everyone all the me! They seem like anice person is not a good reason to give them 300+a month.
dont s
Spot Checks
Southampton City Council sta make spot-checks on
properes that are adversed through the SASSH in order to
make sure they meet or exceed the minimum standards for
adversing with the Scheme. If you feel you have been misled
about the standard or condion of your property, please let
the Accommodaon Service know immediately.
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People who share living accommodaon, such as a kitchen
or bathroom, with a landlord (e.g. in lodgings) are excluded
occupiers and can be evicted without a Court Order. This
means that a landlord can evict a lodger with as lile as a
weeks noce. On the other hand, you can also leave at short
noce, which is useful if you are looking for accommodaon
elsewhere.
If you live in lodgings and have any dicules with your
landlord, seek advice from the Accommodaon Service
or SUAIC. Do not sign a xed term agreement. If you haveseparate accommodaon and only share a hallway or similar,
you may be a licensee or a tenant. You should also seek advice
if you live with a member of the landlords family.
If you are meeng the landlord at the property try to get there
a few minutes early so you can have a look around the outside
of the house. Check the roof, guers, windows, pipes, etc.
Keep a record of each property you look at.
Dont go to look at a property on your own or
aer dark; always take someone with you and leta friend know where you are going and when you
are expected back.
REMEMBER to use the viewing checklist on the backpage of
this guide when viewing houses.
what if my l andlord l ivesin the same house?
what shoul d i do about meeting
the l andl ord at the house?
6
Agencies Be very careful about using accommodaon
agencies and do not hand over money just to register your
name and get a list of addresses; agencies may only make
a charge if they nd you accommodaon. Beware of some
agencies which charge inated fees for draing a Tenancy
Agreement (Contract), producing an inventory, etc. There
have also been cases of agencies withholding unreasonableamounts of money from deposits at the end of tenancies.
The Southern Daily Echo Carries adversements for
accommodation, but it is usually for immediate
occupation. Most accommodaon is adversed in
Thursdays Echo and it is advisable to purchase the early
edions.
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RENTSHOULDHOW
MUCH
The average rent in shared accommodaon during 2009/2010
was approximately 65 - 75 per week plus all bills.
Landlords are allowed to adverse rooms at any rents,
however, those landlords who ask for rents above this
guideline rent would be expected to provide superior quality
accommodaon and be able to explain why the rent demanded
is at an inated level.
REMEMBER you will sll need to budget for all your household
bills (eg. water, gas, electricity, phoneline, broadband, Sky, TV
licence).
rent l evel s
paying the rentYour tenancy agreement should state:
How much rent you must pay and when.
What is included in the rent, e.g. water rates?
To whom the rent should be paid.
Its important to get proof of the rent you have paid.If you
dont, your landlord could evict you for rent arrears and you
would not be able to prove that you had paid. If the landlordrefuses to give a receipt you could pay rent by postal order,
keeping the counterfoil OR open a separate bank account used
only for rent payments.
It is your responsibility to get your rent to your landlord, not
his responsibility to collect it. If your landlord fails to collect
the rent or refuses to accept it and you cannot get the rent to
him, you should write to him stang that you wish to pay the
rent; keep a copy of the leer, open a separate bank accountand pay your rent into it. If your landlord tries to evict you for
non-payment of rent he will not be able to do so if you have
clearly set the money aside on a regular basis.
Your rent can only be altered if your agreement ends and
a new one is given OR if you apply to a Rent Assessment
Commiee (RAC) to have your rent reassessed, which must bedone within the rst six months of the agreement. Your rent
cannot be increased during the period of me covered by your
Tenancy Agreement (Contract) and the landlord does not have
the right to evict you if you refuse to pay a higher rent.
Always seek advice before going to the RAC from SUAIC or
the Accommodaon Service.
summer rent
Always try to negoate a reduced rent during the summer
vacaon. If you pay reduced rent (e.g. half rent) you will sll
be entled to live in the property during the vacaon. If you
pay less than half rent as a retainer or a very nominal rent, you
may not have the right to live in the property during that me.
can my landl ord increasethe rent?
IPAY?
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CONS
&CONTRACTS
The tenant must be an individual occupying the property as
their only or main home.
The landlord, or any of his family, dont share with you.
Can be for any period of me.
Can be wrien or verbal.
Although assured shorthold tenancies can be created verbally,
students are advised to insist on a wrien agreement to avoid
subsequent confusion over what has been agreed. If a verbal
agreement is made, tenants have the right to later ask for a
wrien statement conrming the date the tenancy began, thelevel of rent and the date(s) on which it is payable, the length
of the tenancy and the tenants right to ask for a rent review.
The landlord must provide this statement within 28 days of
receiving the request. If you do not have a wrien agreement
you will have the same rights and obligaons as an assured
shorthold tenant. In addion you and the landlord will both
be bound by the terms of the verbal agreement. For example,
if you agree that you will pay 300 rent on the rst of every
month to the landlord and fail to do so, you will be in breachof the agreement.
It is not recommended that you enter into a verbal agreement.
Even though you are legally bound by the agreement it is
almost impossible to prove what was agreed.
Students moving into private rented accommodaon will
almost always have Assured Shorthold Tenancies.
If the type of agreement you have is not menoned in this
leaet, contact the Accommodaon Service or Students
Union Advice & Informaon Centre for further informaon.
If you dont understand the Tenancy Agreement (Contract) -
dont sign it.
The University produces SASSH approved Assured Shorthold
Tenancy Agreements (Contracts) for use by tenants and land-
lords of properes adversed through the Accommodaon
Service. If your landlord doesnt already have one they are
available from the Student Services Centre free of charge.
If your landlord doesnt use this get their contract checked by
SUAIC or the Accommodaon Service.
what about my tenancyagreement (contract)?
what is an assured shorthol dtenancy agreement?
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Landlords are entled to withhold money from your deposit to
pay for damages you have caused, unpaid bills or rent owed.
Deducons should not be made for normal wear and tear tothe property or its contents. When paying your deposit:
Keep all of these items in a safe place -
Use the deposit receipt slip aached to the checklist on the
rear cover of this guide.
Get an inventory (a list of the contents and condion of the
property) when you move in that is agreed by the landlord
and tenants and keep a copy. If your landlord will not providean inventory, produce your own and have it witnessed and
signed by a third party (such as a friend). SUAIC can provide
you with a sample inventory.
DEPOSITSHO
WDO
is your l andl ord
protecting your deposit?
WORK?
You will normally have to pay a deposit when you sign a tenancy
agreement (Contract). This is usually the equivalent of one
months rent. The deposit is held by the landlord against
damage you might do to the property or its contents, unpaid
bills or rent. Some, or all, of your deposit may be retained if
you move out before the end of the agreement, or without
giving adequate noce.
If you are asked to pay any other money in advance
(eg a premium or key money) get advice from the
Accommodaon Service or Students Union Advice &
Informaon Centre before paying.
From 6th April 2007, when you pay a deposit, your landlord or
agent must protect it using a government authorised tenancy
deposit scheme, providing that the landlord does not share
the house with you and your annual rent for the house is up
to 25,000 (from October 2010, the scheme will also include
properes of annual rents between 25,000 and 100,000).
You will be protected by the scheme if you are:
renng a home from a private landlord or leng agent on or
aer 6 April 2007, and
your tenancy is an assured shorthold tenancy (this applies to
most new private tenancies), and
you are paying a deposit (not the same as rent in advance).
It doesnt maer whether it is the tenant, or someone else
such as a parent, who provides the money for the deposit.
The law says that your landlord must inform you which scheme
is protecng your deposit and provide other important
informaon within 14 days of the deposit being paid.
If your landlord does not protect your deposit or send the
appropriate informaon then they may be ordered by court to
pay you three mes the total amount.
SUAIC have prepared a deposit receipt slip, which is aached
to the back cover of this guide. It will help your landlord to
give you the informaon you need about your money.
You can nd out more by vising SUAIC, The Accommodaon
Service or at www.direct.gov.uk/tenancydeposit
If you dont agree that your landlord or agent should have kept
all or part of your deposit, or you disagree with some of the
costs that they have taken out of it, then the tenancy deposit
protecon scheme your landlord or agent has used will oer
a free service to help resolve disputes. Informaon on what
you need to do if there is a dispute will be contained in theinformaon your landlord or agent will have given you at the
start of your tenancy.
are you protecting your deposit?
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Take photographs of the property when you move in. Keep
some form of proof to show when the photographs were
taken.
Keep recordsof any repairs and replacements you pay for,
with receipts or esmates.
Maintain the house properly during the tenancy, i.e. carry outregular cleaning, and try not to cause any damage!
Clean thoroughly all cookers, fridges, toilets, showers and
baths at the end of the tenancy - the cost of geng these
things cleaned commercially could reduce your deposit
considerably.
Make sure you get receipts for all the rent you pay and any
other money you pay to the landlord.
Keep bills for gas, electricity, water, telephone, to show they
have been paid.
When you move out, do another inventory check against the
one you did when you moved in, with your landlord or an
independent witness.
If deducons are made from your deposit, you should
be provided with a wrien statement showing what the
deducons are for, with copies of receipts and esmates.
Withholding your last months rent as security against
your deposit not being returned is a breach of your tenancy
agreement and your landlord could take legal acon to recoverthe money. Seek advice immediately if you are threatened
with legal acon.
withhol ding rent
If you share a house or at with other tenants and all your
names are on one tenancy agreement, you are joint tenants.
As a joint tenant your responsibility for rent and rent arrears
is shared with the other joint tenants. If one tenant leaves,or does not pay their rent, the landlord can seek to recover
the rent from the remaining tenants as well as, or instead of,
the person who has moved out. If you share accommodaon
with other people but each of you has a separate tenancy
agreement which species which room you will occupy, each
of you is responsible for paying your share of the rent only and
can give noce separately.
NEVER sign a Tenancy Agreement (Contract) onbehalf of another person - if they change their
mind you could be le liable for their rent.
j oint or separate tenancies?
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Seek advice from the Accommodaon Service or SUAIC.
Negoate with your landlord (the Accommodaon Serviceand SUAIC can advise you on how to approach this).
Adverse through the Message Boards on www.sassh.co.uk.
Adverse on www.forum.susu.org
Adverse through www.sotonclassieds.co.uk
Word of Mouth.
what do i do if i need tofind a repl acement tenant?
Most students in the private rented sector have agreements
for 9 or 12 months. They are not normally entled to end the
tenancy early unless there are parcular circumstances, such
as serious breach of the agreement by the landlord, there is
a clause in the contract allowing tenants to leave early or the
landlord voluntarily releases the tenant from the contract. If
none of these condions apply, where a tenant does move
out before the end of the contract s/he remains liable for the
rent unl the end of the contract or unl another tenant takes
his/her place. It is in all tenants best interests to work co-
operavely with each other to nd a replacement tenant.
Where there is a joint tenancy (i.e. all the tenants have signed
one contract) the remaining tenants have to be consulted
about the replacement tenant; where tenants have individual
contracts, the remaining tenants do not have this right, but it
is socially responsible to try to ensure that a discussion takes
place.
what if i want to l eavebefore the end of the tenancyagreement (contract)?
If another person replaces you as a tenant you should ensure
that proper steps are taken to ensure that you are no longer
held liable for rent, i.e. that you assign your tenancy over to
the new tenant, or that the landlord provides a new contract
for the remaining and new tenants.
Tenants who wish to leave before the end of their tenancyshould seek advice before doing so.
REMEMBER - if you are tenants who are joint and severally
liable, all of you are responsible for the enre rent unl a
replacement tenant is found. Whilst the landlord may seek to
recover the rent from the remaining tenants, the remaining
tenants also have a right to recover this rent from the tenant
who has le.
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If your Tenancy Agreement (contract) does not include
your landlords name and address, ask them to provide it. If
they refuse do not sign and seek advice from SUAIC or the
Accommodaon Service.
All tenants have a right to know the name and address of their
landlord: failure to provide this informaon is an oence.
If you are dealing with an agent, before you sign the Tenancy
Agreement (Contract), nd out who is responsible for the
property eg for repairs. If it is the landlord, then you have a
right to know his/her address.
If you do not know your landlords name and address you can
nd out by:
Asking in the Accommodaon Service (only if the landlord is
on SASSH list).
Inspecng the Electoral Roll at the nearest public reference
library.
Inspecng the open Land Register www.landregistry.co.uk
Remember - get your Tenancy Agreement (Contract) checked
by SUAIC or the Accommodaon Service.
REMEMBER do not sign anything before you
have read it thoroughly.
l andl ords name &address
what are guarantors?Some agencies may ask your parents or guardians to act as
guarantors. If a parent signs their name as a guarantor of their
son/daughters potenal rental debt, and the tenancy is joint
between all occupiers of the property, then they will nd that
they have agreed to be guarantor of the debts of all the other
people covered by the agreement.
If youre not happy about nding a guarantor, many owners donot require one, so consider renng somewhere else.
Alternavely you may suggest to your landlord/agent that you
will pay for a rent insurance package (usually around 120).
You will nd a number of insurance companies oering
such opons, in this way if you fail to pay the rent, the
insurer will cover it.
If possible, make a wrien agreement with your
landlord which clearly states that your guarantor
will only be liable for your poron of the rent.
SUAIC can provide you with sample wording.
subl ett ingSubleng is the term used to describe a tenant renng all
or part of her/his accommodaon to another person. If your
tenancy agreement states that you may not sublet without
your landlords permission you should write to them, askingfor permission to sublet. Your landlord should reply in wring
and should give reasons if permission is refused. If your
tenancy does not menon subleng you should get your
landlords permission in wring to do so. Seek advice before
entering into a sublet agreement.
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11
LIVINGLIKE?
COMMUNALWHATI
S
who to l ive with?
Choosing who you want to live with can be a hard decision.
The obvious choice is people you like, but remember that
liking someone you see for a few hours a day is not the
same as liking someone who is around in your house all the
me. Think about interests and lifestyle; are your potenal
housemates vegetarians/smokers/quiet/late night people or
early risers? Think very carefully about living in the same
house as your partner. It can put a lot of pressure on you,
them, and your housemates. Remember too that if you do
fall out with the other people in your house and want to
move out, you will probably have to carry on paying rent unl
another tenant replaces you; seek advice if this situaon arises.
It is advisable for each tenant to put their name as the account
holder for one bill - this prevents one person having to deal
with and potenally be liable for all the bills. Ulity companiesdo not tend to put all the tenants names onto a bill and if they
do will sll take the rst name as the point of contact and the
person liable.
househol d bil l s
Be sensible about heang - not using itisfalse economy.
A poorly heated house is not only a health hazard for the
occupants, it also encourages condensaon leading to damp
and mould (this is dierent from damp caused by structural
problems, which is the landlords responsibility). If you want
to have a visitor,ensure that it is OKwith the others in your
household. If a visitor stays so long that s/he seems to have
become resident, you may be in breach of your contract as
well as annoying everybody else in the house.
household decisions
the dreaded housework
This is oen a cause of fricon between housemates, as some
individuals are more conscienous than others. If you want to
live healthily and comfortably and avoid dicules with your
landlord, then regular cleaning is advisable. Rotas may work,
parcularly if you want to monitor the acvies of the most
reluctant housemate.
how many peopl eshoul d i share with?
Most students move into shared houses aer their rst year
at University. Most houses for students are for 4/5 people
to share. There are some larger houses available but living
with more than four others creates more opportunies for
disagreements! Read the communal living secon in this
handbook.
If you are paying money to another tenant, e.g. towards a
bill, get a receipt or make sure you can prove you have paid
the money (e.g. through paying by cheque). This may seem
unnecessarily formal, but arguments over bills are common
causes of problems. Note that if you are using a telephone
company other than Brish Telecom, you may be required to
sign an agreement for a minimum period of me; it should be
possible to get an agreement for 9 months. If a large item of
equipment is to be bought/hired, always consult everyone in
the house. If you hire a TV, the license should be in the hirer s
name.
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Free at last?! Most student accommodaon in Southampton
consists of terraced and semi-detached houses, your lifestyle
is going to aect your neighbours so try to be considerate of
their needs too. The following points will help to avoid the
most obvious causes of disputes:
Introduce yourselves to the neighbours when you move in.
Dont make a lot of noise late at night (i.e. aer 11pm). Be thoughul about parking. Some areas have restricted
parking anyway, but local residents expect to be able to use
the space in front of their own house. Do you actually need
your car here?
Try to keep the outside of your house looking dy by, for
example, occasionally washing windows and curtains,
cung back rampant hedges and grass, sweeping pathways
and paved areas, clearing up lier, pung your wheelie bin
o the pavement etc.
REMEMBER - keep on good terms with your neighbours and
they will probably be willing to keep an eye on your house
while you are away. Southampton isone large community and
students are an integral part of it. When returning home aer
an enjoyable evening out, please remember that you are not
the only ones that live in this community. Remember how
annoyed you get when you are woken in the middle of thenight by a false re alarm in halls. Travel quietly and safely,
trac cones and rendions of The One and Only are
not that funny at 3am!
COMMUNITY?AMIREALLY
A
YES YOU ARE. Being a student in Southampton means that you
automacally belong to the wider city community. This comes
with some responsibilies, to yourself, your neighbourhood
and the city.
in the neighbourhood
noise &part iesNoise can be a big cause of fricon between housemates
and between tenants and their neighbours. Noise in your
house will probably sound almost as loud next door. TheEnvironmental Health Service is responsible for dealing with
noise nuisances; prosecuon can result in a possible 5,000
ne! Contact EHS on 023 8083 2606.
IF YOU ARE HAVING A PARTY:
Arrange the party for a Friday or Saturday when neighbours
are less likely to have to get up early the next day.
Let your neighbours know in advance about the party.
Dont adverse the party openly on Facebook! Make sure
the invitaons are for your friends only.
Dont try to get 300 people into a 2 bedroom house - keep
to a reasonable number that you can cope with.
Try to keep guests inside rather than standing around in the
garden or street.
Keep the noise level down, especially aer 11pm.
Try to ensure that your guests leave the area quietly and donot make any use of your neighbours garden!
MEMBEROFTHE
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IN!
If any repairs need doing inform the landlord in wring.
Make sure you keep a copy of your leer for your records you will need it as proof later.
Get a rent book or other form of rent receipt.
Have an inventory signed by the landlord. Note any defects and damages on the inventory and make sure
the landlord signs it.
Take either photographs (digital pictures are beer because they can be emailed) or video footage of the
property and its contents, in case there is any dispute over their condion when you move out.
If there is a telephone, inform the company of a change of user.
Get a TV license. If you have a joint tenancy agreement then you will need only one license to cover all
the TV sets in the house; however if you are on separate individual tenancy agreements you will need toensure you have a license to cover each individual set. There are hey nes for not having a license that
can be over 1000.
If you are paying the water rates, nofy the company of a change in occupants.
Arrange insurance for your belongings.
Check with the landlord that all the keys have been returned by the previous tenants.
Take meter readings and inform the relevant ulity providers to change the names on the bills from the
date your tenancy begins.
Nofy the Council Tax department at the City Council of a
change in occupants and make sure they know that you areall full-me students. You will need to obtain a leer from
your School Oce that shows you are a full me student
and therefore exempt from council tax. Students who live in
council tax
MOVING
a shared house are considered joint and severally liable for
council tax purposes. The praccal implicaons of this should
mean that in a shared house, with a non-student occupant, thebill will appear in the name of the occupant who is not exempt.
Also, that the non-student is therefore individually liable. If you
have any enquiries or concerns talk to SUAIC.
what about when i move in?
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Never just withhold rent as a way of forcing your landlord
to carry out repairs - you could be evicted if you have rent
arrears or have legal acon taken against you to recover the
money owed.
If your landlord ignores your request for repairs to be carried
out you can -
Contact the Private Housing Service. Contact details at theback of this booklet.
Enforce your legal rights as an individual, which may involve
taking legal acon against your landlord.
Seek advice from SUAIC or the Accommodaon Service.
FORREPAI
RS?WHOIS
RESPONSIBLE
Under the 1985 Landlord & Tenant Act, Secon 11, landlords
are responsible for keeping in good repair and proper
working order the structure and exterior of their property
and installaons of the property.
This includes - Roof, walls, oors and windows
Guers, pipes and drains
Baths, toilets, sinks and basins
Electrical wiring, gas piping, xed heaters and water heaters.
Landlords have a legal responsibility to carry out these repairs
even if your tenancy agreement says that they do not.
Landlords are not responsible for any installaons purchasedby or belonging to the tenant.
request ing repairs to becarried out
Landlords are under no legal obligaon to carry out repairs
unl they have been given wrien noce of the repairs
needed. It is therefore essenal that you put requests for
repairs in wring as soon as possible. If your request is iniallymade verbally, follow it up with a leer - keep a copy and keep
any leers that are sent to you. You should allow a reasonable
length of me for repairs to be done: 21 days for non-essenal
repairs, 1 - 2 days for emergency repairs, e.g. blocked drains.
If the repairs are carried out, make a note of the date, what
was done, whether the work was done adequately and if any
outstanding repairs remain.
enforcing your rights
Tenants have an obligaon to look aer the property.
This includes -
Taking reasonable steps to ensure that they and their guests
do not damage the property or contents.
Undertaking minor day to day maintenance, e.g. replacing
light bulbs.
Ensuring that xtures and ngs are adequately cleaned.
Taking reasonable steps to protect the property during
periods of absence by making sure the property is secure
and all sockets and taps are switched o. (See page 22 for
guidance on water supply, pipes and vacaons).
Tenants are not responsible for repairs needed through fair
wear and tear.
tenants' responsibil it ies
l andl ord's responsibil it ies
pest problems
16
If you have problems with mice, rats, eas etc., contact the
Public Health Service, who are able to deal with pest control
issues. Tel: 023 8083 2531.
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15
WHATISTHE
privatehous
ing
SERVICE?
17
The Private Housing service at the council can take steps to
get repairs done in rented accommodaon in many situaons;
they do not charge tenants for the assistance they give. Full
details of the problems in your property will be taken, so that
an assessment can be made about the seriousness of the
defects and potenal for impact on your health and safety.
Where it is considered that serious hazards exist or are likely to
exist in your property, Private Housing will arrange to inspect
the accommodaon. Where less serious hazards exist, advice,
guidance and informaon will be provided, but the property
will not be visited.
If your property is inspected, Private Housing will determine
what works are required to improve condions and will advise
your landlord, informally at rst. If no works are carried outwithin a reasonable period, your landlord will be served with
legal noces, which will specify the works required and a date
for compleon. If the work is sll not carried out, the council
may arrange for the works to be carried out at the landlords
expense and/or consider prosecung the landlord.
If the repairs are urgent Private Housing can immediately carry
out minimal works to make the property safe, if the landlord is
unable or unwilling to do so. The landlord is later charged forthe repairs. If drains and toilets are blocked, the council can
require them to be unblocked within 48 hours. If your heang/
hot water system breaks down during cold weather, Private
Housing can take acon to get repairs carried out. The council
can provide you with a copy of any noce served on your
landlord, so that you know what work should be done.
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18
If your landlord fails to carry out repairs and you do not wish
to involve the council, you could consider geng the repairs
done yourself and deducng the costs from your rent. If you
take this course of acon you can only deduct the actualcosts of repairs so you should always ensure that you have a
clearly laid out bill lisng all works done and charges made;
you cannot make deducons for compensaon. You can be
evicted for being in rent arrears so it is vital that you seek
advice before withholding any rent and follow this procedure
carefully:
Make requests for repairs in wring and keep a copy of your
leer.
Allow a reasonable period of me for repairs to be done.
If the repairs are not done, inform the landlord in wring
of your intended course of acon, and allow a further
reasonable period for the landlord to comply with his
obligaons.
Obtain three esmates for the repairs and send copies
of these to the landlord with a nal declaraon of your
intended course of acon.
Have the repairs carried out by the rm giving the leastexpensive esmate. If you carry out or arrange repairs
that are done badly, youll be legally responsible for the
consequences.
Send a copy of the invoice to the landlord and request
reimbursement.
If no money is received, deduct the cost of the repairs from
future rent.
It may be possible to take your landlord to court to get
him to carry out repairs; you could also ask the court for
compensaon for inconvenience or if your possessions have
been damaged. Always seek advice before starng legal
acon and be aware that you will have to produce evidence to
support your case.
houses in mul t iple occupation(hmos)
Most shared properes are classied as HMOs, for example,where a house has been converted into bedsits or if the
property is shared by 3 or more people. Special regulaons
apply to HMOs and local councils have clear powers to ensure
that the property is safe and is managed correctly. If the house
you live in has 3 or more levels and 5 or more tenants, it will
require a licence from Private Housing. If you think your house
should be licensed, but isnt, please contact Private Housing
on 023 80832606.
what action can i take?
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17
For many of you it will be the rst me you have lived away
from home or outside halls of residence and the rst me
you will be responsible for dealing with your own waste.
Southampton City Council wants to help you get to grips withresponsibilies you now have as a resident of Southampton.
As a tenant you, and not the landlord, are responsible for
making sure all your household waste is disposed of properly
and legally.
Everyone living in the house is responsible for the bins. This
includes pung the correct waste in the bins, pung them
out for collecon and returning them back to your property
aer they have been emped.
Our enforcement ocers patrol the streets to check if bins are
being put back into gardens. If bins are repeatedly le on the
street you could be issued with a 100 ne.
PLEASE FOLLOW THE ADVICE BELOW:
Put your wheeled bins at the edge of your property or onthe pavement on the day of collecon by 6.30 a.m.
Bring your wheeled bins back in on the day of collecon.
The blue lidded wheelie bin is for recycling and you should
only put in this bin:
- paper/cardboard
- plasc boles
- food and drink cans
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU PUT ITEMS IN LOOSE AND NOTIN BAGS. YOUR BLUE LIDDED RECYCLING BIN IS COLLECTED
EVERY FORTNIGHT.
loveyourpave
ments
andmana
geyourwaste&
recycling
a message fromsouthampton city council
19
The green lidded bin is for general household waste and this
is collected each week.
To check what day your collecon is visit:
www.southampton.gov.ukand input your post code on the
top right hand side of the home page or phone Aconline
0800 5 19 19 19
Bulky waste such as maresses and furniture must not be
le on the pavement and should only be le at the front
of your property on the day you have arranged to have it
collected. Southampton City Council provides a collecon
service and the cost is only 25 for up to 10 items (there is
an addional charge for fridges/freezers). Phone Aconline
0800 5 19 19 19 to organise a collecon.
You can dispose of large bulky items free of charge at the
Household Waste Recycling Centre called Rubbish Revived
at Endle Street, which is located between the football
stadium and Ocean Village. Dont forget to get in touch with reuse charies such as
SCRATCH on 023 8077 3132, who will donate furniture for a
small charge of 10. Their requirements vary from me to
me. Please call rst and say what item you want to donate.
Allow 2 weeks for collecon.
Leaving waste in your garden and illegally deposing waste
on the street can result in nes.
Please remember to be a good neighbour by keeping your
street and garden clean and dy.
Dont forget if you need any informaon about managing
your waste and recycling you can:
Telephone or email Aconline on 0800 5 19 19 19
Visit Southampton City Council website
www.southampton.gov.uk/environment
Speak to The Students Union Advice & Informaon Centre.
By working together we can look aer the environment and
make Southampton a nicer and safer place to live in.
NT?
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If your landlord physically assaults you, the police should be
contacted. If the harassment is sexually or racially movated
you may be able to take acon under an-discriminaon
legislaon as well as housing legislaon.
TheAccommodaon Service and the Students Union Advice
& Informaon Centre can provide further advice and supportto students who think they are being harassed by their
landlord. Landlords who are proven to have harassed tenants
will not be adversed by the University. Please report any
incidents to the Accommodaon Service.
If you nd that your me at University or your well-being itself
is being adversely aected by accommodaon dicules, the
University Counselling Service would welcome you geng in
touch with them. Contact details on back cover.
sources of hel p
in an emergency Call the police if you feel you are in danger.
Contact the University Security Control Room (24 hours) on
023 8059 2811.
Contact the University First Support Team on 023 8059 7488
what action can you take?Keep a wrien record of the landlords behaviour which you
feel is harassment and get other people to act as witnesses.You should inially discuss the problem with your landlord
- it may be that they are not aware of the problem they are
causing and may be willing to change their behaviour.
20
If a landlord is aempng to force tenants to leave their
accommodaon early or is trying to stop them exercising their
legal rights, this may be considered harassment.
Any of the following constutes harassment:
Behaviour intended to interfere with the peace or comfort
of the occupier
Persistent withholding or withdrawal of services (without
good reason)
The landlord knows or has reasonable cause to believe that
what they are doing is likely to make the occupier leave, or
not use, part of the premises the occupier is entled to use.
In pracce this may include behaviour such as cung o the
water supply without good reason, threatening or abusive
behaviour, constant visits without warning, sending in builders
without warning or at unsociable hours, or prevenng youhaving guests.
l andl ord's right of accessTenants have the right to quiet enjoyment of their
accommodaon and landlords may not remove this right.
Your landlord has the right to inspectthe accommodaon but
this must be donewith your consent, at reasonable hours andwithat least 24 hours noce in wring. If your landlord keeps
a key and enters at unsociable hours or without noce, this
could constute harassment.
HARASSMEN
T?WHATISIf talking does not resolve the maer, or if the problem is
too serious for this to be appropriate, you could write to the
landlord warning that you may have to take further acon.
Keep copies of your leers. The Accommodaon Service
should also be informed of any cases of harassment by
landlords. Seek advice from the sources of help below before
taking any acon.
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STAYSAFEHOWDO
I
ATHOME?
gas appl iances &carbon monoxideCarbon monoxide is a killer!It is a highly poisonous gas
that kills about 30 people every year as a result of faulty gas
appliances. Carbon monoxide is colourless and odourless and
the symptoms can be confused with those of other illnesses.
Danger signs: Stains, soot or discolouring around a gas re or at the top
of a water heater. This may mean that the ue or chimney is
blocked and carbon monoxide can build up in the room.
A yellow or orange ame on a gas re or water heater.
A strange smell when the gas appliance is on.
SYMPTOMS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING ARE:
Headaches
Sickness
Chronic redness or muscular weakness.
If you or others suer from these symptoms aer being in a
room with a gas appliance burning, see your doctor and call
the Gas Safety Advice Line or Transco on 0870 6081524.
safety action Your landlord must ensure that any gas appliance in the
property is safe. They must arrange for safety checks
on appliances at least once every 12 months, by a GAS
SAFE registered engineer. They must also keep a record of
inspecon dates, any defects idened and any remedial
acon taken. Ask to see the inspecon record - you have
a legal right to see it. If your landlord does not complywith these requirments, contact the Environmental Health
Service and nofy the Accommodaon Service. Contact
details on back cover.
When using gas appliances, do not cover vents and make
sure you have adequate venlaon in the room.
If you have a gas cooker, make sure you get a set of user
instrucons.
If you are in doubt about the safety of an appliance, stop
using it immediately and contact Transco who operate a free
24 hour emergency service. Inform your landlord as soon as possible. If they do not
take acon within a reasonable period of me contact the
Environmental Health Service.
fireIs your house ed with smoke alarms and re exnguisher/
blanket in the kitchen? If not, put pressure on your landlord to
t them and remember to test smoke alarms monthly.
DONT overload electrical sockets. Avoid mul-way adaptors;
if you have to use one, buy a good quality unit with a fuse.
Check exes and plugs on heaters and other appliances to
ensure they are not worn or broken. They should not get hot
when used.
Pick up a re safety leaet from SUAIC or The Student Services
Centre.
in the kitchenCooking accidents are the most common cause of res in the
home. If a pan does catch re, turn o the heat if it is safe todo so but DONT MOVE THE PAN and DONT THROW WATER
ON IT.Smother the ames with a damp cloth, lid or re
blanket and leave the pan to cool for at least half an hour.
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If your house is going to be empty for any length of me, suchas during vacaons, you should take certain precauons before
leaving. Make sure that all doors and windows are locked;
your landlord should provide adequate locks. If possible,
arrange for someone to come and check on the house. You
could invest in some mer light bulbs, or socket mers to help
give the impression that the house is occupied. If you have
transport, take valuable items, such as stereos and TVs with
you; unoccupied houses full of valuable electrical equipment
provide a golden opportunity to burglars. Make sure you haveadequate insurance for your possessions and check the terms
and condions: some policies will not cover your possessions if
the property is le empty for more than 30 days.
All furniture and furnishings supplied by a landlord whether
new or old should comply with the 1998 Fire Safety
regulaons. Check to see that the furniture provided has the
re safety label aached or was made aer 1998. If it does
not comply with these regulaons request that the Landlord
replaces the furniture.
Be careful about cigarees falling onto furniture.
Never smoke in bed.
Dont put furniture too close to res or heaters where it can
catch re. Never leave portable heaters switched on when
you go to bed.
Prevenon is always the best policy!
bedrooms and l iving rooms
plan aheadThink about your escape route if a re were to break out in
your house. Try to ensure that one large window in each room
can be easily opened and keep window lock keys where they
can be easily found.
what to do if fire breaks out If you can safely do so, close the door of the room where the
re has started and close all other doors behind you. This
will help delay the spread of re and smoke.
Before opening a closed door test to see if it is warm, using
the back of your hand. If it feels warm there is probably reon the other side - dont open the door.
Get out of the house as quickly as possible and get others
out without pung yourself at risk. Dont try to pick up
valuables or possessions - get out as safely as possible and
try not to panic.
Telephone the re brigade on 999. Clearly state the address
of the re.
Dont go back into your home unl a re ocer has toldyou it is safe.
if you are cut off by fire If you are prevented from geng out because of ames or
smoke, close the door nearest to the re and use towels
or sheets to block any gaps.This will help stop smoke
spreading into the room.
Go to the window. If the room becomes smoky, get down to
oor level where it is easier to breathe.
Open the window and try to aract the aenon of others
who can alert the re brigade.
Wait for the re brigade. If you are in immediate danger,
drop cushions or bedding to the ground to break your fall
from the window. Get out feet rst and lower yourself to the
full length of your arms before dropping.
water supply and pipesMake sure you know where the mains stopcock is situated. If
you have any burst pipes, turn o the mains supply and switch
o water heaters and central heang. If pipes burst as a result
of your neglect, you may be held responsible for the cost of
repairs. If you are leaving your house unoccupied during cold
weather you should take acon to prevent the pipes freezing
and bursng. If you have central heang, set it to come on for
a couple of hours in the morning and the evening, with the
thermostat at about 15C. If you do not have central heang,
turn o the cold water supply at the stopcock, drain the cold
water system and switch o the water heater.
vacations
22
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STAYSAFE&KEE
PHOWDO
I
MYSTUFFSAFE
?
Stascs show that student houses are far more likely to be
burgled than other residenal properes in Southampton.
There is compelling evidence to suggest that burglars target
student houses as they expect to nd poor security, and the
fact that there will be more than one computer, television,
stereo, cheque book, credit and bank cards. Why break into
4 family houses when you can get the same goods from one
student house?
checking security whenyou view a property
Check the front and rear doors and door frames to see if theyare sound. Consider whether a hey push from the shoulder
or a kick would open them. Glass panels are especially
vulnerable.
CHECK FOR:
Solid external doors.
Morce deadlocks with internal thumb turns for emergency
escape. The Police have highlighted that Yale-type locks can
be vulnerable to burglaries.
Ground oor windows ed with locks.
A spyhole in the front door is an advantage.
when burgl aries happen
MOST BURGLARIES HAPPEN WHEN A HOUSE IS EMPTY.
You will be most at risk during the vacaon periods - so payparcular aenon to the security of your home at Christmas,
Easter and even on Bonre Night! Dont adverse your
absence during the vacaon periods (for example on Facebook
23
or other Social Networking sites), or even when you are out
at the University, shopping or in the pub. Most burglaries are
commied by opportunist thieves when the house is empty
and in two out of every ten the thief does not have to force his
way in because a door or window has been le open. Make
sure you have closed all windows and doors before going out!
Burglars dont like meeng the occupants so lights le on
me switches may stop them as it suggests that someone is
in. Anything that suggests your house is not a student-let will
tend to reduce your vulnerability, so dying your garden andcleaning your windows isnt such a bad idea aer all. It is a
good idea to take your valuables home during the vacaon
periods.
Burglars like easy opportunies.They dont like locked
windows because breaking glass aracts aenon. They
dont like security deadlocks as doors cannot easily be kicked
in. Simple precauons like these do work.
Keep valuable items out of reach of burglars. Keep itemsaway from windows and out of view of prying eyes. Dont
let everyone in the street know that youve got the latest
laptop!
Always keep doors and windows locked when the house is
empty.Dont assume one of your housemates is sll in.
Be persistentin your requests to get your landlord to
improve security when needed.
Make a complete list of the serial numbers, makes andmodels of all your electrical equipmentand mark valuable
items with your home postcode and number. These can be
marked with an invisible pen or preferably etched.
what you can do toavoid being a vict im
Do the curtain check! No maer where you live in the
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Do the curtain check!No maer where you live in the
house check the bedroom curtains to see if you can see
through them parcularly at night and with the electric light
switched on. If they are transparent speak to your landlord
to see if he will change them for thicker curtains.
Be wary of unannounced visitors.Always make sure that
visitors are who they say they are. If they say they are from
the police, gas or electricity companies, ask to see their
identy card and then ring their local oce to conrm.
If provided, use internal locks- especially if you are having a
party.
If you have a bike, keep it securely lockedup at all mes
when not in use and stored in a shed or garage. If you have
a car then use a steering lock, and never leave valuables in
your car. If you have a removable stereo, remove it.
what about personal safety?
If you are renng on the ground oor think carefully about
the security aspects already menoned. In parcular be sure
that the room has window locks and thick curtains. If you are
sharing a house with men and women, consider allowing the
women rst choice of the upper oor rooms.
Unless it is absolutely necessary do not walk home alone
at night. Carry a personal aack alarm (available from the
Students Union Shop) and keep to busy well-lit roads. If you
are returning home from the Union remember that Safety
buses run every evening during term me from outside theStudents Union. It is 1.50 to all desnaons. If you believe
that you are being followed, then cross the road, several mes
if necessary and make your way to an area where there are
people and call the police. Using headphones will stop you
from hearing what might be happening around you. If you take
a taxi, make sure that it is registered. There should be driver
ID on display inside the car and an idencaon plate on the
outside.
gett ing home at night
24
HELP!IMBEING
il l egal evict ion
resident l andl ord
Landlords may aempt illegal evicon by changing locks
while you are out, physically throwing you out, or otherwise
prevenng you geng into your home. If this happens to you,
call the police - they should make sure that you are allowed
to return to your home. If you are being asked to leave before
the end of your agreement (contract), your landlord may be
aempng to illegally evict you. Your landlord cannot force
you to leave without a court order. Seek advice from SUAIC or
the Accommodaon Service, contact numbers on back page.
If you share accommodaon with your landlord, such as
kitchen and living room, your landlord can evict you without
having to get a court order. Your exact housing status can
depend on a number of dierent factors, so it is always worth
geng advice on this if any problems arise. You should begiven wrien noce to leave the property, but the amount
of noce required can depend on your circumstances. If you
pay rent monthly, you could argue that you should be given a
months noce to leave; if you pay rent weekly, you may get
as lile as one weeks noce. Once the period of noce has
expired, the landlord can evict you immediately.
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25
WHATHAPPENSw
henmy
ENDs?contractwhat about moving out?
Assured Shorthold Tenants must be given 2 months wrien
noce informing them that the landlord is seeking possession
of the property at the end of the tenancy. If this noce has not
been served the tenants are not obliged to move out.
If the landlord does not require you to leave the property at
the end of the contract you may be given another tenancy
agreement to connue from the end of the last one. Your rent
can be increased at this me. If you are not given Noce of
Seeking Possession or another contract, you can remain in the
property and your tenancy will run from one rent payment to
the next. If the landlord subsequently wants you to leave you
must be given 2 months noce, as explained above. If you
wish to end the periodic (rolling) agreement you will need to
give 1 full rent period as noce.
At the end of the tenancy, clean cookers, fridges, toilets,
baths and showers thoroughly. If the landlord has to have
these cleaned commercially it could reduce your depositconsiderably.
Leave the house dy and free of all rubbish.
If you are responsible for the garden, make sure it is dy
and all garden rubbish has been collected (or is bagged and
ready for collecon).
Make sure you have receipts for all rent paid and any other
money paid to the landlord/agent.
Keep gas, electricity, water and telephone bills, so you can
show they have been paid.
Three weeks before your tenancy ends make sure you have
an end-of-tenancy inspecon visit by the owner/agent. You
should be present so that you can agree with the owner/
agent on any work that you need to do it is a good idea
to dy up before (s)he arrives! Make sure that you make a
record of requests made by the landlord and have him/her
date and sign it. Two weeks before you are due to move out contact the
ulity companies (gas/electric/water) and arrange for nal
meter readings to be taken prior to vacang the property
(also nofy the telephone company). You should also write
and request that your names are removed from all the bills
on the date you are due to move out. Let the owner/agent
know you have done this and keep copies of all your leers.
On leaving day take pictures of the house to have
photographic evidence that you have thoroughly cleaned it.
NEVERhave an end-of-house party on the last day. Always
leave yourselves at least three days to clean up and if
necessary replace any broken items. Make sure all furniture is
returned to the original rooms.
what about when thetenancy comes to an end?
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26
The Student Services Centre, University Road, Higheld,
Southampton, SO17 1BJ
Tel: 023 8059 9599
Email: [email protected]
Opening mes are as follows:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am-5.30pm
Wednesday 9.00am-3.30pm
Web: www.soton.ac.uk/accommodaon
Email:[email protected]
The Accommodaon Service administers University residences
and private rented sector accommodaon. We oer a free and
condenal advisory service covering general housing maers,
tenancy law and other related issues.
SUAICorT
HE
We also oer free legal advice sessions.Contact SUAIC for further details.
Also, check noces on the Students Union
Concourse (Building 42), for termly Police Surgeries.
HOWDOICONTAC
T
Students Union, Building 40, University Road, Higheld,
Southampton SO17 1BJ
Tel: 023 8059 2085
Email: [email protected]
Opening mes are as follows:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9.00am-5.00pm
Wednesday 11.00am-5.00pm
Web: www.susu.org/suaicWinchester School of Art, Students Union Building, upstairs.
Check website for details.
The Students Union Advice & Informaon Centre is a
department of the Students Union and oers assistance to all
students of the University of Southampton on:
Housing
Finance
Academic Maers and Legal Issues
Consumer Rights
The service we provide is completely free, condenal and
imparal. We operate an appointment system. Separate
interview rooms are available for you to speak to an adviser in
private.
students union advice &information centre (SUAIC)
accommodationservice
?
the universityaccommodation service
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Remember that your safety is very important. Look at the property during daylight hours and take someone with you. Also, let a
friend know where you are going and when you expect to get back. To ensure a proper viewing make several appointments and
keep notes on each visit you make. Dont be rushed into a decision by a pushy landlord. Dont agree to move into a house that
needs a lot of work. A building site in June may sll be one in October.
qIn the event of re in the main access passageways of the
house, could you get out of the house?
qAre smoke detectors or re alarms ed? Do they work?
qDoes the house have any re doors?
qIs there a re blanket in your kitchen?
qGas and electricity - is everything checked and tested?
qIs the heang in the house adequate - will you be warm in the
middle of winter?
qDo the electric/gas res work? Does the cooker work?q If the cooker is a gas cooker, does the thermostat work?qEnsure you have your gas and electricity meters read
immediately aer you have taken responsibility for the
property. Keep a record of these readings.
qEnsure you ask to see a copy of a Gas Safe safety cercate
for each gas appliance. Check the date as these expire aer 12
months. (See page 21 for more info on Gas Safe cercates).
All the gas appliances in the house should be listed.
q Is the area right for you?qIs transport easily available?
qAre there shops and services nearby?
q Ensure your landlord conrms any agreed repairs/
renovaons in wring on your tenancy agreement (contract).
See clause 12 of the SASSH approved contract.
qIs the house secure?q Is there a burglar alarm that works?qAre all the external doors solid?
q Have all external doors been ed with strong and securelocks?
qAre ground oor windows ed with security catches?
qHave you idened your own possessions by pung your
home postcode on all your valuables?
qAre the ground oor bedroom curtains lined or thickenough?
qMake sure you have names, addresses and telephone
contact numbers.
q Does the roof look sound? You can check for damp from
the inside of the house as well as the outside.
qHave the guers got plants growing out of them?
qAre the drains clear?
qIs any of the woodwork rong or unsafe?
qAre gardens, walls, fences and boundaries maintained?
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REMEMBER - the condion of the property is likely to giveyou an indicaon of the response to any repair requests.
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qDo any repairs need doing?
qHave you told the owner in wring what needs doing -
have you agreed what will be done, in wring, before you
sign the Tenancy Agreement?
qDoes the decorang need doing?
qIf so, who is doing it and who is paying? Has the owner
set any upper limit on the cost of materials if you are
decorang the house yourself? Get conrmaon in wring.
qIs the house clean?
qIf not, have you told the owner what the condion is in
wring?
qDo you have the equipment to keep it clean?
qDo all your prospecve housemates have the same
understanding as you about dying up?
qAre there any signs of pests, e.g. mouse droppings, slug
trails, eas in the house?
qDoes the plumbing work?
qHave you tried all the taps?
qDo the sinks drain?
qDoes the toilet leak?
qIs there any hot water and how do you pay for it?
qIs there a shower and does it work?
qAre there enough bathrooms/WCs for the full number of
housemates sharing?
qCheck out whether there are sucient and adequate
facilies for you and your housemates. As general
guidance, all SASSH accredited properes should have
sucient and suitable bathroom and kitchen facilies.
q Has the house got enough furniture for the full number of
housemates sharing?
qIs there sucient space in the kitchen to store and prepare
food?qIs any of the furniture the property of exisng tenants?
qIs all the furniture in good condion?
qIs the furniture re retardant?
qDo you wish to be insured? The Students Union Advice and
Informaon Centre can advise you.
qWhat are you paying for in your rent? How does it compare
to other rents? Have you paid a deposit? If so, what is it
for? Have you got a receipt for what you have paid? Are you
responsible for water charges?
qHow much will heang the house cost?
qWhat services does the owner provide for you, if any?
Window cleaning, gardening, lighng of common parts,
refuse disposal? What are the parking arrangements?
qDo you know what your contract means? Read this guide
and pick up a copy of the Guide to Your Contract from the
Student Services Centre or online at
www.soton.ac.uk/accommodaon
qHave you talked to the previous occupants of the house
and asked them if they have any comments that would help
you?
qAsk for a copy of the Tenancy Agreement endorsed by
SASSH.qMake an appointment to discuss your Tenancy Agreement
with the Accommodaon Service or SUAIC sta.
NFOHANDY
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STUDENTS UNION ADVICE & INFORMATION CENTRETel: 023 8059 2085 Email: [email protected]
UNIVERSITY ACCOMMODATION SERVICE
Tel: 023 8059 9599 Email: [email protected]
UNIVERSITY COUNSELLING SERVICE28 University Road, Higheld, Southampton.
Tel: 023 8059 3719 Email: [email protected]
CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU3 Kings Park Road, Southampton
Tel: 023 8022 1406
PRIVATE RENTED SOCIETYThe Private Rented Society was formed in 2008 by students,
for students. Its purpose is to help 1st years, who either did
not make it into halls or chose not to go into halls, with renng
their houses and provide means for them to socialise witheach other. hp://privaterented.susu.org/index.html
GASTo nd out who supplies the gas to your property phone
Transco on 0870 608 1524.
Gas escape emergencies - Tel: 0800 111 999
ELECTRICITYTo nd out who supplies the electricity to your property phone
Southern Electricity on 0845 744 555 having your meter serialnumber at hand. Interacve website for payments, meter
readings and moving house details:
www.southern-electric.co.uk
SOUTHERN WATER PLC
Emergency 24 hr helpline 0845 278 0845
Billing Enquiries - Tel: 0845 272 0845
POLICEEMERGENCY Tel: 999
CENTRAL SWITCHBOARD Tel: 0845 0454545
NON-EMERGENCY Tel: 101
UNIVERSITY SECURITY
Tel: 023 8059 2811
NHS DIRECT
Tel: 0845 4647
HEALTH & SAFETY EXECUTIVE GAS SAFETY ADVICE LINE
Tel: 0800 300 363
TRANSCO/GAS ESCAPES EMERGENCIES
Tel: 0800 111 999
BRITISH TELECOM
Tel: Free phone 0800 800 800
COUNCIL TAX INFORMATION
Tel: 023 8083 2349
DOMESTIC REFUSE BULK COLLECTION (Aconline)
Tel: 080 0519 1919
NIGHTLINE (condenal listening service)
Tel: 023 8059 5236
PRIVATE HOUSING SERVICE (Environmental Health)
Tel: 023 8083 2606
INFO
PLEASE NOTE that at me of publicaon every eort was made to ensure the accuracyof the informaon given in this handbook. The University cannot accept responsibility for
errors, omissions, or subsequent changes in legal requirements.
It is not an authoritave statement of law. If you are in any doubt about any of the informa-
on in this publicaon you should seek legal advice.
Here are some useful numbers and addresses that you might need.
www.susu.orgwww.soton.ac.uk/accommodaon
2010-2011
HANDY