Private Rented Accommodation Handbook.

aub.ac.uk
2016-17
Accommodation
Private Rented Accommodation
A typical Bournemouth street
Private rented accommodation
Now you have decided to study at the Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) you will
need to consider where you will live. The following pages will provide you with
information to help with this decision.
If you would prefer not to live in halls, or your application has been unsuccessful,
this booklet can help you with information on arranging student flat and house
shares and our Accommodation Days.
We hope this is useful to you, but if you require further information or have any
questions our Student Advisors can be contacted on [email protected] or
by calling +44 1202 363034. More information can also be found on the
accommodation pages of our website, aub.ac.uk
aub.ac.uk
Private rented accommodation
The Course Team
Finding your accommodation
If you have specific questions about anything in this pack please contact the
course team. We are available on the following numbers:
AUB is located on the border between Bournemouth and Poole, about 2.5 miles
from Bournemouth town centre. The most popular areas of student
accommodation are Winton and Charminster, which are within easy cycling
distance and are well served by the Bus for BU service.
Bournemouth has a wealth of private rented accommodation available, to suit all
tastes and all price ranges. Large houses with up to 6 bedrooms are popular, but
there is plenty of choice if you are interested in smaller houses, flats or bedsits.
Most houses are let fully furnished but you will need to provide your own bedding
and (possibly) crockery and cutlery. Facilities such as gardens, parking and internet
connection vary from property to property.
You may wish to rent a room in a private home, where you have your own room and
use of the kitchen to prepare your own meal. Some shared-with-landlord lodgings
can also provide breakfast and evening meals. There is no need to sign a tenancy
agreement for this type of accommodation, which usually requires a notice period
of one month.
Finding somewhere to live, especially if you don’t know the area, can seem a little
daunting. To make things easier, AUB has a specialist “studentpad”
accommodation website, www.aubstudentpad.co.uk. This lists properties
registered by accredited landlords and you can search for properties by size, area or
cost, or browse to see what’s available. This site also has a message board facility,
and lots of our students use this to arrange their accommodation. You can check
out messages from students advertising rooms or looking for housemates, or post a
message of your own. It’s a great way to get in touch with students who are also
looking for a house and people to share with.You will need a password to access the
messageboard, you can obtain this by emailing [email protected]
There is also a facebook page ‘AUB Accommodation’ which works in a similar way
to the message board.
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Private rented accommodation
Tenancy agreements
Most landlords will ask you to sign an Assured Shorthold Tenancy
Agreement.
Tenancy agreements are legally binding documents issued by landlords or letting
agents and, once signed, will tie you to a property for the duration of the
agreement—usually twelve months, although this may vary from property to
property. Some landlords may agree to you leaving if you find another student to
take your place, but this is not guaranteed.
A group of students renting a house will usually be asked to sign one contract,
which makes each student jointly and severally liable for the rent. This means that if
one student leaves the others will be asked to make up the shortfall in the rent.
Many landlords will ask students to provide a guarantor (usually a parent or
relative).
You should always read any tenancy agreement carefully and ask if you do not
understand something. If the landlord agrees to make any repairs, or makes any
amendments to the agreement, you are advised to obtain written confirmation of
this. The landlord should provide you with a signed copy of the tenancy agreement,
setting out the terms and conditions for living in the property.
From 1st February 2016 landlords must carry out right to rent checks before
completing a tenancy agreement: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/right-torent-checks-what-they-mean-for-you
Paying the rent
You should remember that your rent is a continuing expense throughout the period
of your tenancy, regardless of whether or not it is continuously occupied.
You should ensure that any agreement for the payment of rent is clear, and that you
are given signed receipts for any money paid to the landlord. Any failure to pay your
rent may put your tenancy at risk.
Most landlords will ask for a deposit, equivalent to one month’s rent, when you sign
a tenancy agreement, to secure your property. By law, your landlord should place
this in a Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme and should provide you with details of
the scheme used.
aub.ac.uk
Private rented accommodation
Induction
Furnishings and fittings
Your first few days at the University will include enrolment and induction events
to introduce you to the facilities and services you will be using as a student,
When you first move into a property you and your landlord should take an inventory
as well as the activities and resources on your course. You will receive copies of
of all furniture, fittings and equipment. If there is any damage evident when you
important documents, including your course handbook and the Undergraduate
move in, you should note this on the inventory to ensure you are not charged for
Course Framework and HE Regulations.
damage you have not caused. A copy of the inventory should be retained by all
parties. It can be a good idea to take photos of any existing damage when you move
The following activities have been arranged for you (You will have additional
in.
course related activities this week and will receive a schedule of those activities
at the first meeting. Be prepared to be busy all week!):
Most landlords will insure their buildings, but it is up to you to arrange insurance for
your own personal possessions. You may wish to consider security marking and
noting serial numbers of any valuable items such as computer equipment.
You should check with your landlord before bringing additional furniture in to
the property or before moving any of the existing furniture.
If you are sharing a property, all parties will be held jointly responsible for any
damage. Landlords will also charge if you fail to clean the property regularly
throughout the tenancy, so it's worth keeping up to date with the chores.
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Accommodation days
What to expect at an
Accommodation Day
The aim of AUB Accommodation Days is to make it easy for you to arrange your
accommodation for the start of your course. The days provide you with the
opportunity to meet other students, form house-sharing groups and view private
rented accommodation. On the day we provide lists of all our registered properties,
plus details from local letting agents. Please note that all letting agents and
some landlords may charge admin fees, so you should check this.
We have bus timetables available and street maps for sale, and our student advisors
are on hand to help you start to mix with other students.
It can be daunting to get to know new people, so we hold a short “ice breaking”
session to help you meet other students. This takes place at the start of the session,
so please arrive promptly. If you’d rather not take part, don’t worry, there is no
obligation.
There are usually more properties than students, so we advise you to form a group
before starting to select properties. Alternatively, you may decide to join a group
that already has a house with a spare room to fill.
We inform our landlords about the accommodation days and many of them will be
there with details of their properties.
aub.ac.uk
Tuition Fees
Things to consider
Accommodation days
The tuition fees for 2012/13 are as follows
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Prices do, of course, vary but the average rent students paid during the past year for
By debit/credit card, either in person at the finance office or
a room in a shared house or flat was around £96.00 per week (excluding bills). For
by telephoning 01202 363214.
lodgings (including bills and often meals), the figure was around £115.00 per week.
By electronic bank transfer using the following details:
You will usually have to pay for gas, electricity and possibly water rates on top of
Sort Code 30-91-08
your rent. We would advise you to allow a minimum of £15—£18 per week to cover
Account Number 00322852
these costs if they are not included in the rent, but this would vary depending on the
Account name The Arts University at Bournemouth
size and type of property.
Swift Code LOYDGB21045
IBAN Code GB28LOYD30910800322852
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If you are a UK funded student, don’t forget to apply for your tuition fee loan,
student loan and grant as soon as possible by logging on to www.direct.gov.uk/
studentfinance. If your application for a tuition fee loan is approved, your fees
will be paid automatically and you do not need to arrange payment.
8|9
If you are an EU or Overseas student you can pay your fees in your own currency,
commission free through StudentPay which is an on-line system using Western
Union Business Solutions. Western Union will transfer the funds directly to
AUCB on your behalf. The link to StudentPay can be found on our website at
www.aucb.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding
Accommodation days
Registering for an
Accommodation Day
Once you have accepted a place on your course please click on the link in your
MyAUB Portal to register for an Accommodation Day. You should only need to
attend one day.
Accommodation Day Dates:
• July 16th (9.30am - 3.00pm)
• August 26th (9.30am - 3.00pm)
Your booking will be confirmed by email.
With your permission we will include your name and contact details on the list of
attendees and email this to everyone who has registered to come to the same
accommodation day approximately 10 days before that date. You can then start to
make contact before the day, or arrange to meet up with people you’ve got to know
through Facebook and other social networking sites, or our “student pad” message
board.
aub.ac.uk
Preparing for your course
The Small Print
Private rented accommodation
Preparing to study
Learning at university will probably be very different to how you learnt at school
AUB is not able to arrange private rented accommodation on your behalf and we do
or college. To help you adjust to university study, the Arts University at
not view properties listed on our “studentpad” website. Only landlords who are
Bournemouth has created a brief on-line introduction entitled The Art of
accredited with The Residential Landlord Accreditation Scheme, Private Rented
Studying. For lots of helpful hints to develop the skills you need as a student,
Sector Accreditation Scheme or The National Landlords Association are registered.
go to www.artofstudying.co.uk
However, in registering properties, or providing details at our accommodation days,
we are not recommending them over any other.
Recommended reading
Any tenancy agreement is strictly between you and your landlord, and we advise
you to seek legal advice if you are uncertain about any of the terms. You should
ensure that any agreement with your landlord is put in writing, and should keep
copies of all correspondence and receipts.
You should not sub-let any part of your property without the written consent of
your landlord. If you make use of a local letting agent please be aware that you will
be charged an arrangement fee.
All full time students are exempt from Council Tax for the duration of their course
of study. Exemption starts on the first day of your course, so if you move into your
house before then, you should expect a bill.
When looking for accommodation, view as many properties as you can to help you
make a decision. For safety reasons, never go to view a property on your own.
Remember to consider the full cost of your accommodation, including bills,
contents insurance, television licence…and food!
AUB accepts no legal responsibility or liability to any party in matters of the
provision of accommodation.
AUB students are expected to behave in a responsible, co-operative manner and
failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.
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Quick Comparison
Halls v Private Accommodation
Advantages of private rented accommodation:
• Lots of choice of accommodation
• You can choose your housemates
• You can stay in the same accommodation for more than 1 year
• Properties may have a garden or parking space.
Advantages of halls of residence:
• It is easy to arrange
• It's a good way to meet other students
• All bills are included in the rent
• No agency/admin fees.
aub.ac.uk
Useful
Contacts
Additional
course details
There's plenty to think about with arranging your accommodation but you can get
in touch with us at any point if you have questions or queries.
Student Advice: 01202 363034 / [email protected]
Accommodation website: aubstudentpad.co.uk
Accommodation Facebook page: Accommodation AUB
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