AUSA Accommodation Booklet 2008-09

Contents PageAccommodationSearches 3

StudentAccommodationorPrivate? 5 Advantages&disadvantages

PrivateAccommodation 7 Thingsyouneedtoknow

TheContract 8

TenancyTypes&LeasingRights 9

Deposits 11

Bills 12

CouncilTax 13

ViewingaProperty 14

AttheEndofaLease 15

GoneaBitAwry? 15 ProblemsinprivateaccommodationPayingtheRent 18 Keepingrecordsofrent&bills

UsefulContacts 19

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AccommodationSearchesThereisanabundanceofplacestolookforaccommodationinAberdeen.It’ssimplyacaseoftakingthetimetosearchthroughthewebsitesandcallupanylandlordsorleasingagenciestoorganiseaviewingofanypropertythatyoulikethesoundof.Thefollowingtwopagesofferavarietyofplacestofindbothprivateandstudentaccommodation,andbothroomsandflats.

Info&AdviceCentre–AberdeenUniversity,TheHubThisistheplaceoncampustogotowhenlookingforaccommodation.Theyhavetheirownaccommodationwebsitewhichlistsbothroomsandflatsownedbyprivatelandlords.Alladvertshavecontactdetails,sostudentscanphoneuplandlordsdirectly.

Youcancheckoutthepropertylistsat:www.ausa.org.ukandfollowthelinksforaccommodation.Ifyouhaveanyfurtherquestionscallthemon+44(0)1224274200oremail:[email protected]

LeasingAgenciesLeasingagentsareagoodplacetolookforone,twoandthreebedroomproperties.Theytendtoadvertise4-6weeksinadvance–goodifyou’relookingforapropertyinthenearfuture.Anythingthatyoulike,simplyphoneupandarrangeaviewing.Ifyouliketheproperty,youwillbeaskedtopayforaCreditHistoryCheck(theamountdiffersfromoneagenttoanother).Youmayalsobeaskedforreferences,sohavethematthereadytosavetime.Ifyouplanonviewingafewproperties,tryandstickwiththesameagency,aseachagencyyougotowillchargeforacredithistorycheck.Ifyoustickwiththeoneagencyyouwillonlybechargedonceandyoucanputasmanyoffersinfordifferentpropertiesasyoulikewithoutincurringfurthercharges.Don’twasteyourtimetrawlingthroughtheirshops–youcansearchtheirpropertylistsonlineandregisterforemailupdates:

www.aspc.co.uk www.burnett-reid.co.ukwww.peterkins.com www.primelet.comwww.jgcollie.co.uk www.kwad.co.ukwww.belvoirlettings.com www.simpsonbrebner.comwww.raeburns.co.uk www.bainprop.co.uk

UniversityAccommodationTheUniversityoffersanumberofcateredandself-cateredroomsneartooroncampus.Theyhavecontractstosuitthelengthsofbothundergraduateandpost-graduateacademicyears,withpricesvaryingdependingontypeofroomFulldetailscanbefoundat:www.abdn.ac.uk/accommodation

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StudentAccommodationProvidersTheseprivatelyownedstudentflatsofferself-cateringaccommodationneartoandoncampus,withsomeprovidersofferingensuitefacilities:

LibertyLiving www.libertyliving.co.ukHunterConstruction www.hunter-construction.co.ukUnite www.unite-students.com

OtherUsefulWebsitesThesewebsiteshaveavarietyofroomsandflatstoletfrombothprivatelandlordsandleasingagencies:

http://aberdeen.gumtree.com www.pastures-new.co.ukwww.lettingweb.com www.citylets.co.ukwww.ukhomelets.com www.findaproperty.com

LocalNewspapersTheseareespeciallygoodforlookingforbothroomsandflatsfromprivatelandlords.Thesenewspaperscanbepurchasedonthefollowingdaysfromlocalnewsagentsandsupermarketsandhavepropertyguidesectionsonthefollowingdays:

EveningExpress(Friday) Press&Journal(Tuesday)

orcheckoutthewebsitedailyathttp://yourhome.ajl.co.uk

RoomSearchesThewebsitesbelowarespecificallyforthoselookingtorentaroom.Howevertoaccessthedetailsyouneedtopayasumofabout£5-£10.Trythefreewebsitesfirstandifyouarestillstrugglingthenchecktheseout!

www.easyroommate.com www.aberdeen.vivastreet.co.ukwww.spareroom.co.uk www.accommodationforstudents.com

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StudentAccommodationOrPrivate?Itcanbedifficultdecidingonthebestplacetolive.IfUniversityHallsaren’tforyou,youmaybeconsideringastudentflatorprivateaccommodation.Herearesomeoftheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofstayinginboth:

StudentAccommodation

AdvantagesYoucanbookyouraccommodationmonthsinadvanceifyouwish.

Insomestudentprovidersyouonlypayaoneoffutilitybillandyoudon’thavetoworryaboutpayingbillsfortherestofthecontract.

Youcanoftenarrangeforyourfriendstobeinthesamestudentflatwithyouifyouaskforitandthereisspaceavailable.

Themajorityofstudentaccommodationissituatedoncampusorwithinwalkingdistance.

DisadvantagesManystudentaccommodationcontractslastuntilthesummermonths,oftenuntilAugust.IfyouplanonleavinginJuneaftertheexams,youwillbepayingforaroomthatyouwon’tbeusing.

Mostcontractsarefortheentireyear,andstudentscanonlybereleasedfromthecontractsinexceptionalcircumstances.

Somestudentaccommodationcanoftenbepartycentral–notidealifyouareplanningonsomeseriousstudying!CheckwithyourproviderforspecifichallsformatureandPost-graduatestudents.

Notallstudentaccommodationhasinternetaccessinyourroomsyet,oryoumayneedtopayextratogetitinstalled.Youwillneedtocheckwiththecompanyfirstifinternetaccessisimportanttoyou.

Studentaccommodationisoftenjustas,ifnotmoreso,expensiveasprivateaccommodationthesedays.

Somestudentaccommodationschargeasmallfeetochangetherentpaymentstomonthlyinstalmentsratherthanpayinginlumpsums.Notallprovidersdothis–studentsshouldcheckwiththecompanytheyarewith.

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PrivateAccommodation

AdvantagesYouhaveyourownpersonalprivateflattoyourself–anewsenseoffreedom.

Youcanlookforapropertythatsuitsyourneeds&requirementsexactly.

Privateaccommodationcansometimesworkoutcheaperthanstudentaccommodation.

Youmaybeabletonegotiatethelengthofthecontractwithyourlandlord.

Propertiesareusuallyofhigherstandardandqualitythanstudentaccommodation.

DisadvantagesItcanoftentakeuptoamonthtofindsuitableprivateproperty.

Itwillbeyourresponsibilitytopayyourmonthlybills.Iflivingwithfriends,makesureeveryoneisawareoftheirshare–ifsomeonedoesn’tpaytheirway,thegas/electriccompanywilllooktowhoeverelseisinthepropertytopaythebills.

Studentslookingtolivewiththeirfriendsina3/4/5/6bedroompropertywillfindittough–fewlandlordshavesuchlargeproperties,thereforecompetitionfromotherstudentsisintense.Youmayhavetoconsidersplittingyourgroupup.

Itishardertosecureprivateaccommodationmonthsinadvance,especiallyifyouarelookingforSeptemberentry.ThemajorityoflandlordswillnotadvertiseearlierthanMarch/April.

Itcanbedifficultsearchingforaflat/roomifyouarenotinthecity(ie.overthesummervacation),asthemajorityoflandlordswillnotletyoutakeoutapropertywithoutyouviewingitfirst.

Regardlessofwhattypeofaccommodationyougointo,beawarethatyourleasewillnotcoverinsuranceofyourbelongings,norhaveaTVlicenseifyouhaveaTVintheproperty.Youwillhavetogetbothoftheseyourself.

Infoaboutinsuringyourbelongingscanbefoundat:www.endsleigh.co.ukInfoaboutTVlicensescanbefoundat:www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information

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PrivateAccommodation:ThingsyouneedtoknowLandlordLicensesAsofMarch2006,alllandlordslettingpropertiesneedtohaveregisteredwiththeirlocalcouncilauthorities(thisdoesnotapplytolandlordslettingaroomintheirownhome).

Thisisalegalrequirementcalled‘LandlordRegistration’andistoensurethatlandlordsarefitandpropertolet.Ifyouarenotsurewhetheryourlandlord,orpotentiallandlord,hasthislicenseyoucanaskthemorcheckwiththecitycouncil.Itisadvisablethatyouonlyletpropertiesfromalicensedlandlord.

HousesinMultipleOccupancy(HMO)YoumayhaveheardaboutthisadditionallicensecalledanHMOthatlandlordsneediftheyarelettingoutpropertiestothreeormoreunrelatedpeople,forexample,athreebedroomproperty.Thisisanimportantlicensethatsuchlandlordsshouldhave,asitensuresthatthepropertyreachesthestandardleveltoensureitissafeandsuitablefortheproposednumberoftenants.

Again,itishighlyadvisablethatpotentialtenantsensurethatanypropertytheyviewthatrequiresanHMOalreadyhasthislicenseinplace.Iftheyareuncertain,theycancontacttheirlocalauthoritytocheckifthelandlordisregistered.

NOTE:Anylandlordsfoundtobelettingpropertieswithouthavingtherequiredlicensescanfaceafineofupto£5000.

TheInfo&AdviceCentrewillonlyadvertisepropertieswhoselandlordshavetherequiredLandlordRegistrationandHMOlicenses.

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TheContractRegardlessofthetypeoftenancyyouhave,youarelegallyentitledtoacontract.Thecontractcanbewrittenorverbal,thoughitisalwaysbesttohaveitinwritingasproofofthetermsagreedupon.

Contractsmusthavethefollowingdetailsinthem:

Yournameandanyothertenants.Thelandlordsnameandcontactdetails.Theaddressoftheproperty.Thelengthofthecontract.Whattypeoftenancyitis,i.e.commonlawtenancy,short-assured?Howmuchtherentis.Howtherentistobepaid,i.e.monthly,weekly?Whatwaytherentshouldbepaid?i.e.bycheque,directdebit?

Itisalsobestpracticeforcontractstoincludethefollowing:

Whatbillsthetenantwillberesponsiblefor.Whatamountofdepositwaspaidandinwhatform,ie.cheque,cash?Inwhatinstancespartof,orallof,thedepositwillbewithheld.Whetherthetenantisallowedtosublet.Whetherthetenancycanbebroughttoanendbeforethefixeddate.Noticethetenanthastogiveiftheywishtoleaveattheendofthetenancy.Responsibilities,ifany,regardingcommunalareas.Responsibilitiesregardinginternaldecorationandmaintenance.Landlordsresponsibilitiesforrepairs.Whetherthetenantcanhavelodgers.Anyrulesaboutkeepingpets,smoking,etc.Agreementoverinventory.

REMEMBER!!Neversignacontractwithoutreadingitthroughfirst,andmakesurethatyouunderstanditsterms.Becauseacontractislegallybindingitcanbeverydifficulttochangethetermsafteratenanthassignedandagreedtoit.

Ifyouhaveacontractandyouarenotsureofanytermsinit,stafffromtheInfo&AdviceCentrecanreadoveritforyouandhelpexplaintheterms.

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TenancyTypes&LeasingRightsDependingonwhereyoulive,youwillhaveacertaintypeoftenancywhichaffectsyourrights.Theinformationbelowwillexplainthedifferenttypesoftenanciesandtherightstheyentail:

1.CommonLawTenanciesIfyouarelivinginstudentaccommodationorlivingwithyourlandlord,youwillhavewhatiscalledaCommonLawTenancy.Asacommonlawtenant,thefollowingclauseswillapply:

Landlordsarenotallowedtoenteryourpartofthepropertywithoutyourpermission.Iftheyneedtoenterforrepairs,theymustgivereasonablenoticebeforedoingso.

CommonLawTenantslivingwiththeirlandlordinprivateaccommodationaremorelikelytobeabletoendtheirtenancyagreementearlyshouldtheywishto.Instudentaccommodation,however,theyareunlikelytoletyouleavebeforeyourcontractisupwithoutyoufindingsomeonetotakeyourplace,,unlesstherearespecialcircumstances.

Whenthecontractcomestotheendoftheagreedtenancyperiod,thetenancywillautomaticallyrepeatitselfunlessthelandlordortenantgivesnoticetoquitortoleave(seesectiononAttheEndofaLease).

Commonlawtenantsdonothavetheautomaticrighttomoveintheirspouseorotherfamilymember.Theymustasktheirlandlordforpermission.

UndertheHousing(Scotland)Act2006,commonlawtenantsareentitledtoliveinpropertiesthatarewindandwatertight,thatarenotaffectedbyrisingdampandcondensation,andthatallfurnishingsandfixturesaresafetouseforthepurposeofwhichtheyweredesigned.

BUT!CommonLawTenantsshouldnotethatiftheyhaveproblemswiththeirlandlordsnotfixingrepairs,theyhavelimitedrightsondealingwiththematter(seeRepairssectioninGoneaBitAwry?).

2.Short-AssuredTenanciesIfyouarelivinginapropertyownedbyalandlordandthetenancyisforsixormoremonths,thenyouwillhaveaShort-AssuredTenancy.MoststudentslettingapropertyfromalandlordwillhaveaShort-AssuredTenancy,andsuchstudentsshouldbeawareofthefollowing:

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TenantsshouldbegivenanAT5formalongwiththeircontract.ThisdistinguishesthetenancyasaShort-Assuredtenancy.Tenanciesmustthereforebenolessthansixmonthsinlength.

Thecontractshouldstateiftherewillberentincreasesduringthetenancy.Ifthereisnoclausestatingso,landlordscanonlyincreaserentamountsattheendofthetenancy.Ifatthispointyoufeeltherenthasincreasedbeyondcurrentmarketprices,youmaybeabletoappealtheincreasetothePrivateRentedHousingPanel(seeContactspagefordetails)

Tenantshavetherighttoliveinwindandwatertightpropertiesthatarenotaffectedbyrisingdampandcondensation,andwhereallfurnishingsandfixturesaresafetouseforthepurposeofwhichtheyaredesigned.Ifalandlordrefusedtomakenecessaryrepairs,tenantsmayhavetherighttoappeal.(SeeRepairssectioninGoneabitawry?)

Whenthecontractcomestotheendoftheagreedtenancyperiod,thetenancywillautomaticallyrepeatitselfforthesamelengthofperiod,i.e.iftheoriginaltenancywasforsixmonths,ifnoonegivesnotice,thetenancywillrepeatitselfforanothersixmonths.Attheendofthesecondsixmonthtenancy,thetenancywillrollonamonthtomonthbasisthereafter,untileitherthetenantorlandlordgivesnotice.

Landlordsdonothavetherighttoenterpropertytheyarelettingwithoutthepriorpermissionofthetenant.Iftheyneedtogetintothepropertyforrepairs,theymustgivethetenant24hoursnotice.

JointtenanciesTenantswhomoveintoapropertytogetherareoftengiveajointtenancy.Thisisacontractwhichwillincludeallnamesandsignaturesofalltenantsintheproperty.

Jointtenanciesmeanthattenantshavethesamerightsandresponsibilitiesastheirflatmates,anditisuptotheentirehouseholdtosortoutanyarisingproblemsamongstthemselves,includingpaymentsofbills.

NOTE!!Becauseallthetenants’namesareonajointtenancy,ifonetenantofthehouseholddoesn’tpaytheirrent,thelandlordcanlooktotheotherremainingflatmatestopaythedueamount.Tenantsshouldensuretheyknowandtrustthepeopletheyaremovinginwithbeforesigningajointtenancy.Otherwise,tenantsshouldaskforseparatetenancies.

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SeparatetenanciesIfatenantmovesintoapropertyatthesametimeasothertenants,yourlandlordmaygiveyouaseparatetenancy.Thisisacontractthatissolelyfortheonetenantandthatonlytheonetenantsigns.Itmeansthattheyhavetheirowntermsandresponsibilitiesthatmayormaynotbedifferentfromtheothertenantsintheproperty.

Separatetenanciesaregoodinthatifyourflatmatedoesn’tpaytheirshareoftherent,landlordscannotasktheothertenantstopaytheduerent.Howeverregardlessofwhattypeoftenancytenantshave,ifonepersondoesn’tpaytheirgas/electric/TVlicenceetcbills,itwillbeuptotheothertenantstocoughup,eveniftheirnamesaren’tonthebill.

DepositsMost,ifnotall,landlordsinprivateaccommodationwillaskforadeposit.Theamountofthedepositisusuallyequivalenttoonemonthsrent,andwillbepaidatthebeginningofthetenancy.Landlordscannotaskforadepositthatexceedstheamountoftwomonthsrent.

Thedepositisthelandlord’swayofsafeguardingthemselvesagainstunpaidrent,bills,anddamagetotheproperty.Aslongasthetenantdoesnotbreakanytermsoftheircontract,theyshouldgettheirdepositbackinfullattheendoftheirtenancy.

Itisbestpracticetoaskyourlandlordforareceiptforyourdeposit.Thiswillprovethatadeposithasbeenpaidandhowmuchitwas,justincaseyoushouldencounteranydifficultiesgettingyourdepositback.

NOTEThefirstmonthofyourtenancyisalwaysgoingtobethemostexpensive,becauseyouwillbepayingonemonth’srentinadvance,aswellasyourdeposit.Ifyou’restrugglingtoraiseallthatcash,itmaybeworthwhileaskingyourlandlordifyoucanpayforyourdepositbycheque,whichthelandlordwillkeepanddestroyattheendofthetenancy.Thismeansthatmoneyisnotbeingtakenoutofyourbankaccount,butisstillprovidingthelandlordwithdepositsecurity.

Deposits&InventoriesItisimportantbeforemovingintoaprivatepropertythatyouagreewithyourlandlordabouteverythingthatisinthepropertythatisthelandlords(i.e.furnishings).Thebestwaytodothisistogoaroundthepropertytogetherandmakeawritteninventoryofallitemsandbothsignthelist,thusbothagreeingto

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whatisintheproperty.

Thereforeifthelandlordtriestokeepyourdepositforsomethingthattheythinkismissingfromthepropertyafteryoumoveout,youcanconsulttheinventorytodoublecheckthatthatitemwasthereinthefirstplace.

Landlordsmuststateinthecontractexactlywhatthedepositwillcover,ie.unpaidrent,billsetc.Attheendofyourtenancy,yourlandlordcannotretainpartorallofthedepositforsomethingthatisnotspecifiedinthecontract.Notethatlandlordsshouldnotchargeforaninventory.

BillsWhenfiguringouthowmuchrentyoucanafford,bemindfuloffiguringoutabudgetthatincludesthecostofyourbills.Theusualbills(andsomeaddedextras)maybe:

CommonBills: AddedExtrasmaybe:Gas TVLicenseElectric Digital/Satellite/FreeviewTVFoodallowances Internetorbroadband/wirelessLaundry LandlineTelephoneCleaningproducts Travelexpenses(ifyoulivefarfromcampus)

Ofcoursenotallofthesewillapplytoyou,butit’sworthwhilefiguringoutwhichonesdo,sothatyouarenotstungwithunexpectedbillswhenyouareinyournewhome.Ifyouhaveahighrent,willyoubeabletoaffordthebillstoo?

Ifyouarenotsurehowmuchyourgasorelectricbillswillbe,askyourfamilyandfriendswhattheypayonaverage,andmakearoughestimateforyourself.

REMEMBER!Whenyoumoveintoanewpropertyyouwillhavetotakethereadingsfromthegasorelectricmeterandcallupyourgas/electriccompanytoforwardthereading.Thisensuresthatyouarenotchargedforanyusagebeforethedateyoumovedintotheproperty.

Alsonotethatgasandelectricbillsareautomaticallysentoutquarterly.Thisisgreatifyouaregettingyourstudentloanonatermlybasis.However,ifyouarefundedbySAASyouwillbegettingmonthlypayments,soitmaybeeasierforyoutochange

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thegasandelectricbillstomonthly,whichmightproveeasiertobudgetfor.

NOTE!!Iflivingwithotherpeopleinaproperty,itisimportantthatalltenantsknowthatitiseveryone’sresonsibilitytopaytheirshareofthebills.Becauseregardlessifatenanthasaseparateorjointtenancy,ifonetenantdoesn’tpaythegas/electricbills,thecompanywilllooktotheotherflatmatestopaythedueamount,evenififthereisonlyonetenant’snameonthebill.

CouncilTaxAllfull-timestudentsdonothavetopaycounciltaxinprivateaccommodation,butyoushouldbeawarethatyouarenotautomaticallyexempt.Whenyoumoveintoanewpropertyyoumustfillouta‘CouncilTaxExemption’formwithyourdetails,includingwhatyearitwasthatyoufirststarteduniversity,otherwiseyouwillbesentabillforcounciltax.

NOTE!!Itisn’ttheindividualpersonthatcounciltaxisbasedon,butthepropertystatus.Ifyouliveinanallstudenthousehold,theentirepropertyisexempt.However,ifyouliveinahouseholdwhereonememberisanon-student,thenthepropertyisnolongerexempt.Whilstthenon-studentwillbeentitledtoa25%singleperson’sdiscount,itismostlikelythatthatpersonwillnotwanttobeburdenedwiththewholeamount,andmayexpectyoutocontributetothecounciltaxbill.Rememberthiswhenconsideringmovinginwithanon-student.Regardlessofthis,youwillstillneedtofillinastudentexemptionformforthatproperty.

OthersituationsMarriedcouples–ifonehalfofamarriedcoupleisinfull-timeeducation,thespousewillbeeligiblefora25%singlepersonsdiscount.

Part-timestudents–arenoteligibleforcounciltaxexemption.

PHDstudents–Full-timePHDstudentsareentitledtocounciltaxexemption,includingintheirwritingupperiod.

InternationalStudents–ifafull-timestudentfromoutwiththeEuropeanUniontakestheirspousetolivewiththem,thespousewillnothavetopaycounciltaxeither,aslongasitsaysontheirpassport–NoRecoursetoPublicFunds–andtheydonotworkduringtheirtimeintheUK.ThespousewillhavetotakeacopyoftheirpassportandVisatotheCouncilTaxofficetoverifythis.

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ViewingaPropertyThingstolookoutfor

FurnishingsMakesureyoucheckallthefurnishingsandtheirpresentcondition.Thisincludesthemattresses,carpets,doors,tables,chairs,allthewhitegoodsinthekitchen–basicallyeverything!Issomethingabitsqueaky?Gotdubiousstains?Notworkingproperly?Ifthereisanythingatallthatisn’tingoodorderorlookspastitssellbydate,tellthelandlordifyouwantitreplacedbeforeyoumovein,andnotafter.

HeatingCheckwhattypeofheatingtheaccommodationhasandwhatcompanythelandlordiswith.Certaintypesofheatingandcompaniesmaybemoreexpensivethanothers,soit’simportanttoask.Ifthepropertyisheatedbygas,makesurethatthegassystemhasbeengivenit’sannualmaintenanceservice.

RepairsChecktoseeifthereisanyrisingdamp,condensation,andanygeneralrepairsneedingcarriedoutintheproperty.Ifyouspotanything,itisimportanttoinformthelandlordoftherequiredrepairs,andtoensurethattheyarecarriedoutbeforeyoumovein.Itisatenant’srighttoliveinsafeandhabitableaccommodation,sodon’tmoveinuntiltheproblemsaresorted.

Askyourlandlordwhatthearrangmentsareifsomethingbreaksdownwhenyouarelivingintheproperty:willtheyarrangeforarepaircompanytofixit,ordoyou?

SafetyMakesurethatyourpropertyhassmokedetectors.Thelawnowstatesthatalllandlordsmustfitmainsoperatedsmokedetectorsinpropertiesthattheylet.Ifnot,thelocalFireServicecanarrangeahomevisittoinstallasmokedetectorfreeofcharge.

SecurityEnsurethatthepropertyhasasecureentranceandthatthelocksareingoodcondition.Rememberalsotolookatthelocksonanywindows.Checkwithyourparentsaboutinsuringyourposessionsintheproperty.Youmayormaynotbecoveredbythem.

PlumbingCheckthatalltapsandpipesareingoodworkingorder.Dotheyswitchoff

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properly?Isthereagoodsupplyofreadilyavailablehotwater?Noonelikesacoldshowerinthemorning.

TheBuildingMakesurethatthecommunaldoorofyourbuildingissecureandhasaproperlock.It’salsoworthcheckingoutthehallwayofyourbuilding–isthereabackentrance?Isitsecure?Isthereadequatehallwaylighting?Youdon’twanttocomehomeatnightandhavetofindyourwaytoyourfrontdoorinthedark.

AttheendofaLeaseMovingOutIfaShort-AssuredTenantdoesnotwishtoremaininthepropertywhentheleaseexpires,theymustgive40daysnotice.Fortenanciesthathaverolledonamonthtomonthbasis,ithastobe28daysnotice.

CommonLawTenantsmustgivefourweeksnoticeiftheywanttoleave.Iftheleaseisforayearorlonger,tenantswillhavetogive40daysnotice.

EvictionIfaShort-assuredTenantdoesnotbreakanytermsoftheircontract,alandlordcanonlyapplyforrepossessionofapropertyattheendofthelease,andtheymustgothroughthecorrectprocedures.Thelandlordmust:

GiveaminimumtwomonthsnoticetoquitthepropertyServea‘NoticetoQuit’document.

CommonLawTenantsmustbegivenatleastfourweekswrittennoticeinwhichtoleavetheproperty.

Goneabitawry???Soyou’vemovedin,theflatisperfectandeverythingishunkydory.Orisit?Despiteeveryone’sbestintentions,sometimesthingscropsupthatrequiressomeusefulinfo.Here’salistofthemostcommonproblemsandhowtoovercomethem.

RepairsInprivateaccommodationitisthelandlord’sdutytoensurethattheirpropertiesreachthestandardlevelofrepairsetoutintheHousing(Scotland)Act2006.Thismeansthatpropertiesshould:

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BewindandwatertightNotsufferfromdamp/condensationInstallationsmustbeinproperworkingorder

Fixtures,furnishingsandappliancesshouldbeinproperworkingorderandbeusedforthepurposeofwhichtheyaredesigned.

Ifyoufindyourselfwithanyoftheseproblemsduringyourtenancy,youmustfirstofallinformyourlandlordoftherequiredrepairs.Ifyourlandlordrefusesor‘doesn’tgetroundtoit’,thenwriteadatedlettertothelandlorddetailingtheproblemandgivingadeadlineforittobefixed,makingsuretokeepacopyforyourself.Ifyouneedhelpwiththeletter,anadvisorattheInfo&AdviceCentrewillbeabletoassist.

Iftherepairsstillgounresolved,short-assuredtenantshavetherighttoappealtothePrivateRentedHousingPanel(PRHP).ThisPanel,createdinSeptember2007,willinvestigatetheclaimofrepairsand,ifthelandlordisfoundtobeevadingtheirrepairingresponsibilities,thePRHPcanenforcelandlordstocarryoutthenecessaryrepairs.SeetheContactspagefortheirwebsitedetails.

NOTE!!CommonLawtenantshavelimitedrightsinregardstoenforcingrepairsandcannotapplytothePRHP.Suchtenantswithrepairproblemsshouldcomplaintotheirlandlords,however,theycanbeevictedfairlyeasilyandshouldbemindfulofhowtheyformthecomplaint.

DepositsUnfortunatelytherearenolawsinScotlandjustyettoprotectatenant’sdeposit,butthereareotheroptionsatenantcantakeshouldtheirlandlordwithholdtheirdepositunfairly:

Whenyoumoveintothepropertyaskforareceiptofthedeposit

Makeaninventoryofeverythinginthepropertywithyourlandlordatthebeginningofthelease,andgooveritagainjustbeforeyourleaseends.Thatwaythelandlordcanseeforthemselvesthatnothinghasbeentakenorbroken.

Ifsomethingisbrokenduringyourlease,informthelandlord.Theymayagreethatyoureplaceityourself,ortakeitoffyourdeposit.

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Beforetheleaseends,givethepropertyathoroughcleanandaskthelandlordtoinspectitsothattheycan’tclaimforcleaningcostsafteryou’vemovedout.

Ifallofthisfailsandthelandlordstillwithholdsthedeposit,tenantsshouldfirstwriteadatedlettertotheirlandlorddetailingthattheirdeposithasbeenunfairlykept.TenantscanseekfurtheradviceonthisfromtheInfo&AdviceCentre.

REMEMBER!!Landlord’susuallyonlykeepdepositsforunpaidrentorbills,anddamagestotheproperty,butsometimestheytrytokeepitforanotherreason,butlandlordscannotkeepthedepositforsomethingthatisnotcoveredinthecontract.

ProblemFlatmatesWereyoubestoffriendsbeforeyoumovedintogether?Notsomuchnow?Beforeyoutaketheoptionofmovingout,herearesomeoptionstoconsider:

Tenantsshouldtrytodiscussanygrievanceswiththewholehouseholdfirstofall.Sometenantsmaynothaverealisedtherewasaproblem.

Ifyouareexperiencingbullyingorharassmentfromyourflatmateorneighbour,speaktothem–theymaynothaverealisedtheywerecausingupset.Alternativelyspeaktothelandlordwhomaybeabletohaveachatwiththeminstead.

Ifyouareinstudentaccommodation,speaktotheaccommodationofficeorpersonincharge–theremaybeanoptionofswitchingroomsorflats.

LeavingEarlyTenantswhowishtoleaveapropertybeforetheendoftheirleasewillneedtofirstchecktheircontracttoseeiftheleasesaysanythingaboutleavingearlyandifso,howmuchnoticeisrequired?Ifthereisnothinginthecontract,youshouldcheckwiththelandlordwhethertheywillallowyoutobereleasedfromyourcontractearly.Ifnot,theymayagreethatyoucanleaveaslongasyoufindareplacementtenant.

Studentsshouldrememberthatproblemsliketheoneslistedabovearerare,andthemajorityoflandlordsareprofessionalintheirdealingswithlettingproperty.Ifhoweveryouareunfortunatetoexperienceanyproblems,thenitisimportantthatyouspeaktoahousingadvisorforfurtherguidanceonthematter.

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PayingtheRentThefollowingtablescanbeusedforrecordingpaymentofrentandbills.Itisadvisabletokeepanoteofwhathasbeenpaidincasethereiseveranyconfusionoverwhathasorhasn’tbeenpaid.

PaymentMade(Rent/Bill)

Date AmountPaid ReceiptReceived?

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UsefulContactsAUSA AberdeenUniversityInfo&AdviceCentre Accommodation Office Floor1,TheHub HighStreetTel:0122424200 Tel:01224273502Email:[email protected] Email:[email protected]

LandlordRegistrationTeam HMOUnitAberdeenCityCouncil AberdeenCityCouncilBroadStreet BroadStreetTel:01224522299 Tel:01224523282

Environmental Office Council Tax OfficeAberdeenCityCouncil AberdeenCityCouncilBroadStreet 27-28CrownStreetTel:01224522000 Tel:01224346789

ShelterScotland CitizensAdviceBureauFreehousingadvice 41UnionStreetFreephone24hrs Mon–Fri:09.30–1600Tel:08088004444 Wed:1300-1600 Tel:01224586255

ElectricalEmergencies GasEmergenciesScottishHydroelectric NationalGasEmergencyServiceTel:0800300999 Tel:0800111999

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