Renting for the first time doesn’t need to feel daunting. You just need to know what to do and when.
It may feel a bit overwhelming when you start looking, so we’ve broken it down into a few simple steps.
When you’re looking to rent for the first time as a student in Huddersfield, there are five questions to consider before starting your search:
1. Who are you going to live with?
This is the most important question to answer first. Pick your housemates wisely as you’re going to be living with them. Need help picking the perfect housemate? We’ve got a guide for that! Read it here.
2. Where do you want to live?
Do you want to roll out of bed and straight into Uni? Or are you happy to trade proximity for having a bigger property?
3. What type of property would you prefer?
Do you want to live in an apartment or a house? Each have their own benefits but there may be location compromises. For example, if you want to live near Uni you’re more likely to find an apartment, while houses are more available further out.
4. What is your budget?
How much do you want to spend? This will often impact where you may be able to find a property. As above, the general rule is the closer to Uni and the town centre, the more expensive the property will be (and smaller).
5. Do you want bills included or excluded?
Most students want bills included. These include gas, electric, water and internet. This may be easier and more hassle-free if there’s five or more of you in a house. However, not every property offers bills included and sometimes it can be cheaper to go for a bills exclusive option. You may not be able to make a decision right now but it’s just something to be aware of when you’re looking. We can help you with this process.
If you contact us, those are the five questions we’ll ask you. The next step is to start looking for properties that match what you want or contact us and we’ll help find the property for you.
Once we start the process, we’ll take over sorting everything out for you, including all the paperwork.
And while we’re on the subject of paperwork, there’s probably a few questions you have about the renting process.
What is a tenancy agreement?
Ok, this is the boring technical bit, but it’s worth knowing. Though it sounds a bit technical, it’s really quite simple. A tenancy agreement is a legal document that spells out what is expected of you as the tenant and what the landlord is expected to provide while you’re in the property.
If you’re in a group and you all sign a single tenancy agreement with the landlord, this is a joint tenancy. This means you’re all jointly responsible for what happens in the property. It also means that if one person leaves, the other may be responsible for their part of the rent until someone else is found. However, as we ask for a guarantor from each tenant it gives you added peace of mind in the event things do not work out to plan with the group. That’s why it’s worth knowing this before you choose who you move in with.
All our tenancy agreements are Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements.
What about tenancy deposits
Whenever you move into a rented property, it’s normal for the landlord or agent to ask for a deposit in case anything is damaged. This is usually between £200 – £250 per person.
The landlord can’t simply decide to make adjustments to your deposit when you move out if they feel anything has been broken or damaged. Your landlord will have to protect your deposit in one of the deposit protection schemes available so if there is any dispute it has to go through this.
That’s why right at the start of teh tenancy you are provided with an inventory list and schedule of condition report. (An inventory list and schedule of condition lists every item of furniture and appliances supplied by the landlord of the property including the condition of the property). If you spot any damage when you move in, report it as soon as possible.
For Guarantors
If you’re asked to be a guarantor or you require a guarantor for a property, there are a few things you need to know.
The purpose of a guarantor is to basically guarantee the landlord will get paid if the individual renting the property cannot pay. It’s a serious undertaking because the guarantor will be liable for any payments if the tenant fails to pay. It’s a perfectly normal situation as many properties require a guarantor.
The guarantor gives protection and peace of mind for the individual renting. Where there is a group of individuals renting a property as part of a group and joint tenancy; if the landlord does not take a guarantor from each and every group member, and if any one in the group fails to pay the rent the individual(s) renting will have the risk of having to pay the rent.
In most cases of student properties, the guarantor will be a parent in full-time work. We’ll get them to sign a two-page guarantor form and provide copies of their ID and proof of address. If they are retired, they will still be able to be a guarantor as long as they are a homeowner. If you have any questions about guarantors, please feel free to contact us with any questions.