Housing

There are a lot of resources on bathstudent.com/housing to help you find a house while on placement. If possible it is best if you look around the house yourself, if not ask the landlord/letting agent the following information or for a more honest answer ask the current tenants:

• Is the outside of the house ok? Check from across the road to see if the roof has any signs of mis-aligned tiles/slates, the gutters are leaking or blocked or the chimney is leaning.
• Who is responsible for maintaining the garden? Make sure there are tools provided if it is your responsibility.
• Is there any peeling wallpaper, flaking paint, mould or cold walls? This could be because of damp. If problems arise throughout the year and become an on going problem look at what you can do to help. Are there enough power points in all the rooms for your tv, computer, stereo? Make sure that there are no loose sockets or bare wires.
• Is there hot and cold running water?
• Is the sink cracked? Are there any water leaks?
• Is everything fixed securely to the walls that should be?
• Is there enough furniture? Is the furniture in good condition?
• Is there enough storage space in the kitchen for your food, pots and pans etc? Is the fridge and freezer big enough?
• Are the rooms you will occupy large enough for your needs?
• Are the communal areas large enough for the number of people living in the property?
• Does the landlord have a gas safety certificate signed by a qualified Corgi Engineer?
• Are there smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and/or fire blankets?
• Does the property have adequate security locks on the doors and windows?

Also it is important that the house has all the required documentation. Look at the local councils website what certificates are expected. For the UK they should have:

• Energy Performance certificate if it is on a joint tenancy
• Gas and Electric safety certificates
• HMO license if applicable

There are two types of contract, and Assured Shorthold Tenancy and a License Agreement. The type of contract depends on the circumstances of your living arrangements. If you have a resident landlord/lady, i.e.. you live in the same house or flat as your landlord/lady then you will have a License Agreement. If you have sole possession of your house or flat then you will have an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. The latter type is the most common and will also be fixed term.

Fixed Term means that you are guaranteed to have occupancy of the property, and are committed to paying full rent for the period stated on the contract. This must be a minimum of 6 months, and landlords/ladies should not be offering a fixed term of any less than 6 months. This means that tenants cannot move out and stop paying rent (they can move out but are still committed to paying rent) This guarantee is only valid providing that the tenants and the landlord/lady remain within the terms and conditions of the contract. For example, if a tenant(s) fails to pay rent, then the contract is breached, and this can be a justified reason for a landlord/ lady to have the property vacated. Similarly if the landlord/lady fails to uphold their obligations as set out in the contract, then the tenant(s) are within their right to leave the property before the defined term has expired.

If all the tenants sign the same contract then the contract automatically becomes joint and several. This means that all the tenants are equally liable for the full rent of the property. The consequence of this is that if a tenant moves out, the remaining tenants must pay the rent of the person who left.

Your contract will probably have a section on how the rent is to be paid. There are several ways of paying rent, by cheque each month, by direct debit or by post dated cheque given to the landlord when signing the contract.

We recommend that you pay by standing order.

This is a standing order that you set up with your bank or building society that allows you to make a set payment each month into someone else's bank account, without the need for you to do anything. This is a safe way of paying your rent. Just remember to cancel it after you move out!

Post-dated cheques are more risky because they can be cashed before the date written on it. If you do not cross your cheque, it can also be cashed by someone else.

Whichever way you decide, make sure that you have sufficient funds in your account to cover payments.

Once you are satisfied with the accommodation you have found make some extra checks:

• Are you able to afford the rent?
• Will you be able to afford bills?
• Are you happy with the state of the accommodation?
• Has the landlord/ lady made any promises to refurbish or renovate any part of the property and are you happy with this?

If you are renting a house through an agency your contract must still be with the landlord/ lady of the house and not with the agency. Check this.

Once you put your signature onto a document such as a housing contract, you are committing yourself to the terms and conditions set out in it.

Make sure that you understand what you are committing yourself to!

You can get your contracts checked at the Advice and Representation Center for free. Having your contract checked involves having it explained to you. We are happy to explain terms and conditions in contracts and point out possible pitfalls.

You are the person responsible for the contract once you have signed it, and no one else can take this responsibility for you. If problems are highlighted with a contract when they are checked then it is up to you to do something about it and follow any advice that may have been given to you.

If in doubt about a contract, do not sign it!

Being on placement it is difficult to find housemates. Here on the placements hub we have an interactive map and forum so you can find people from Bath to find a house together.