Student Letting Information

The Tenancy Application Form

When you have chosen a property, you will be asked to complete a tenant application form within seven days. We require three referees - guidelines for which are on the form. Your tenancy offer may be made when the form has been processed and approved.

Should any of the details given prove to be false, it will affect any decision or tenancy agreement made based on information provided.

Guarantor

Each tenant must provide details of a UK based guarantor. ie. a parent or guardian.

The Tenancy Agreement

The tenancy agreement is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, as defined in Section 20 of the Housing Act 1988, as amended by the Housing Act 1996. Where a tenancy agreement is completed for more than one tenant, those persons become jointly and severally liable for all outgoings and responsibilities.

If you or your co-tenants wish to leave a suitable replacement must be found who completes the application process. Changes can only be made to the agreement within the first four months of your tenancy. No changes can be made once there is less than six months remaining.

Rent Demands and Payments

You will receive a request for payment each month which will indicate both due date and amount payable.
A standing order form will be given to you on the date you move in. It is your responsibility to take this to your bank to be set up. We are not able to request the money from your bank, but you must make sure it leaves your account on time each month.

All rent is payable in advance on those days set out in your tenancy agreement.

Should rent remain unpaid seven days after your due date, interest becomes chargeable at a rate set out in your tenancy agreement. A reminder will be sent one week thereafter which will incur a fee. Should the amount remain unpaid, recovery proceedings may be taken should it be deemed necessary. If you anticipate any difficulty with a rental payment, please ensure that you contact us well in advance of the due date.

Costs

A £125 management fee per person will be required to secure the property whilst your tenancy application is processed.

Should you abort proceedings at any stage, your management fee be refunded.

Subject to your application being approved, you will be required a tenancy agreement and to pay a deposit and rent prior to keys provided. This must be in the form of cash or a bankers draft.

Problems During the Tenancy

Any problems during the tenancy must be reported to us as quickly as possible, so they may be dealt with swiftly. An emergency 'out of hours' contact number can be found on the back page. This is only for problems such as loss of electrics or a water leak. Minor problems will be left until the next working day.

N.B. Should damage result from negligence or misuse, the tenant will be required to make payment or agree another remedy.

Tenant Responsibilities

Upon occupation of the property, you assume certain responsibilities, as set out in your tenancy agreement. The main ones are listed here:

Not to carry out any structural or superficial alterations to the property.

To preserve the fixtures, furniture and effects from being destroyed or damaged and not to remove them from the property.

Not to share, sublet or part with possession of the property without the previous written consent of the landlord (or landlord's agent) and to use the premises only for the purposes of a private residence in single occupation and for no other purpose and not to take in or receive lodgers, boarders or paying guests or permit or suffer to reside in the premises any person or persons other than the tenant(s).

Not to carry out any profession or trade from the property.

Not to carry out any activity which may cause nuisance to others.

Not to carry out any activity at the property which may invalidate the insurance.

Not to play any musical instrument or use any sound reproduction equipment so as to be a cause of annoyance or disturbance to adjoining residents, between the hours of 11pm and 7am.

Not to place or stick posters or pictures, etc. on any walls or other surfaces with Blue Tac. You may use a sensible number of picture hooks provided they remain in the property at the end of the tenancy. N.B. Blue Tac is responsible for the majority of deductions from tenant deposits.

Not to keep bicycles, motorcycles or similar in any part of the property or common areas, unless written authority is obtained from the landlord or landlord's agent.

Inventory

An inventory will be drawn up at the beginning of the tenancy and you will be provided with a copy for your approval and signature within 7 days of tenancy start date. This inventory will be used to assess any damage to the property, which may affect your deposit. Fair wear and tear is accounted for.

To protect the landlord's interest, we shall be making regular flat inspections. You will be provided with at least 48 hours advance notice.

End of Tenancy

An inspection will be carried out after the tenancy has ended. Providing the inventory was returned within 7 days of the start of the tenancy, this will be used to assess the condition of the property. Any damages or cleaning needed will be charged equally from each tenant's deposit. Any items left in the property will be removed and charged from the deposits.

Furniture

Most student accommodation will have the following furniture:

Bedroom:

1 x wardrobe
1 x desk
1 x chair
1 x chest of drawers
1 single bed
1 x bedside cabinet

Lounge (if applicable):

Table, chairs and suite to suit number of people

Electricity Meters

There are two kinds of meter used in properties and are listed below:

Quarterly meter - a reading is taken each quarter and a bill is generated based on that reading by the electricity board.

Key meter - a 'smart' key is used to charge the meter with electricity as it is used. Electricity can be bought from various participating stores.

Night storage heating system

To operate the night storage heating system, first locate the fuse board. Generally, the larger consumer unit (fuse box) is for the main supply, whilst the smaller consumer unit should operate the night storage system. Ensure it is switched on (when not in use for long periods, we suggest the night storage consumer unit is switched off).

Next to each of the heaters, at around skirting board level, are switches. These operate the heaters individually and must be on for that particular heater to function.

Never cover a night storage heater, as built in safety features (thermal cut off) will engage and ultimately need to be reset by an electrician at a cost to yourself.

Night storage heaters work using cheap rate electricity (supplied at night) to heat special bricks. The stored heat is radiated during the day, until the charging process begins again.

There are two controls on a night storage heater. The input dial controls the temperature to which the bricks are heated. The higher the setting, the hotter the bricks will become. The output control merely operates a flap, so that you can regulate the flow of heat. Obviously if the flap is open, the bricks will lose their stored heat more rapidly. We suggest that the output dial is only used as a boost.

N.B. For normal operation, the night storage system should be left on.

Keys and Locks

Any tenant who is locked out of their flat will be charged £5 for re-entry during working hours. Lost keys -should you require replacement keys at any time, a minimum of £25 inc. VAT will be charged.

No locks are to be placed on internal doors i.e bedroom doors. This is because you are one household on the agreement and also just in case of an emergency, master keys are held by us for quick access.

Refuse

Refuse may not be left in communal areas as this constitutes a health and fire hazard, but should be left in those areas designated by us or your landlord. Refuse collections in Bournemouth town centre usually take place on Thursday morning, although you may wish to contact Bournemouth Borough Council for confirmation.

If no bins are allocated to your property, black bags must be used and placed outside your main front door for collection only on the due day.

Immersion Heater

The electric immersion heater provides hot water and is usually fitted with a timer to regulate its operation.

Some people believe that the immersion should be constantly engaged, so that the water is kept at a constant temperature by the built in thermostat. Others prefer to switch it on only when required. The most efficient method of operation can only be determined by the tenant.

Lighting

Each property has low energy light bulbs. Should one blow please replace with like, as these are consumable items and your responsibility. A charge will be made at the end of the tenancy for any bulbs that have been replaced.

Plumbing

Blocked sinks, toilets and showers are not necessarily the landlord's responsibility. Please bear in mind that any works completed by contractors other than those designated by your landlord, will not bereimbursed. To avoid such difficulties, always contact us first.

Condensation/dampness

We have numerous maintenance calls concerning mould/dampness. In the majority of cases this is not damp it is black mould growth caused by condensation within the property. Areas prone to this are cold corners of rooms, wardrobes on outside walls, walls of unheated rooms etc. It is the tenants' responsibility to reduce/control the moisture within the property in order to alleviate any mould growth. The following points must be followed to avoid mould/condensation: keep the kitchen and bathroom doors closed when being used, avoid drying clothes on heaters, do not turn extractor fans off, increase ventilation and use adequate heating.

Insurance

Contents insurance, is the responsibility of the tenant, whilst the building insurance is the responsibility of the landlord. Any potential claims involving the building insurance should be notified to us immediately.

You are strongly recommended to take out your own contents policy: Landlords will not be responsible for any uninsured losses.

Council Tax

The Landlord or his agent is not responsible for the payment of Council Tax whilst a tenant is in occupation. Most students are exempt from this charge and can obtain a certificate from their college / university.

Water Rates

The Landlord is not responsible for water, unless otherwise specified. In Bournemouth there are two water companies: Bournemouth and West Hants Water for your mains supply and Wessex Water for removal of your waste water. You will be sent bills from both companies if you are liable.

Electricity and Gas

The Landlord is not responsible for electricity or gas, unless otherwise specified. Please do not change your utility supplier. If you are liable the suppliers used are Southern Electric and British Gas.