Frequently Asked Questions

PRE-TENANCY

Q. How long are the tenancy agreements for?

A. Normally for 12 months starting from 1st July and ending on 30th June.

Q. Do you take references?

A. Yes, we do carry out basic reference checks for all students who are signing up to a new tenancy. You will also need to provide details of a UK based Guarantor who will also be referenced and required to sign the tenancy agreement.

Q. Are all properties furnished?

A. The majority of our student properties are let fully furnished or at least part furnished. White goods (washing machine, fridge, freezer) are nearly always included as standard.

Q. In 2 or more bedroom properties, can more than one person live in the same room?

A. No. Prices are per person and in relation to the number of bedrooms in the property.

Q. Are pets allowed?

A. Pets may be allowed at the discretion of the landlord. You should always ask permission before taking a pet into a property.

Q. Are there any administration charges?

A. Yes. You will pay an administration fee of £95. This is used to cover the cost of referencing both you and your guarantor and drawing up of your tenancy agreement. You will only pay the agency charges when we have agreed a tenancy.

Q. Is there a deposit?

A. Yes. You will be required to pay a deposit of 1.5 months' rent which will be held for the duration of the tenancy. For all Assured Shorthold Tenancies your deposit will be retained in accordance with the rules of the Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme. For more information go to www.direct.gov.uk/TenancyDeposit.

Q. Are bills included in the rent?

A. This depends on the property. Most student properties are let exclusive of all bills. If bills are to be included, we will notify you at the point of enquiry.

Q. Do you have any shared houses where I can just rent one room?

A. Yes, we often have shared houses which you can rent on a room by room basis. You will have your own room and share use of communal areas.

Q. Do you do viewings on Saturdays?

A. Yes, we are available for viewings on Saturday mornings between 9:30am and 12:00pm, on a first come, first served basis.

Q. How long in advance do we need to book if we want to look at some houses?

A. We will need a minimum of 24 hours notice for all viewings in order to give enough notice to the current tenants. To arrange a viewing call us on 01225 430909 or pop into our Monmouth Street office.

Q. Do we meet you at the property or do we need to come to the office?

A. If you haven't already been to our office then we might ask you to meet us there before your first viewing. We will then be able to meet you at the property for any subsequent viewings.

Q. Do you offer reduced rent over the summer months?

A. Generally we don't offer reduced rent over the summer months, however, if you are paying full rent you may live in the property from the first day of your tenancy.

Q. Can I bring my own furniture?

A. Yes, you can. Our inventory will detail all furniture belonging to the property/landlord. Any furniture that you bring into the property will need to be maintained by you and will not be looked after by our property management company.

Q. Do I need do my own insurance?

A. We highly recommend that tenants take out their own contents insurance. Your landlord's insurance may not cover you in the event of any damage to either your furniture or theirs.

TENANCY

Q. Do you provide an inventory?

A. We employ an inventory clerk to carry out a detailed inventory of all properties prior to the start of your tenancy. It is your responsibility to check the inventory against what you see and then sign and return it to us. It is this document that will be used at the end of your tenancy to check for changes in condition so make sure you agree with what it says!

Q. Can I leave the contract earlier should I want to?

A. Your Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement is binding until the end of your fixed term contract. We can discuss ending your tenancy early as long as you have found someone to take your place in the property. Please contact a member of our team to discuss this further.

Q. What happens if something breaks down?

A. Some of our landlords choose to manage their properties themselves in which case you will be given their contact details at the start of the tenancy and you should contact them with any maintenance issues that you may have. In all other cases, you will be looked after by UGPM and any maintenance queries and issues should be passed to them to be dealt with.

Q. How often do we have to pay rent?

A. Your rent is payable monthly usually on the first day of every month.

Q. How do I pay the rent?

A. You will be required to set up a monthly standing order by the start of your tenancy. This can be done online or directly with your bank. Alternatively, we will give you a form to complete which will be sent on to your bank and they will set this up for you.

Q. Can I decorate?

A. Possibly, you should obtain permission from your landlord before decorating any part of the property.

Q. Can my parents pay my rent?

A. Yes, your parents or anyone else can pay rent on your behalf, however the contract and legal responsibility for the property and payment of the rent will remain with you. We will need to comply with the Money Laundering Regulations in all circumstances, if we need more information from you before agreeing to 3rd party rent payments we will let you know.

Q. Can I pay my rent using post-dated cheques?

A. No, we don't accept post dated cheques as a method of paying rent. Ideally, your rent will be paid by standing order. We will give you a form to complete at the start of your tenancy or alternatively, you can set this up directly with your bank.

Q. What happens if I fall into arrears?

A. If you are having trouble paying your rent then you should let us know straight away. The sooner you let us know, the more likely it is that we will be able to work with you to rectify the situation. You should refer to your tenancy agreement for further information on charges that may be applied and the process we will undertake to recover outstanding rent.

POST TENANCY

Q. How long does it usually take to get my deposit back?

A. We will endeavour to return your deposit within a reasonable timescale.

Q. What if there is a dispute over the return of my deposit?

A. We hope that any disputes can be dealt with professionally and quickly.