By
ResLife Bath
Posted 2 weeks ago
Wed 04 Dec, 2024 12:12 AM
We hosted a private accommodation webinar to better understand the process and getting started. In the webinar we also answered some of your burning questions and have collated the most popular ones and will add them below.
Viewings
Technically whoever pays the holding fee first get priority.
You should never pay any fees before viewing a property. If you pay to live in the property without seeing it in person, you are then in a legally binding contract so it is very difficult to change or move out.
It is more of a risk not viewing a property in person but it is possible - a video tour can be a decent replica but there are things that a video may not pick up on.
Not going to the viewing will also mean you can't get a sense of the area/road - feeling safe is really important.
If your housemates are able to attend then they could send photos and videos.
This depends but you should definitely see more than 1 - every house is different so there may be some areas that are more important to you.
The students on the webinar viewed between 5 - 15 houses.
Yes - practically it's not always possible, but it is recommended that everyone attends.
Room sizes can vary, so you would want to be able to be happy with your room, you will be living there for the next year or so.
Here are some of the top things we would recommend looking at:
- The security of the house - are there locks on the front/back doors and windows?
- Damp and mould
- Check the EPC(energy performance certificate) the higher the grade, the less likely you are to have damp and mould issues, plus, your bills will be cheaper
- The surrounding area - nearest bus stop/ shops etc
If the current tenants are in the property when you are viewing it ask them some questions - they are more likely to be honest and could give an accurate estimate for the cost of bills.
If you are being rushed through the process, this can be a red flag.
Agents might say things like 'there are lots of students after this property so you need to be quick', whether it is true or not is irrelevant, you shouldn't feel pressurised to sign for a property.
If you do have any feelings of uncertainty then chat to your housemates or book an appointment - we will be happy to help.
We launch with around 200 properties. There isn't enough for everyone so do expand your search to other external websites.
If you do find properties on external websites, make sure to check them on Marks Out Of Tenancy.
Signing and contracts
Yes you will need your physical passport - they will probably need to do their checks in person.
This depends on how much your rent is. The maximum you can pay is 5 weeks worth of rent.
A deposit is refundable at the end of the tenancy and is subject to any damage.
A reservation fee is a lot less which is paid after you've viewing the house if you are happy to sign for it - this is usually 1 weeks worth of rent.
Contracts are legally binding so it is important you understand them. The ResLife team offer a free contract reading service, please arrange an appointment by emailing or booking one here.
You can also use our Housing Contract Helper, which helps explain common terms and clauses found in accommodation contracts.
If your course has a placement - it can be challenging to find properties that offer a 6 month contract as landlords don't typically offer this as it is more risk to them.
The best option can be to find another group of students who have a placement who need a place to live for the 6 months you don't and vice versa. You could then approach the landlord together.
Another option could be lodging or home stays which are usually advertised later on in the year.
Bills
There are different options you can choose from:
- Unlimited bills - you pay a set fee each week/month and you can use as much or a little as you want
- Rolling bills - you pay for whatever you use
There are two main split the bills companies; Student Energy Group and Split the Bills
It is worth shopping around for the cheapest options.
The companies who will split your bills for you take away that stress, but it is worth noting you will be paying a premium for this service.
As you will be renting the whole house, the landlord won't split the rent depending on the rooms - this will be your responsibility to split this.
If you are wanting to split rent depending room size and if one room has an en-suite etc, then we would recommend using the University accommodation as a guideline. Have a look to see how much the University charge for different rooms, it is usually an extra £50-£100 depending on what the rom offers.
This should be agreed by all housemates so everyone is happy.
Yes if you are a full time student. All residents need to be full time students - if one person isn't then council tax will need to be paid.
Local area
This can be subjective and depends on where you like to live.
If you prefer the convenience and living close to shops then the City Centre would suit you.
If you prefer a close-knit community then you might be better suited to Oldfield Park.
Other student areas include:
- Westmoreland
- Southdown
- Widcombe
- Lyncombe
- Lansdown
- Weston
For more information on areas please visit the SCP website
Living in the community
Parking permits aren't issued as standard.
Resident parking zones apply throughout the city so you will need to apply to the local authority for one.
You can contact the SCP community-liaison@bath.ac.uk and we can support you and try and resolve it.
We would always advise getting to know your neighbours - this could be as simple as introducing yourself once you've moved in.
Your general waste is taken once a fortnight. There will be separate containers for plastic, cardboard, glass and food waste which your landlord should provide.
The SCP community wardens will come round once you've moved in to support with any information you aren't sure on.
You can also check B&NES website.
You can contact the SCP community-liaison@bath.ac.uk or the ResLife team on reslifesupport@bath.ac.uk/ 01225 383111 option 2, and we can support you and try and resolve it.
Living with others
This is up to person preference. Some of the housemate finder events are open to other students in the city so we wouldn't necessarily discourage it - it is up to you.
Just be wary you will need to pay council tax if not all housemates are students so double check this beforehand.
This can be a difficult - you don't have to live with your best friends, it is more important to live with people who have the same lifestyle as you or live with people who are similar.
Remember, you aren't telling them you don't want to be friends with them, you are just looking to live with a different group.
Come along to housemate finder events that either ResLife or the Students Union are hosting. Some of the Students' Union events are open to other students in the University.
StudentPad has a message board where students post looking for housemates so check that out here.
There is also a Discord channel which is open to other students in the area.
