Student Renting

Renting. Know your rights

by Heba Keshk on 21st of February 2008

Photograph by Rudolf Cech

Moving out your parents' home and setting up your student pad may sound like fun.

But it isn't all plain sailing.

The property market is a jungle, with lots of snakes and predators waiting around every corner.

Tenancy agreements, deposits and loads of small print is the reality of this new student life, so don't let the excitement of having a new place distract you from knowing your rights.

Looking around

The best part of moving in with new flatmates is the house/flat hunting, as you get to see properties.

Some of them will be out of your league as some landlords will forget to tell you how much the rent is until after you and your mates got your hearts set on it.

Sometimes you will come across a repulsive looking house and question who in the world would live in such a state.

Signing your life away

Crunch time has arrived and you have to decide on a property.

It is greatly advised to read your tenancy agreement, i.e. your contract, thoroughly.

So even though you have the deposit in an envelope and so anxiously waiting on the keys to your place, know what you are getting yourself into. Read the small print ... PROPERLY!

Now you're in

Once you have moved in, immediately ask for an inventory and carefully look at each item in the house/flat and even take snapshots of all the rooms and walls.

These are they main things you will be penalised for once you move out, and if you know you didn't do it then don't pay for it. Use the images as evidence.

Sarah Mwangi, 21, journalist student explains: "There was a month left in a tenancy agreement. My landlord would not tell us that he arranged a viewing.

"One day I was listening to my music in my room and I opened my door to find three people in the front room taking pictures of the property."

Did you know?

Students who are renting privately could secure their six weeks' deposit by holding it in a Tenancy Protection Scheme.

Photograph by Rudolf Cech

This allows you to get your deposit back in full.

The rules state: "If the tenants have kept the property in good condition and paid the rent, and made sure that any other charges due under the tenancy are up to date, they will be able to get their deposit back".

The main reason the Tenancy Protection Scheme was introduced was due to many problems between tenants and landlords as students are more vulnerable in not getting their deposit back due to lack of knowledge of property renting.

The schemes offer a free service to assist in resolving disputes without taking it to court.

Now that you've signed on the dotted line, it's time to know what rights you have and what restrictions your landlord has.

Your landlord cannot turn up unexpectedly and especially uninvited. You are allowed to refuse his entry, as he has not given you a required notice of his visit.

Even if your rent is not paid on time your landlord cannot cut you off your utility supplies such as your gas, electricity and water, as they are essentials.

As much as the landlord doesn't want much complaint of noise in his property, he can never refuse or prevent you from having any friends or family visiting your rented property.

Landlords are not allowed to bully you out of the property you are renting by harassing you or changing the lock.

If you have signed a 12-month contract with a 6-month break, you can move out on the sixth month, providing you give three weeks notice.

So now that you have an idea of what to expect don't settle for less. Know your rights and stick to them.