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From a parent’s perspective first year accommodation is generally a fairly painless experience as once a hall of residence is sorted out you can relax in the knowledge that your son or daughter is living in safe and carefully monitored environment.
For second year accommodation however, things are often not so simple. Generally, after their first year a student will move out of university halls into the  privately rented sector. Although, the rental market is tightly regulated and the majority of landlords take their responsibilities seriously there are some that don’t. As a parent, you may be advised to lend a helping hand or, at least offer some advice in this general direction.
There are three areas, which we would highlight where things can go wrong without due care and attention:
- Safety – perhaps the worst scenario is moving into a house that is unsafe. It may have anything from poor ventilation to dodgy wiring, faulty gas appliances or inadequate locks.
- Legal – another potential minefield relates to tenancy agreements. Its essential that students understand exactly what they are signing. Failure to do so could be an expensive mistake.
- Landlord problems – perhaps the most common problem with privately rented accommodation is the unhelpful landlord /agent. Maybe, they are not strictly flouting the law but are difficult to contact and slow to react. Typically, a household appliance breaks down and the landlord cannot be found to repair or replace it.
Fortunately, the privately rented market is regulated and if you take sensible precautions none of the above should apply. Most students are in their early twenties and are inexperienced in the ways of the world so it may be worth you helping them through this process.
How to avoid problems
- Take advise from the university accommodation office and find out if they run an approved landlord scheme.
- Check that any independent letting agents are accredited with the National Approved Letting Scheme or that they belong to a trade association such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or the Association of Retail Letting Agents.
- Read and digest very carefully the tenancy agreement a student will normally be expected to sign. This is a legal document and confers responsibilities on those that sign it. A student, must realise, for example that they are probably jointly liable with their flat mates which means if one member of the household decides to quit uni and walks away from the house, the remaining tenants are still liable for the full rent. For more information on tenancy agreement click here.
- Know your rights. Normally a landlord will be responsible for anything that requires repair, such as the structure of the property, its heating, hot water and sanitary installations. Most student letts will be fully or partially furnished and include washing machines, vacuum cleaners and other household appliances. On the proviso that the tenant, treat the property and fittings properly, repair and maintenance of these will also be the responsibility of the landlord.
- It is a good idea to report any defects or damage to your landlord (normally through your letting agent) as soon as possible. Keep a log of all correspondence (whether written, email or phone) so if a dispute does arise you have a record of events.
- If a student wants to get their deposit back he/she should follow the rules set out by the landlord in the tenancy agreement. Some rules may seem petty
 to a student but they are normally there for a reason. One common (but unpopular) rule for the short-term lease is a restriction on sticking posters etc on the walls.
- A CORGI approved gas engineer should service gas appliances at least once a year. Ask the landlord or agent for a copy of the current CORGI certificate. Carbon monoxide poison will kill so if in any doubt about the condition of gas fittings walk away (and report you concerns to the appropriate authorities).
- It is perhaps surprising that it is not a legal requirement for all rental properties in England, to have smoke alarms fitted. Check the situation out before signing an agreement and if you are not satisfied don’t sign!
- Finally, have a look around the residence (preferable with a qualified person) and check gas appliances, wiring and the general condition of the property for any obvious signs of decay or disrepair.
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