The majority of Northbrook students live in landlord-owned private sector house-shares and flat-shares in the Worthing, Shoreham and Brighton areas.
Finding housemates to share with
If you are new to Northbrook, you can register with our Housemate Finder email exchange
You could also find other new students to share with on the UCAS yougo student network
Where to look for private sector accommodation
The websites listed below may help you in your search for accommodation (they have no relationship to the college and neither are they endorsed by the college).
Private Sector Websites
A Google search of ‘student accommodation’ will lead you to a variety of websites
If you find your new home through a letting agency or private landlord, find out if they belong to a trade body or accreditation scheme such as the Association of Residential Letting Agents, National Association of Estate Agents, National Approved Letting Scheme and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. Agents belonging to these bodies are bonded, which means any rent money you pay to them is insured against theft and fraud and they have redress schemes in the event of things going wrong.
ACCOMMODATION GUIDE
Signing up
When entering into a rental agreement you will be entering into a legally binding agreement so it's worth taking your time and carefully considering your options. You may be asked to put down a holding deposit to secure the accommodation. Before doing this, make sure you know the circumstances in which you can pull out and get your money back.
Do not sign a tenancy agreement or pay the full security deposit/first month's rent until you are absolutely sure you want to take the accommodation and all your finance is in place, especially any student loans or grants. A reputable landlord or agent should not pressure you to sign a tenancy agreement until shortly before the tenancy is due to begin. If you are going to share a house or flat with friends, you'll probably be offered a joint tenancy. This means you will each be jointly and severally liable to pay the rent or for any damage caused to the property.
You may be asked to provide someone to act as a guarantor for your rent. Usually, this would be a parent or guardian. They will be liable to pay your rent if you default. In a joint tenancy this liability may extend beyond liability for just your rent. Make sure you fully understand the terms of the guarantee before agreeing to it. You will probably be asked to pay a damage or security deposit. This is usually the equivalent of a month's rent and is held in the event of any damages the landlord wishes to claim against the tenant(s) or to cover against unpaid rent. Make sure you understand the terms on which some or all of your deposit can be withheld and that the landlord/agent does a full inventory of the condition of the property and its contents before you move in.
You may be asked to pay a holding deposit. This means that the agent or landlord will stop marketing the property and 'hold' it for you. Be sure to ask if the holding deposit is offset against the balance of your damage deposit or deducted from the rent. It may also be non-returnable, so bear this in mind if you decide not to go ahead with the tenancy.
Think carefully before signing on the dotted line. Once signed it will be very difficult to get out of the contract if you change your mind. Are you 100% sure about everything? Remember a tenancy agreement is a legally binding contract.
Ask as many questions as you can think of about the property and the tenancy. Find out if bills are included. If possible ask the current tenants about living in the house and the area.
Guarantors
A guarantor is simply an individual, often a close relative, who undertakes to assume the liabilities and obligations of the tenant, including paying the rent, in the event that they stop doing so.
Where a guarantor enters into an agreement, he or she normally agrees to meet the full obligations under the tenancy agreement on the tenant's behalf. This may include rent arrears, damage to the property, or other liabilities and obligations arising from the tenant's failure to comply with the lease covenants. Bear in mind that if you are signing a joint tenancy your guarantor could potentially end up having to pay your housemate's share of the rent in the event that they default on their payments. The guarantor is contractually bound to accept the legal liabilities of the tenant and could be sued if they don't comply. They would also usually need to be a home owner with steady long-term employment to satisfy the requirements of a good credit score in order to become a guarantor.
International students need to be aware that they may be asked to pay between 4 and 12 months' rent in advance, if they do not have a UK-based guarantor. It is worth trying to negotiate better terms if you can.
Get receipts: make sure they are itemised, clearly written, signed and dated. Never pay any cash unless you get a receipt.
Tenancy deposit schemes
Any deposits taken for an assured short hold tenancy must be registered with a recognised deposit holder under the Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme. By law, information about which scheme your deposit has been placed in, how to apply for the release of the deposit and what to do in the event of a dispute over the deposit must be supplied to the tenant(s) within 14 days of payment.
There are three government recognised schemes:
- The Deposit Protection Service: www.depositprotection.com
- My Deposits: www.mydeposits.co.uk
- Tenancy Deposit Scheme: www.tds.gb.com
A wealth of information can be found on tenancy deposit schemes online: www.direct.gov.uk/en/tenancydeposit
Tenancy agreements
This is your contract with the landlord and sets out their legal rights and responsibilities as well as yours as a tenant. It can be written or verbal. There are many different types of agreement:
- Licence agreement - if you are living with a resident landlord you are likely to have a licence. This gives you fewer rights than a tenancy agreement, so make sure you check the terms carefully and seek advice if you are unsure of anything.
- Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) - this is the most common type of tenancy agreement. It gives provision for occupiers to have exclusive possession of the property and is for a fixed term, usually 6 or 12 months. ASTs can be created as single or joint tenancies.
- Single tenancy - you will be renting a room with access to communal areas in shared accommodation on an individual basis. This means you may not have any choice over who else lives in the house.
- Joint tenancy - you will be renting the house as a group and all the tenants' names will be on the contract. You will be jointly and severally liable for the rent, meaning that if one of you doesn't pay their share, the landlord can pursue the rest of the tenants or their guarantors for it. When you sign up for a property make sure you read through the agreement thoroughly first. If you do not understand anything or think that any of the terms are unfair then seek advice. Once you have signed the contract it may not be that easy to get out of it, so make sure you are happy with everything.
Remember - a tenancy agreement is a legally binding contract.
Moving In
The inventory
You should be provided with an inventory. This is a list which details the physical condition of the property and its contents before you moved into the house. Any damage should be noted on the inventory. It's really important that you go through the house checking that what the inventory says is correct, as this is your opportunity to highlight any damage not recorded. If there is anything not noted on the inventory make a note of it, taking photos if necessary. If there are any disputes at the end of the tenancy you will then have proof of the condition of items at the beginning of the tenancy. Ensure that you return a signed copy of the inventory to the landlord and keep a copy for your own records.
Appliances
- Check that there are instruction manuals accompanying any appliances, such as washing machines, boilers, fridges and so on.
- Make sure you know how to use them correctly - you can be charged for repairs which arise from improper use. Ask your landlord or agent if you are unsure.
- Keep appliances clean. Dirty ovens are not only unhygienic but a build-up of grease will cause smoke alarms to be set off. Clean the fridge regularly and keep an eye on what's in there.
Council Tax
Full time students are exempt from council tax. You will need to get an exemption certificate from your College and send it to the local authority to get your discount. To be exempt from paying Council Tax, students must be studying full time for a full academic or full calendar year. If this does not apply to you, you will be liable for Council Tax. If anyone living in the property is not a student the house will be liable to pay council tax.
TV Licences
If you have one or more television receivers (including a PC or laptop) in the property you will need to buy a TV licence. If you are on individual tenancies you may need to have individual licences. Your landlord should be able to clarify this. Further details of cost, where you can purchase a licence and the different payment schemes available can be found at www.tvlicensing.co.uk.
Safety
Before you move in you need to check that safety certificates and equipment are in place. Being aware of safety could save your life.
Electrical safety
- Ask if there is an electrical safety certificate. There is no legal requirement for one, but it gives peace of mind that all electrical installations have been checked.
- Do not overload power sockets.
Fire safety
- Check that there are smoke detectors in the property. These need to be tested regularly. The best kind is wired into the mains electricity, but battery operated is preferable to none.
- If there are fire blankets and fire extinguishers check that they haven't been used or are out of date.
- Candles are a fire risk. You should not use them in your property.
- Check that the furniture is fire resistant - check labels on sofas, mattresses and other fabric or foam items.
- Be aware of fire escape routes and avoid blocking hallways.
Moving out
At the end of your tenancy there are several steps you can take which will help you avoid losing any of your deposit and being charged for amenities you are no longer using. Here are some points you should take into consideration.
Cleaning
Deposits are often withheld because the property has not been adequately cleaned, so make sure you:
- Clean the cooker.
- Clean all kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
- Wash all hard floors and vacuum all carpets.
- Remove all food from the fridge and freezer and defrost them, leaving them unplugged with the doors open.
- Clear all rubbish from the gardens.
Check your tenancy agreement, especially if you found your property through an agency, as some may require windows and carpets to be professionally cleaned and for you to provide receipts.
Utilities
- Take meter readings and inform all your suppliers that you are moving out.
- Ensure you provide a forwarding address.
Post
Redirect your post and ensure that relevant people have forwarding addresses.
Inventory
- Check the condition you are leaving the property in against the inventory. Is there anything not listed on the inventory which does not constitute 'fair wear and tear'? You may be charged for damage or cleaning if it was not noted on the inventory before you lived in the property.
- If you took down any curtains or moved any furniture return them to their original place.
Useful Contact Details
TV Licence - www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/students
Worthing Borough Council - 01903 239999 - www.worthing.gov.uk
Emergency Gas Leak - 080111999
Emergency Water Main Leak - 0800 278 0845
For further information, please contact Sojnia Hails, Customer Services Officer - International & Accommodation
01903 606410 / 606001