If you live in Pimlico, or other parts of Westminster, the Libraries have set up a great portal to the internet for you to use called “ The Gateway“, with links to great websites and tips on using them. They also tell you if they have a specialist library or service for your chosen subject. Of course there are plenty of other portals, but this library one has several features to make it different and more useful.
It doesn’t carry advertising.
The sites with [24/7] logos indicate Westminster Libraries subscription-based sites, they have paid the subscription so that you don’t have to, just use your Westminster Libraries membership number in order to gain access.
The Gateway is kept manageably small. The number of topics is limited while comprehensive, and provides key links and links to subject gateways rather than linking to a large number of sites on any single topic.
The resources have been selected and presented by the Library information specialists:
Authority and reliability: They are sites that come from a known and authoritative source.
Accessibility and usability: Sites that require registration or subscription are excluded unless the subscription is paid for by Westminster Libraries for the use of their members, as are sites whose information content is obscured or compromised by advertising or ‘pop-up’ boxes
Authority and reliability: They are sites that come from a known and authoritative source.
Accuracy and currency:the sites included are accurate and regularly maintained.
Relevance: Good quality sites with a local focus (Westminster / London) are emphasised.
Tenants trying to rent a London Flat are prey to scammers because large sums of money are involved, and landlords are cautious so the scammer can disguise the scam as caution.
Pimlico Flats has campaigned against the scammers for a long time, but people are still trying scams and still falling for them.
Students looking to rent a London Flat probably need advice, and your first port of call for this advice is London University’s own Housing Services. If your are not a student at London University your own College will provide similar services.
The safest way for a student to rent a London flat is to rent through the university services as they insist that landlords adhere to a code of practice which protects the student. Unfortunately the housing services are funded by the fees which the landlords pay, so private flats rented through the university tend to be more expensive than those on the open market. Students intending to rent from the open market should read through our articles on Scams (see the tag cloud).
Advice on renting can be remarkably varied and surprisingly wrong. An example would be an article about student renting just published in The Times. The article ends with tips for students looking for digs I have added my comments to what I consider very poor advice indeed:
– Check whether your university has a list of accredited local landlords.
Yes, goes without saying.
– Always ask whether utility bills (gas, water, electricity) are included in the rent. If not, work out how much it will cost and budget accordingly.
Yes – but check what the rental agreement says. Remember that as a student you are exempt from Council Tax, but under HMO legislation the Landlord has to pay the Council Tax and include it in the rent even though you are exempt. Consequently even though most Students end up in HMO accommodation they really should try to get into shared non-HMO properties where their tax exemption will apply.
– Check if there are service charges for your flat — some may charge extra for cleaning communal areas or shared gardens.
Nope – that’s not renting, that’s leasing, not what students generally do!
– Find out what you are expected to look after in the tenancy agreement — you may be responsible for the garden and interior hallways, etc.
Nope – under every housing act there has ever been Landlords are responsible for common parts.
– Check for signs of damp or mould — mould is often peeled off and painted over.
And your point is? If the place is horrible and damp negotiate a low rent, move in and then get the Landlord to fix it.
– Stains or discolouration around the boiler are usually signs that all is not well — there may be a leak or fault that could be dangerous.
Stains indicate water leaks. It’s not good, but nobody has ever drowned as a consequence of a water leak from a boiler! On the other hand Carbon Monoxide is invisible, leaves no stains, doesn’t smell, sends you peacefully to sleep, and then kills you. Consequently Landlords are required to have a full Gas Safety inspection done annually and have a certificate for the tenant. Forget stains, expect a certificate.
– Landlords are legally obliged to have the carbon monoxide levels checked each year — ask for a copy of the safety-check record.
Nope – where do they get this stuff? Carbon Monoxide should be zero. You can get CO alarms, but there is no requirement to have them. Just ask to see the Gas Safety Certificate.
– Make sure that the property is secure: one in three students will be a victim of crime, and student houses, which are often full of electrical equipment, are a common target for thieves. Check that there are good locks on the windows and on the front doors to shared flats.
Well – I guess we would say this, but go live in a safe area like Pimlico and it won’t be a problem.
– If you are staying in a private property, take photographs when you move in and agree an inventory with your landlord so you are not liable for any existing damage.
Actually under the protected deposit schemes which are compulsory, the onus is on the Landlord to prove to the level of criminal proof (beyond all reasonable doubt) that you did the damage. To claim off your deposit they will need dated photographs of before and after.
To conclude – there really is a lot of duff advice out there. Your University will have specialist advisers familiar with renting law, and as a tenant you are well protected by government legislation. However until you become a tenant of a reputable landlord you aren’t protected from internet scams or rogue agents. Never pay money without knowing where it is going, and having a receipt and guarantee of it’s return or a tenancy.
London is probably the most expensive place to study in the UK – according to UCL, you need to budget around £100 a week for your accommodation alone. Add to this your travel costs, food, bills, books, tuition fees and of course entertainment, and a year in London can easily cost over £10,000.
What a lot of students don’t realise is that your accommodation doesn’t always follow the university terms. When I rented a room in an intercollegiate hall, I had to take it for 40 weeks instead of just the 32 or so term-time weeks. This meant that I could stay in London over the holidays, but I also felt that I had to stay because I’d paid an extra £800 for it.
With accommodation being such a large chunk of your budget, it’s important to find the best type to suit you.
If you’re a first year student from outside London, taking a room in halls will give you a safe base from which to get to know the city and make new friends. You’ll also get meals taken care of which is great if you’re not used to cooking. Beware however – some halls offer shared rooms. If this is an issue, apply to halls of residence that only have single rooms.
If you’re on a budget, look outside central London and think about renting privately. North and East London in particular are cheaper areas to rent, and university is still easy to get to on the tube or by bus. A good tip is to look for a room in a shared house. A lot of old townhouses in London have been converted into multiple-occupancy rental properties – this means that the house may be shared by several people, but the rooms are all good sizes and you may find yourself with a lot of shared living space.
It’s common in London for every single room (including the lounge) to be used as a bedroom, but if you have to live somewhere long-term it’s nice to have another room to use. Look for properties with a shared living room and you won’t feel cooped up with your roommates.
A final point about private renting is that it may be cheaper, but you’ll often have to sign a 12-month contract. Make sure you can cover 12 months’ rent. If you want to stay in the city all year this is the best way to go because halls of residence will kick you out over summer.
My money-saving tip for renting cheaply in London doesn’t actually cover renting – if you need somewhere to live you tend to take what’s on offer. I saved money by opting out of tube travel and walking everywhere instead. It’s good exercise…and it’s free!
Written by Zoe from Bethemiddleman.com, the property portal for private house sales.
