Student private accomodation

atypical

quanto2009 wrote: »

Just a thought are students exempt from council tax?
if so what do they have to do to ensure they don't pay.

Thanks

Full time students are exempt from council tax. There's loads more info' and details on how to apply for exemption here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/LifeAtUniversityOrCollege/DG_071488

Danstar_2

Here's a question.

I was in a shared house in Manchester but left because my house mates started doing drugs all the time so I moved home at Christmas and commute in daily from Harrogate. My dad's solicitor negotiated to pay £1000 to terminate the contract early due to a really petty clause in the contract that only the housemates were in breach of but not the landlord but the deposit wasn't mentioned.

Nor in the original contract was there a mention of the gov. deposit scheme where it would go.

Is it possible that at the end of the term I could get my deposit back? Or is it something to speak to the solicitor about?


Advice to the OP. Tell your son to be VERY careful about who he lives with. My best friends from first year turned out to be nightmares to live with, very messy. Smoking indoors despite us agreeing not to. Wish I'd stayed in halls.

poet123

I would speak to the solicitor, he should have factored the deposit into any settlement figure he agreed, unless the deposit is automatically forfeited by the early termination of the contract. The deposit will be in a scheme if the tenancy was a shorthold assured one, as the majority of tenancies are.

ThinkingOfLinking

Danstar, the same thing happened to me...I ended up stuck with junkie thieves for a year and the landlord refused to put a lock on my bedroom door (or anyone's). I was subjected to sheer hell and genuine fear and the landlords did nothing to help and I also lost my deposit because of what the others did to the house.

orangeslimes

quanto2009 wrote: »

Hi
Just a couple of questions
my son is at uni in Sheffield on his 3rd Year he has arranged private accommodation in a house share I need to be the Guarantor for the property rent is £59 per week excluding bills with 3 other people.


2.Rent is due by post dated cheque starting June 2010 10 monthly payments of £306.
3.Will I be only liable for his rent if any of the others default.
4.What happens with Bills such as gas and electric etc.
5. Does he need house insurance?
6.Any experiences of other people will be much appreciated.

Thanks

Are you aware that post dated cheques can be cashed early and the date you write means nothing?
Maybe it is common in some places, but I would never agree to pay like that. I have always paid by standing order. I once gave a letting agent a post dated cheque for my first rent installment and they cashed it immediately (I didn't realise they could, luckily there was enough money in my account)

When I was a student my stuff was covered by my parents home insurance. So worth phoning yours up and seeing.

Renting in groups has always worked out ok for me...though obviously things can go wrong, but I reckon people are more likely to share horror stories on the internet, then everything was more or less alright stories. Your son and his flatmates need to make sure they discuss the best way to pay bills etc at the start and make sure it is all organised.

poet123

Two out of three of my sons have had contracts where post dated cheques have been used. You are correct though that there is no legal protection to prevent the agent cashing them at any time after they have been written. Fortunately we have never had any problems, except with our most recent ( and last!! payment) when they forgot to cash the cheques till 6 weeks after the due date!