Help Patrick get a flat

Patrick20

Good Afternoon Tenants and Landlords of the MSE forum.

I just recently been accepted as a student into University and I'm looking forward to another chapter in my life. I've also been thinking about making the next step and moving out of my parents home.

Now I've brought up the issue with a few family members and my cousin whos a 19 year old student(we're really close almost like a brother) is also looking to move out and we've decided that we would like to get a flat together. My brother who's 20 was also going to try to get a flat with us but believes that there isn't enough suitable flats and landlords willing to rent to students, so he has taken an offer of a room from one of his friends instead.A bit gutted about that since were like the 3 musketeers and that would have been great to all live together.

Anyway, I'm now on a search for a property in Glasgow that will rent to 2 students(who are also very responsible,but I respect that its hard to prove that) and we are also not looking to move in for atleast 3 months until we raise a bit of money(just incase of emergencies) and get other thinks sorted.

I'm hoping the good people on this board can give me some advice on a few questions I have and I'm also asking that if there is something obvious that I'm missing out
then please point it out since I have never experienced the renting world before. So here's my questions;

1.(3 part question ) Is my brother right about there being very little places available? Is he right about landlord not wanting to rent to students? If that is true
then is there a point in looking on websites like Right Move?

I've already had a look at some student based websites (Accommodation for students, Student pad,, Homes for students) and I've not seen many places being advertised, and some of the ones I do see are asking more than similar properties on right move. I'm also thinking that If I do see properties on Right Move that I do like, there is no harm in contacting the Landlord and asking if he/she would be happy to rent to a student.

2. If a landlord was considering renting to a student then what would persuade him/her that I and my Cousin would be good tenants and that we would stick to our end of the bargain?

As I've already said I'm planning to save some money before I start looking so would have enough for the deposit and then quite a bit more so I could show bank statements to say that
even if my loan/grants weren't paid out of error then I could still pay rent and bills. Also, I doubt my parents would be accepted as guarantors if they were asked since one is disabled and
the other is in a low paid job, However my aunt(mother of the cousin) would most definately do it, since she knows I'm responsible and she will be effectively paying the cousins rent anyway.

3. Since I'm moving in with family, I presume I wouldn't need to move to a property with a HMO licence, Is that correct(remember I'm in scotland if that makes a difference)?

we would work out the bills by taking out,for example, £100 of bills in my name and £100 in his name so that the responsibilty is still equally shared between both of us.Also splitting between us in terms of
importance aswell so neither of us would be left with rent,gas and electric while the other was stuck with non essentials

4. Where else should i be looking for places available to rent?

Ehm...thats all i can think of to ask at the moment, but will obviously come back with more. I posted here rather than in Student Money Saving because I thought I'd get a better response from Landlords
rather than ask people who are probably in the same boat.

And thank you to anyone who replies to my lengthy list of queries, I really appreciate it.

PasturesNew

I don't know .... but I do know that if you rent in England with students then ALL of you have to be, and remain as, students, because somebody who is NOT a student in the house will have to pay the FULL council tax on their own (less any normal discounts that would be available to them as a single person, e.g. 25% off).

scottishblondie

As students in Glasgow I would recommend that your first stop be the Private Accomodation Database which is run by the Glasgow, Strathclyde and Caledonian Unis (you have to be a student at one of them to use it). All the landlords are obviously wanting to rent to students, and they have to have gas certificates and be registered landlords to get their property onto the database in the first place.

There are LOADS of flats in Glasgow that are available to students, from 1 beds up to 6 beds. Some letting agencies will not even consider students, some will, and most private landlords are open to the idea. Aside from the PAD you'll find a lot of LLs advertising their propertis in shop windows - there's a new agent's on Byres Road that has an entire window full of ads. If renting privately always make sure that the LL is registered and get a gas certificate

Patrick20

PasturesNew, Same situation in scotland regarding council tax but thats not a problem since we are both students. thanks.

scottishblondie, thanks for the help. Unfortunately, neither of us go to those unis(I'm doing computer games technolgy at UWS, and hes at Edinburgh Uni doing law but wants to live in glasgow)

zcrat41

Patrick,

Your thread made me smile! When I was at Uni in my 2nd year we rented a house advertised through the uni and in the 3rd we went through a local estate agent. I'd say try and contact your Uni and see if they can give you any contacts.

Have a fab time!!

scottishblondie

I just tried accessing the PAD - seems like you don't need to log in anymore! So maybe worth a try for you. It gives you the names and contact numbers for the landlords, so you just contact them yourself.

Patrick20

zcrats41 thanks I will definately ask the uni for some contacts.

scottishblondie, I'm afraid its coming up with no results found. Thank you for your help anyways.

Patrick20

Anyone else willing to tackle one of my questions? Thanks.

missdee85

I would definately advise asking the uni for some contacts even check in the local paper for student properties - i am originally from dundee and at this sort of time of year there used to be tonnes just aimed at students.

I dont think you would need to worry about HMO as far as i know it for 4 bedrooms or more and also i am sure thats something the landlord has to deal with through the local council.

As far as reassurances go do you have a family member who could be a guarantor? This may be more appealing and come across more sensilble to a potential landlord.

But i have to say you do come across as very well clued up on what you have to do and things that may come up with regards to putting money aside and all of that so good on you and good luck with the flat and your studies.

xx

scottishblondie

Can I ask which area of Glasgow you are wanting to live in? West end, city centre, merchant city? Elsewhere entirely?

Also HMO applies for properties where there are 3 or more unrelated people living in the property AFAIK, so as family I don't think it would apply if you, your cousin and brother wanted to rent a 3 bed property together. Don't quote me on that tho!!

Patrick20

missdee85 wrote: »

I would definately advise asking the uni for some contacts even check in the local paper for student properties - i am originally from dundee and at this sort of time of year there used to be tonnes just aimed at students.

I dont think you would need to worry about HMO as far as i know it for 4 bedrooms or more and also i am sure thats something the landlord has to deal with through the local council.

As far as reassurances go do you have a family member who could be a guarantor? This may be more appealing and come across more sensilble to a potential landlord.

But i have to say you do come across as very well clued up on what you have to do and things that may come up with regards to putting money aside and all of that so good on you and good luck with the flat and your studies.

xx

Yep my aunt would probably be the guarantor. Thanks for the info regarding HMO licences. People keep telling me misinformation about them being compulsory. I think they are just trying to put me off. The people who were filling my brothers head with doubts btw were the people who were looking for another tenant. Turns out he can't afford their flat so it might be the 3 amigos sharing afterall :T

scottishblondie wrote: »

Can I ask which area of Glasgow you are wanting to live in? West end, city centre, merchant city? Elsewhere entirely?

Also HMO applies for properties where there are 3 or more unrelated people living in the property AFAIK, so as family I don't think it would apply if you, your cousin and brother wanted to rent a 3 bed property together. Don't quote me on that tho!!

Thank you scottishblondie you've been a great help already and thanks for the continuing contributions. I'm not too fussed on the area I would prefer the city centre or west end but would take anywhere on the subway or a couple of stop away from the city centre on the railway. Its all about balancing the cost of rent and travel expenses.