Renting for the first time

bethjo

Hi I'm new so apologies if this thread is available somewhere else.

My boyfriend and I have been thinking of moving out as we are currently living with my sister and her 3 kids which is a bit irritating due to lack of privacy, never any food in the house, always watching cbeebies instead of corrie etc etc etc.....

Anyway, back to the point. I have moved out before but my housemate sorted all the bills etc (I just gave her so much a month, and I found out she was spending a lot of my money out on the lash :mad: so can't really use it as a guide).

I have been having a lok around and worked out these things will definitely need paying:

Rent
Water
Gas
Electric
Council Tax (BUT, I'm a university student, so hoping to get discount)
Broadband and Line Rental
TV Licence
Food

Have I missed anything obvious? And am I right in thinking I'm entitled to a discount if I'm a student? I'm only doing a Foundation Degree, but I do a lot of on the job training....

Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance

Beth xx

NEH

bethjo wrote: »

Hi I'm new so apologies if this thread is available somewhere else.

My boyfriend and I have been thinking of moving out as we are currently living with my sister and her 3 kids which is a bit irritating due to lack of privacy, never any food in the house, always watching cbeebies instead of corrie etc etc etc.....

Anyway, back to the point. I have moved out before but my housemate sorted all the bills etc (I just gave her so much a month, and I found out she was spending a lot of my money out on the lash :mad: so can't really use it as a guide).

I have been having a lok around and worked out these things will definitely need paying:

Rent
Water
Gas
Electric
Council Tax (BUT, I'm a university student, so hoping to get discount)
Broadband and Line Rental
TV Licence
Food

Have I missed anything obvious? And am I right in thinking I'm entitled to a discount if I'm a student? I'm only doing a Foundation Degree, but I do a lot of on the job training....

Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance

Beth xx

If you're considering renting privately you need to factor in rental admin fees in the first place so that if you do find somewhere the agency can carry out referencing checks, credit checks etc and being a student you'll probably be asked for a guarantor....

Does your boyfriend work?

bethjo

NEH wrote: »

If you're considering renting privately you need to factor in rental admin fees in the first place so that if you do find somewhere the agency can carry out referencing checks, credit checks etc and being a student you'll probably be asked for a guarantor....

Does your boyfriend work?

Hi

Yes, me and my boyfriend both work full time.

00ec25

good list of definites
a maybe you might want to consider is insurance? ie your own stuff against theft/damage etc - tenant contents insurance policy (same sort of thing as you'd be advised to have if you were in halls at uni)

re council tax you ask your uni for the student exemption certifciate, it means you will be exempt from council tax proficed you are a qualifying student, ie
you are enrolled to attend a course of education lasting for at least one academic or calendar year - and which you are normally required to attend for at least 24 weeks out of the year and study for at least 21 hours per week during term time

However if BF is not a student then the way it works is the council wil ignore your presence as a (qualifying) student but treat the BF as a sinlge occupant so he will have to pay 75% of the full annual charge - in formal terms you are a student "disregard" , he gets a "single person discount" (SPD)

00ec25

bethjo wrote: »

Hi

Yes, me and my boyfriend both work full time.

then you may well struggle to get student CT exemption as it would appear you are not a full time student per the definition in my other post

read the full details here - there are otehr definitions of students depending on your age etc

NEH

bethjo wrote: »

Hi

Yes, me and my boyfriend both work full time.

I can confirm if youre full time employment then no as OOec25 said you won't be eligible for any discount....

RuthnJasper

Hi,

I've just passed my second anniversary as a tenant, and it's the first time I've lived by myself (well, with Jasper-dog, so not completely alone!), so although I'm settled and I love my place now I DO understand how daunting this is for you.

00ec25 is right about the insurance. However, I rent my property from a Housing Association and I'm not sure if this is typical for non-HA landlords or not, but my landlord has property insurance, so all I needed to sort out was contents insurance. I did it online with Direct Line and mine's about £4.70 per month.

Bear in mind things like cleaning supplies, bog-roll, etc. as well as food, and any furniture you might need if you aren't getting a fully-furnished place (sorry if I sound daft, I don't mean to!).

It's also a good idea to have a little 'contingency fund' as well, in case of minor emergencies...

Good luck to you - I hope you and your BF are able to find somewhere that you like and that you will be very happy in your new home .
(a lifetime of CBeebies - bl**dy h*ll...! :eek:)
R x

bethjo

NEH wrote: »

I can confirm if youre full time employment then no as OOec25 said you won't be eligible for any discount....

Meh! That sucks...Thanks though

Good luck to you - I hope you and your BF are able to find somewhere that you like and that you will be very happy in your new home .
(a lifetime of CBeebies - bl**dy h*ll...! )

Thank you I'm glad I thought of all the extra bits and bobs, but I thought I would have a look how much the major bits are (I wouldn't mind 9p noodles and rubbish loo roll for a few months) before we made a decision. It sucks that it has taken us so long, when my sister has never worked but gets a free 3 bedroom house :mad: but thats a different matter hehe.
I'll check out contents cover tonight We don't have that much stuff so hopefully won't cost a bomb

NEH

bethjo wrote: »

Meh! That sucks...Thanks though



Thank you I'm glad I thought of all the extra bits and bobs, but I thought I would have a look how much the major bits are (I wouldn't mind 9p noodles and rubbish loo roll for a few months) before we made a decision. It sucks that it has taken us so long, when my sister has never worked but gets a free 3 bedroom house :mad: but thats a different matter hehe.
I'll check out contents cover tonight We don't have that much stuff so hopefully won't cost a bomb

Barlcays and More Than also do contents only cover...;)

BitterAndTwisted

I think you need about three month's worth of rent and living-expenses in savings to make this as safe as possible. Also to rent as small and as cheap a place as possible just in case your circumstances change. Jobs are being lost all over the place and if one of you should lose your income the other may not qualify for JSA as couples are expected to support each other. This often comes as a very nasty shock on top of the joblessness. Could you both live on one of your incomes?

Tinkaf1

... and the cost of a nice big bunch of flowers for your sister as a thank you for letting you and your boyfriend live with her. ;-)