Renting at university

dannyjebb

Can I just ask if this is the norm for renting whilst at uni?

We are moving into the second year and 5 of us are moving to a house this year, we paid £250 deposit and £250 utility bill each and now been told we need to pay £500 each for a retainer fee as the contract will be from 1july to 31 June even though we will only be using the house from September to May. The retainer fee covers the months we won't be there apparently. I've always thought housing at university would just run for term time. We have been told we can't even use the house during the summer months 🙄🙄

Thanks

anselld

There is no "norm". To an extent each University has its own local norm, but even then it may vary between Landlords. Seek advice from Student Housing at your University.

What is set in Law is that Agents must make fees clear up-front and if they have not done that you can complain to the redress scheme of which they must by law be a member.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/private_renting/costs_of_renting/letting_agent_fees_and_charges

Guest101

Did you each sign separate contracts or all amount contract??

Summer retainers are normal, but usually are not full rental value

Andypandyboy

We are paying a retainer for our student child for July/Aug of £275 pcm, as opposed to the normal rent of £400. We have always done this in the past for older kids too.

eddddy

The 'norm' will vary by area. If you want to know what is the 'norm' for your area, ask a few different letting agents about the rental terms for a few different properties.

You'll then know if the terms you're being offered compare well or badly with other properties.

dekaspace

As a tenant its a common way to get extra money from a tenant, some of it is understandable and I remember years ago wanting to move to accomodation over summer (so not go home) and was told I couldn't do that as they were redecorating but they still wanted a retainer! Was quite a common thing they refused to let me stay over summer but wanted either full rent for it or a retainer.

Looks like its similar with you, seems a bit of a con as their reasoning is they lose rent in the summer months as its empty but if they refuse to let you stay anyway it seems more for their own benefit as how can they charge rent for a property you are not allowed to live in?!

booksurr

as long as there have been students renting there have been "summer" retainers. They are only an issue if:
a) you actually want to move in over the summer but the retainer won't let you as it is not actually "rent" so your tenancy commences from a later date
or
b) take the total amount paid between June - May and divide by 12. How does that compare to other properties monthly rental for "shorter" (ie, academic year 9 month) contracts ? More expensive, the retainer is an issue for you, about the same then the retainer has a small cash flow issue for you as it has to be paid up front before you move in

neither apply? Then it matters not

patchwork_cat

DS paid half rent over the summer as retainer whilst at Uni, so yes is normal.

dimbo61

To all the homeowners out there with a Mortgage.
Do you pay the mortgage every month ? YES
Do you pay Gas/electric/water/broadband/phone line every month ? YES
Well its the same with a student property.
Some areas IE LONDON charge FULL RENT all year round because they can
Most other large student areas charge Half Rent over the summer IE July/August
As a student Landlord I ask for a Deposit which is returned in full if we get the property back in good condition ( Fair wear and tear allowed)
Over the summer we also repaint/repair and replace anything that needs to be done.
Gas safety checks, Electrical checks and cleaning.
I allow my tenants to stay over the summer if they want but they pay full rent and they need to understand that we have work to do.

dekaspace

dimbo61 wrote: »

To all the homeowners out there with a Mortgage.
Do you pay the mortgage every month ? YES
Do you pay Gas/electric/water/broadband/phone line every month ? YES
Well its the same with a student property.
Some areas IE LONDON charge FULL RENT all year round because they can
Most other large student areas charge Half Rent over the summer IE July/August
As a student Landlord I ask for a Deposit which is returned in full if we get the property back in good condition ( Fair wear and tear allowed)
Over the summer we also repaint/repair and replace anything that needs to be done.
Gas safety checks, Electrical checks and cleaning.
I allow my tenants to stay over the summer if they want but they pay full rent and they need to understand that we have work to do.

That is reasonably fair, what an old landlord did was charge cheaper rent over summer on the basis they helped him decorate, that saved him time and money.

I think charging full rent knowing you want to do work isn't the best thing to do but charge even 75% rent as a sweetner as would you not want people in rooms paying rent rather than a smaller retainer and rooms not getting used? (or charge like half rent and ask them to help!)

I think the problem is charging full rent in terms that if you are not allowed in the property at all over summer then a retainer shouldn't be allowed at least morally, the reasoning I was given years ago was landlords lose money with empty rooms so a retainer was needed.

But if no access to property which you want to live in then how can it be justified?

And many student properties make tenants pay for everything so there is no utility bills to be paid for by the landlord, it has caused problems in ex student properties I have lived in, everything down to phone line was paid for by us.

People who aren't students live with gas and electrical checks so why not students?