Student housing - what to do after signing a contract

NickiM

Hi,
Some friends and I have signed a contract to rent a house next year. It looks really good and we're going round next week to look round it, choose rooms etc. However, that would be the ideal time to ask questions. We need to sort out finance (how do you go about getting a joint bank account), see what will already be in the house (such as appliances). Can you think of anything else we should ask?

I need to read Martin's articles but we need to work out what would be the best in terms of utilities.

And, has anyone got any money saving tips for living in a house with 5 other people.

Thanks.

poet123

TBH you shoukd really have asked all the relevant questions prior to signing a contract. Now, you have no comeback if the answers do not meet with your approval,i.e no cooker, washer etc. I would not open a joint account,but simply allocate one utility to each tenant and agree a date for payments each month. You should probably speak(or have spoken to already really), past tenants and see how much each utility cost them per month,and how good or bad the landlord is at doing repairs or sorting out issues. Have you thought about internet access,and the costs associated

bestpud

You signed a contract without even seeing the house or asking anything about it??? :eek:

Wow!

Anyway, with bills, just don't make the mistake of having them put in your name! My cousin did this and ended up being liable when the others didn't pay up.

You can either do as poet says and take one bill each, so your personal liability is limited to the one bill (I'd try not to get the most expensive myself!) or you can have the bills put in joint names.

If there are no appliances, how are you going to go about getting them? I think it is definitely the right time to start sorting it all out tbh as it gives you time to iron out disagreements etc, and research utility companies/ISPs and the like, if need be.

NickiM

No, don't worry! I didn't explain properly, we have seen the house, we have been inside it, we talked at length to the landlord, we know that things like cooker/big kitchen appliances are included (she did tell us when we looked round and there was nothing major not included), just not things like crockery! We signed in February and we wouldn't have signed unless we were completely happy with affairs.

It is the first time that the property has had tenants in, but we're going to see it this week, and speak to the people who have been living there. The landlord has been very good and when we signed the contract we were allowed to speak to other tenants (in other houses) and ask questions about how good they thought the landlord was, and there has been positive feedback.

I do know that there will be several costs associated with the internet, but I can't see not having it.

So, don't worry, we haven't been that reckless!

Thanks for the help.

poet123

Oh good!
My middle son has just signed for a 10 bedded house....or party pad! 8 lads 2 girls,as opposed to this year when it was 3 lads.5 girls(put him off women for life ....well not really, but apparently the girls didnt get on and the !!!!!ing was legendary!!!

It is important to make sure the bills are paid,and by everyone not just by the ones who can manage their money well. Eldest son ended up paying telephone bill and internet bill when others couldnt, or said they would but never did!! Also make sure no one has extra electric heaters in their rooms,multiply this by 6 and the bill soon mounts up.

Enjoy it, and have a great time!!(do some work too though!)

NickiM

Wow, a 10 bedded house!

Knowing my friends I think that we should at any rate be sensible enough to sort out if someone cannot afford a bill. But hopefully that situation won't arise.

The landlord will live next door and I think I remember her saying that if we needed anything for the house that they would provide it.

I actually can't wait to get of my catered accommodation and start cooking. I have already been looking over these boards thinking of things I can apply to our house. I am so excited about it.



I only just thought today how expensive it will be though (though cheaper than I have been paying this year)!