The shortage of places in university accommodation means that most students have to rent privately at some point in their course. Most students will have to face the trials of finding a place to live, and of dealing with landlords and the accommodation they offer. If you are an existing student, you’re sure to have come across some of these problems. Here is some advice for students new to the joys of house hunting.

According to students the most common problem seems to be the landlord. Many report their landlord’s unwillingness to carry out repairs or routine maintenance. As tenants, you should insist that your relationship with your landlord is on a professional footing, so that any problems are dealt with quickly and efficiently. Remember that the landlord has no right to enter your property unannounced, without asking your permission, and without giving reasonable notice of their visit. You don’t want to come home and find him or her sitting in your kitchen.

Before you sign a contract, you should always obtain a duplicate copy and, if possible, check it with a solicitor or university housing adviser. Remember that the contract is a binding agreement which may contain detailed terms you didn’t notice when you signed. Read it through carefully before you put pen to paper. In most cases your contract will be an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, which has standard terms.

Always check that gas, electricity and water appliances are in working order. Make sure the house is safe and equipped with a fire alarm, smoke detectors, a burglar alarm, window locks, and five-barrel deadlocks. Petty burglars love student housing, as they are often full of electronic equipment. Ordinary latch-key locks are well-nigh useless for securing your premises. Shop around for the best deal on contents insurance, and insure your possessions for their full replacement value.

Make sure you are clear about how bills, including rent and services, are to be paid. If the bills are not included in the rent, you will need to contact the relevant companies to register for accounts. Make sure that all bills are in joint names, not just your own. Anyone whose name is on the bill is liable for the full amount. So if your housemates disappear, leaving unpaid bills, you can be required to pay their share – it’s your problem, not the phone or electricity company’s.

Most students are exempt from Council Tax. However, you must register for exemption by obtaining a Council Tax Exemption Certificate from the registry at your university, and send this to your local council.

Some landlords will insist on a standing order for rent payments – reasonable; or months of pre-dated cheques written in advance – totally unreasonable: if the ceiling collapses you may just have to move out, and the landlord is then sitting on hundreds of pounds of your money. Stopping cheques is expensive.

Landlords ask for a deposit to safeguard themselves against non-payment of rent or damage to property. Ordinary wear-and-tear does not constitute damage. When a tenancy comes to an end, there is usually no disagreement about the return of the deposit. However, some landlords have refused to repay students their deposits for no good reason. To protect students and take the hassle out of the whole process, The Tenancy Deposit Scheme has been set up in conjunction with the Independent Housing Ombudsman.

The benefits to you of this scheme are that your deposit is in safe keeping, you get a prompt return of all deposits where there is no dispute and you are sure to get your money back if a dispute goes your way. The scheme is good for both you and your landlord because disputes are resolved quickly, fairly, cheaply and out of court. To take advantage of this scheme though, you’ll need to find a landlord who is a member of the scheme.

As a last resort, if you have a dispute with your landlord that cannot be resolved, you should seek advice from your university’s accommodation adviser.

Cora Pang is a 2nd-year journalism student at City University, London

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