London Student Housing Guide
LoNDoN STUDENT LIVING MADE BETTER
LoNDoN STUDENT LIVING MADE BETTER £169 OM S FR
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• Central London locations from £169 per week • Prices are all inclusive of utility bills, up to 25mb broadband + Wi-Fi, and contents insurance • 24/7 dedicated on site support teams • Close to all the major London universities and colleges
Web: Call:
Web: Call:
• Fantastic study and social spaces • Laundry rooms on site • Free iMac internet stations
www.urbanest.com/London 020 7042 7890
www.urbanest.com/London 020 7042 7890
Starting Planning Looking Moving Resolving References
“GREAT
CENTRAL LoNDoN LoCATIoN URBANEST GENUINELY CARES ABoUT US!
2014-15
• Free to use fold up bikes and bike store
• All properties in zone 1 central London • All inclusive rents from £169 per week • 24/7 dedicated on site support teams • Close to all the major London universities • Fantastic transport links via bus and tube
• Close to shops, restaurants, and amenities
“
• Fantastic transport links via bus and tube
London student housing guide
2014-15
Foreword London is a fantastic city to be a student in and living in your own home away from the University is part of the experience. Although students often find the prospect of finding private sector housing daunting, it is important to realise that most will find the experience overwhelmingly positive. In our 2013 survey the majority of students stated that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with their housing. Nevertheless, every year some students do have bad experiences. This is often due to making ill-informed choices when looking for their housing. Often students feel under pressure to make quick decisions without enough information to base those decisions on.
Foreword
1
The aim of the booklet is to prevent this by answering some of the most common questions that students ask. It is not intended to make you a housing expert. However, it should equip you with some basic knowledge to avoid the most common problems. Of course, even with the best preparation in the world, sometimes things still go wrong. If they do, your accommodation office or student union is there to help you.
2
London Student Housing Guide
Contents Starting
Planning
What are the options?
14
Where to look
22
When to look
28
Housing for students with families 29 Housing for international students
Looking
Areas of London
36
Getting around
55
Staying safe
58
Budgeting and Council Tax
62
Living with friends 69
Inspecting a property
74
Is your property and landlord licensed? 79 Gas safety
82
Neighbours 83 Negotiating 83
30
Housing for students with disabilities 33
Contracts
87
Checking ownership of a property 91 Money matters
92
Tenancy Deposit Protection 95 Agency charges
4
London Student Housing Guide
100
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this guide is accurate but no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions.
Moving
Resolving
Inventory and schedule of condition 105
Repairs
Utility companies 108
Reference 116
Damage deposits 119 Mice, rats and other infestations 121 Leaving early
122
Intrusive landlords 124 Noise and other problems
125
Where can I go for help? 126
Advertising Terminology 130 Useful websites
133
Index
134
Credits
135
About the University of London Housing Services (ULHS) 136 London Underground map INSIDE BACK COVER
Foreword
5
2014 /15 REN TS F ROM
ÂŁ21 5
Exclusive Student Accommodation
PP/P
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4 Central London locations
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Fully furnished rooms
P
Social & study areas
P
All inclusive rents
P
High speed Wi-Fi
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Outdoor courtyard
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51 & 43 week contracts
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24 hour security
P
Fantastic transport links
www.purestudentliving.com
+44 (0) 20 8912 5020 reservations@purestudentliving.com
FR0M ONLY £116.85 PER WEEK! 5 GREAT
STUDENT STUDENT LIVING LIVING FOR LESS FOR LESS
LOND
LOCATIOON NS!
HOLBORN WC1 CAMDEN NW1 EARLS COURT SW5 WOOD GREEN N22 ENFIELD EN3
ONE OF LONDON’S LOWEST RATES FOR STUDENT ACCOMMODATION!
CALL US: 0330 123 0220 EMAIL US: accommodation@viridianhousing.org.uk SEARCH US: www.viridianhousing.org.uk twitter.com/ViridianStudent www.youtube.com/user/Viridianhousing
C FANTAUSNTTIS! DISCO
• SAFE & SECURE ACCOMMODATION • 5 GREAT LONDON LOCATIONS • EXCELLENT TRAVEL CONNECTIONS • ON-SITE MANAGEMENT • FREE INTERNET ACCESS* *Except Goldsmiths House, Camden
Luxury student development
This is your place.
Premium: 18.9m2 – 22.3m2
Double: 21.7m2 – 25.5m2
Quality assured by Ravenscourt is one of London’s newest and most exciting student properties. With its central location, Ravenscourt is situated conveniently within half an hour of the majority of the city’s universities and is served by excellent transport links. The development has beeen carefully designed to serve the needs of even the most discerning of student. A mix of double and accessible studios with facilities including 50Mb broadband ensures that Ravenscourt is the ideal place for both UK and international students.
DIGS are a proven and market leading nationwide operator of student accommodation. We pride ourselves on our unparalleled professional service and offer students high quality, affordable accommodation backed by a commitment to outstanding customer service. We provide comfortable and homely surroundings for our residents whilst supporting them on their student journey.
in a great central location Rates - Studios from £225/week
Opening September 2014
(+£20.00 weekly service charge) What’s included in the weekly service charge? R R R R R R R
50Mb Fibre Optic Broadband WiFi throughout IPTV with UK and International Channels Contents Insurance Electricity Heating Water
MARKETING SUITE NOW OPEN!
All viewings recieve a £20 Amazon Voucher!
192 King Street, Hammersmith, London, W6 ORA Open Monday-Friday 12pm–5pm
University of The Arts
Ravenscourt UCL 3 Paddenswick Road London, W6 OBY
University of West London
Nearest tube LSE Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith & Goldhawk Road
Royal College of Music
Kings
Imperial College London
Twitter: @digs_student
Instagram: @digs_student
Facebook: /ravenscourt
Blog: digravenscourt-news
Visit the website College digravenscourt.co.uk London Book online at: digravenscourt.co.uk/book-now Contact us now: +44 (0) 208 563 8809 mail@digravenscourt.co.uk
YOUR LIFE YOUR HOME Find your new student home from a fantastic choice of locations across London.
unite-students.com Terms and conditions apply. Visit unite-students.com/legalstuff for full details. Images and photography are representative of accommodation only.
Would you like ZONE 1
STUDENT ACCOMMODATION
Within reach of well, EVERYTHING London
has to offer? Of course you would.
Depot Point
5 mins from King’s Cross underground. Hammersmith & City, Circle, Victoria, Piccadilly and Northern underground lines.
Magenta House
5 mins from Aldgate East underground. Hammersmith & City and District underground lines.
The Student Housing Company wants to make a difference in the student accommodation market. Visit our website to see five promises we make to our customers.
thestudenthousingcompany.com
ROOMS
London
Student Accommodation
FROM
ÂŁ235 PER WE
EK
FANTASTIC STUDENT ROOMS IN ZONE 1 LOCATIONS! Hoxton
Old Street
iQ Hoxton
iQ Shoreditch
Euston Sq
iQ Bloomsbury
All inclusive rents
En suite to every room
FREE Broadband & WiFi up to 50MB
FREE on site Gym* and social spaces
for Visit our website n more informatio
www.loveiq.co.uk/london
* On site Gym at iQ Hoxton & iQ Shoreditch only