Housing January 2011
www.unipol.org.uk/nottingham
Facts and Figures
January 2015
Step in to house hunting Unipol is with you all the way
2 We ask student landlords what they think of students
4
Out and About in January on a budget
15 Stay happy and healthy this winter
January Edition 2015 The Unipol Codes Find out how they can help during house hunting See page 3
Tips and Advice Read the bits you really need to know See page 5
What lifestyle are you looking for? We answer the essential questions See page 19
16 the Police speak out
18 1,000s
of bedspaces available online
2
JANUARY 2015
Note from the editor U
nipol is THE place to start your search for your next home, whether you are looking for the first time or an old hand. Unipol will open its website to 2015 house hunters on Monday 12th January but if you have examinations we would recommend you wait until after you've all finished, as there are plenty of properties to go around. In fact the surplus this year is likely to rise to over 5,000 bed spaces after all the students in Nottingham have found their property for the 2015-16 academic year. Our website adapts perfectly to any device you want to use so accessing the thousands of properties available is easy any time, any where. Our tabloid here gathers together a selection of what is available on the website and for your peace of mind they are all accredited.
This edition will give you advice on how to get the most from the Unipol website and hopefully answer your questions. Maybe you are not sure where to go to get your contract checked or wondering about what deposit amount you will be asked to pay? Do you want to know why the Unipol Code is recommended or are you still unsure on what group size you’ll be in? Don’t worry, if we don’t answer your questions here then feel free to drop in, have a coffee and see us in the accommodation bureau on Shakespeare Street. We are here to help and are always happy to see you. House Hunting, although enjoyable, can be tiring so remember to give yourselves time and don’t feel you have failed if you are still searching well into February or March. We advertise properties throughout the year and resisting the rush can make it all a calmer affair!
Unipol Facts and Figures
Landlords/agents covered by the Unipol Code 300 (and rising) Bed spaces covered by the Unipol Codes: over 21,000 Average rent of a Unipol Code property: £72.13
A big warm welcome awaits at the Unipol Bureau Find out below about our opening times and help available
I
f you’re a student in Nottingham looking for accommodation you’ll be pleased to hear that when it comes to house hunting you’re not on your own. Unipol is working in partnership with Nottingham’s Universities and Colleges of Further Education to help students find the best possible accommodation. A national not-for profit organisation, we are dedicated to improving standards in student housing. We aim to provide students in Nottingham with not only the widest choice of properties but also a quality mark that allows students to easily identify the best accommodation. Our website provides the largest selection of student properties in Nottingham. On the opening day of house hunting in 2014 the site listed over 5,000 bed spaces so there is always a great choice of properties. The site is also designed to make house hunting as pain free as possible. Standardised advert formats, a star rating system and multiple property images allow you to quickly select and view potential housing options.
“Unlike other student accommodation sites the Unipol website provides a full listing of properties covered by Nottingham's official student accreditation scheme – the Unipol Code.”
Property searches made through the Unipol Nottingham website in 2014: 130,000
£
The Code ensures that landlords who sign up maintain their properties to a set standard and that they manage their relations with their student tenants within specified guidelines. So whatever your housing requirements, follow your University’s and College’s advice and make Unipol your starting point for House Hunting.
Providers asking for a guarantor: 55%
Contact us
NEWS
Unipol - 0115 934 5020 info@nottingham.unipol.org.uk www.unipol.org.uk/nottingham
The Unipol Accommodation Office is open 9.30am to 4.45pm Monday to Friday and will be open 9am to 6pm on the 12th, 13th and 26th January 2015 to support the start of house hunting.
Take us with you Scan the QR code below and take Unipol with you when you go house hunting.
This tabloid is produced by Unipol Student Homes. It is for guidance only and is no substitute for the diverse legislation covers. Unipol Student Homes is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, No. 3401440, Registered Charity number No. 1063492. VAT Registration No. 698 8456 49. Unipol Student Homes accepts no liability whatsoever in respect of the advertisements prepared by Unipol Student Homes based on the contents on Accommodation Details Forms and in no circumstances (whether caused by negligence or otherwise) will Unipol Student Homes be liable for any consequential or indirect damage or loss of rent or loss of profit suffered or incurred by you or any third party howsoever caused. © Copyright 2010 Unipol Student Homes
UNIPOL CODE
JANUARY 2015
3
The Unipol Codes Relax and let us do the worrying… Properties will be advertised accurately and without misrepresentation…
Rent & bills will be clearly outlined to you before you sign (and there should be no ‘surprise’ costs)…
Your landlord will act professionally & courteously at all times…
The property should be ready and any refurbishment or building work finished (unless agreed with you) before the tenancy starts If asked for, your landlord should give you at least 24 hours to check over your contract before signing – and won’t let to anyone else during this time…
Relax Deposits have to be managed fairly and protected in a deposit protection scheme…
Rest Assured
Find out more about the Codes in our new leaflet
Our five steps to ensuring standards: 1 2 3 4 5
Landlords voluntarily sign a declaration stating their properties meet the standards of the Code.
If anything goes wrong, Unipol can help and advise! There is also the formal complaints process for serious matters
A Code property should meet certain safety & security measures to ensure you, your possessions & property remain safe…
We inspect a proportion of these properties to verify these standards are met Where we identify non-compliance, landlords are given time to rectify these issues. Once confirmed, a landlord is accredited or their membership continued.
Don’t rush in! You have plenty of time to find the right property and the Codes are here to help
Where a tenant has issues with property/tenancy and are dissatisfied with the landlord, they can use the complaints process and we can help resolve the matter.
Find out if your landlord/agent is a member of one of Unipol’s Codes at: www.unipol.org.uk/landlords/landlord-directory If you’re unsure, give us a call on 0115 934 5020 or email: nottinghamcode@unipol.org.uk
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JANUARY 2015
PROPERTY SEARCH
Getting the most out of the Unipol Property search A
t the start of house hunting there will be 1000s of properties available on our website, here are some tips on how to get the most out of the search. Get the basics right To start select the amount of bedrooms you are looking for and the maximum and minimum price you want to pay. If you already know the kind of property you are looking for (house, flat or purpose built development) this should be selected as well; using this option will filter down the available price and bedspaces options so you can see what is currently available. If you are not looking as part of
a group then you can chose to look for 'Rooms in a shared property / Large Development' under the 'Whole Property Required?' option. This will show you where rooms are being let individually in properties. You can also select the area you want to live in, how far you want to live from your place of study and the star rating of the property. If your search is going to return over 250 results we'll let you know so you can add more filters (if you want). Getting advanced If you are looking for something really specific then use the advanced search, this allows you
ASK the Landlord We asked two of our landlords to give their impressions of renting to students and what sets them apart as student landlords.
John and Joan Spence John and Joan Spence, independent landlords pride themselves on offering a home away from home. Q: What do you enjoy about renting to students? What we most enjoy about being student landlords is being able to make a home from home for them, with interesting furniture and accessories, hopefully the opposite from a uniform minimal bare-essentials type of place. Just as important, being ex-teachers, we love the buzz that we get from the students, its brilliant to keep that contact and exchange ideas. Q: What do you provide for new tenants? When the tenants move in, they get a warm welcome from us
both and a set of keys! We show them around, go through the inventory and make sure that they understand how everything works. We give them a list of telephone numbers for workmen and City Council information, eg, Police, Wheelie bin times, etc. Generally our aim is to make them feel secure and comfortable. We definitely make contact with the students before they move in. Q: Anything else you would like to share? Apart from showing them the house, we would invite them up to our house for tea and cakes to go through the contract with them, giving anecdotal examples of what the clauses mean. We show them how the rent book and receipts are dealt with, and would take the deposits. We would then conclude with a group photograph.
to look for amenities such as ensuite rooms, bike stores and inclusive internet services. There are also options to look for short term lets, rooms with summer rent concession and if any utilities are included in the rent. Found what you're looking for Click on the 'Book a Viewing' button at the top of an advert and you'll see different ways to get in touch with the landlord including the ability to send them a message. When did you start house hunting? Late January Want to take your time Sign up for an account before starting your searches by clicking on 'My Unipol Login' in the top right corner of the website and you can mark individual adverts as favourite and they will be saved to look at later. Having an account will let you post on the student to student message board which is a great way to make contact with other students to find extra housemates or help form a group.
How many properties did you look at? 7 When did you sign for a property? Early February What do you like about your property? Nicely furnished and big rooms 5. What, if anything, would you do differently about house hunting? Nothing.
Julia French, 2nd Year
Property Adverts O
nce you’ve decided on your search criteria, your results will be displayed. These results will be shown as mini adverts to the left of the screen and as pins on the main map (if you are using a mobile device your default view will be mini adverts only) Blue ones with the thumbs up logo are owned privately and accredited through Unipol. Green thumbs up with a U are Unipol owned or manged and accredited through Unipol. Unaccredited properties are shown as grey map pins with no extra design on the mini adverts. Purpose Built adverts follow the same pattern but their pins are larger with an orange circle. To get further details about a particular property simply click on the appropriate mini advert or pin and a full sized advert will appear. These provide a range of details:
n Location - Street and postcode only. You will get the exact location when you contact the landlord n Rent - How much it is going to cost, shown per person per week and per person per month n Collection period - How often the rent is collected n Deposit - Make sure you know what this is for, and who it is protected with n Agreement - Used by property owners to let the property
n Property type, size and availability - If it's shown as a whole property then the owner wants a group of students to take the property n Book a viewing - How to get in touch with the owner, letting agent or the current tenant n Features and facilities - Look out for details such as the type of heating or whether there is a living room n Advert Number - Note this and use it in the quick search to retrieve
TIPS & ADVICE
JANUARY 2015
What happens if your group fall through after signing a contract?
T
he first thing to do is not to panic, as this can be very common when it comes to student accommodation, due to a whole host of reasons. Below are some tips and advice on what steps should be taken should you find yourself in this position. n
Notify your landlord or agent in writing as soon as possible to make them aware of the situation, as you may be
required to find a replacement if you have signed a joint and several tenancy agreement. n Speak to friends on your course and see if they require accommodation, or know of anyone that may be interested. n Advertise any available rooms on the Student to Student Noticeboard on the Unipol website. n Do not ignore it as the sooner you act, the more likely that a replacement(s) can be found.
Got your House Hunting Guide? Unipol’s Essential House Hunting Guide provides step-bystep information on the process of finding student accommodation and it’s great for friends and parents. It covers: n n n n n n n
APRIL 2011
Student to Student Noticeboard The Noticeboard on the Unipol website is a great way to find other students that are in a similar position to yourself, or are looking for a room in a shared property. Accommodation Available This is where students advertise spare rooms. They’re either looking for that one extra person to make up the right number, or someone has dropped out and they need a replacement. Browse the messages to find something that fits your criteria and get in touch! Accommodation Wanted let other students know that you’re looking for a room. Post message giving as much detail about what you’re looking for so other students can contact you.
Basic steps of house hunting Information on the Unipol Code Property types Assessing your needs Deposits and running costs Searching for properties Viewing properties and signing contracts
Forming a group to look for housing - if you’d prefer house hunt with a group, rather than moving in to an already established household or with a group of individuals, this is the board to use.
Pick up a copy from your Accommodation Office or Student Services
Find it on the homepage
Sarah’s tips Money Matters Sarah Says: It is important that you have a good understanding of deposits, deposit protection, guarantors and utility bills before signing for a property. A deposit is a returnable sum payable to the landlord/ agent, everything that the deposit covers should be in the tenancy agreement and this usually includes damage to the property and arrears. An average deposit is around £250 per tenant. Some landlords do not ask for a deposit but charge a non-refundable admin fee instead and other landlords may charge both a deposit and an admin fee. You should pay your deposit by bank card so that you have proof of payment and only
pay once the tenancy agreement has been signed. Make sure that you attach a copy of the receipt to the contract and make a few photocopies of this; this is particularly important if you are on a joint contract as you will only receive one contract between everyone in the house. If your contract is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (which most student tenancies are) your deposit must be protected under a Tenancy Deposit Scheme. Tenancy deposit protection schemes ensure that you receive your deposit back in a timely manner after your contract ends if you have met all the conditions of the tenancy agreement. There are three government approved schemes. If you have let the
Contract checking and the vital questions answered Hollie, Our Bureau Administrator gives her advice
Contact Checking - It’s FREE!
B
efore you decide to sign on the dotted line, remember, it is always a good idea to have your contract checked. Both The University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent offer contract checking services through their Student Advice Centres. They can point out any ‘shaky’ clauses and explain the tricky bits so you know exactly what you are committing yourself to when signing. Students often find it helpful just to clarity a few points, for example: What’s the difference between an Individual Tenancy and a Joint Tenancy? n What does my deposit cover and how is it protected? n What is an admin fee for? n What is a Guarantor? n What’s a HMO Licence fee? n Will I be dealing with the Landlord or with a Managing Agent? n Is there anything I should be wary of? n
Don’t sign a contract if you are not happy with the terms or there are any aspects of the agreement you do not understand. A Unipol Code Landlord should
Some advice from our student welfare officer: money matters - deposits, how much you may expect to pay; check the small print on additional charges
property on an assured shorthold tenancy then the landlord must protect your deposit in a scheme within 30 days of receiving it and your landlord should give you information about which scheme you are protected under. Guarantors (55% of landlords ask for one) Many landlords will want you to have a guarantor; this is usually your parent or guardian but it can be anyone over 18 years old. Guarantors are required to pay for the rent or property damage if you fail to do so, therefore, your guarantor needs to carefully read the contract to check they are just responsible for you.
5
All inclusive? Anything I should ask? Some landlords will have ‘all inclusive’ rent meaning that all or some of the utility bills are included in the rent. If your rent is inclusive of other bills check whether you are limited to how much you can use and what costs you incur if you go over the limit. It is important to consider this as some properties may be more expensive than they first seem once energy costs are added. Joint or individual contract? (39% of landlords offered individual contracts in 2014) Check whether your contract gives you joint or individual liability. Joint contracts are common, but they also mean if a
always give you at least 24 hours to take a copy of the contract away and look over it, so take advantage of this. Many Unipol Code landlords are now using the Unipol Model Tenancy Agreement. This contract offers clearly understandable terms and is recommended by the Students’ Unions.
So remember: Once you have signed the contract it is legally binding on all parties so you can’t change your mind.
housemate fails to pay their share of the rent or damage that was their fault you can become responsible for it and your deposit may be used to contribute towards this. Sarah Kelly is Unipol’s Tenancy Support Officer
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ROOMS FROM
£63.00 Per Person Per Week (Sharing)
Reserve a room for £200
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Graystacks, Lenton 12 Beds £109 - £116ppw
Graystacks, Lenton 12 Beds £109 - £116ppw
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11 Graystacks, Lenton 12 Beds £109 - £116ppw
Graystacks, Lenton 12 Beds £109 - £116ppw
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us oc tF 1 Blake Road, West Bridgford 6 Beds £65ppw
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• We house students in Nottingham and Leeds every year, in properties that we either own or manage on behalf of smaller landlords.
2 Warwick Street, Dunkirk 5 Beds £60ppw
• All Unipol properties are designed especially for student tenants. • Personal Housing Management Officers responsible for ensuring you are happy in your home. • Safety, security and location being the high priorities. • We operate an up-to-date repair reporting system, which ensures your repairs are dealt with swiftly. • An out-of-hours emergency call centre with Unipol staff and contractors on hand to deal with emergencies 24 hours a day throughout the year.
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• Established in 1975, we help students find the best housing they can.
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Unipol Housing Staff
• We treat all our tenants as valued customers, and carry out annual Tenant Satisfaction Surveys to ensure we are meeting the expectations and demands of students in Nottingham and Leeds.
Book a Viewing: Tom Taylor T.Taylor@unipol.org.uk 0115 934 5020
Visit us: 28 Shakespeare Street, NG1 4FQ
Graystacks, Lenton 12 Beds £109 - £116ppw
12
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CLASSIFIED JANUARY JANUARY 20122015 Bentinck Road
NG7 - 10 bed
Arundel Street
NG7 - 6 bed
Exeter Road
NG7 - 6 bed
bigbig 5 bed houses next toto each other ■n■ 2 x2identical x identical 5 bed houses next each other n Ideal for groups of 5 or 10 ■■ Ideal for groups of 5 or 10 large bedrooms with double beds ■n■ AllAll large bedrooms with double beds n View early to appreciate size and quality of these ■■ View early to appreciate size and quality of these newly renovated Victorian houses newly renovated Victorian houses n Separate big lounge and spacious kitchen/diner ■n■ High Separate big lounge and spacious kitchen/diner spec throughout ■n■ Close Hightospec close to Trent Uni Trentthroughout, Uni ■■■■ RENT Can do bills included for small extra sum . INCLUDES ALL BILLS
large andand spacious 3 storey house ■Very ■ Very large spacious 3 storey house Refurbished to a very high spec in 10 14 ■■ Refurbished to a very high specAug in Aug n Easy access to both Uni’s and city ■■ Easy access to both Uni’s and city n 6 large bedrooms with new double beds ■■ 6 large bedrooms with new double beds n Huge lounge and new comfy leather sofas ■■ Huge lounge and new comfy leather seats n Brand new modern kitchen/diner ■■ Brand new modern kitchen/diner, 2 bathrooms n 2 bathrooms ■■ Large enclosed rear garden n Large enclosed rear garden ■ . RENT INCL ALL BILLS ■■■ RENT INCLUDES ALL BILLS
n ■ The entire property tothe thehighest highest ■ The entire propertywas wasfully fullymodernised modernised to standards in Aug 10 thus everything is brand new standards in Aug 12 thus everything is brand new
Mr Surti Surti
Mr MrSurti Surti
Mr Mr Surti Surti
Rent £80pppw pppwDeposit Deposit £250 Rent £93 £250 pppp
Bentinck Road
Aug 11 13 ■n■ Refurbished Refurbished Aug n Very high spec ■■ Very high spec brand new ■n■ Everything Everything brand new ■n■ 5 huge 5 huge double double bedrooms bedrooms n 2 bathrooms ■n■ Modern 2 bathrooms kitchen/diner ■■ Modern kitchen/diner ■■ RENT INCL ALL BILLS
07860 254 254180 Tel 07860 180
NG7 - 5 bed
lounge ■n■ Spacious Spacious lounge n Fab popular location ■■ Fab popular location close toto Trent Uni ■n■ Very Very close Trent Uni ■n■ 1st1st see will rent toto see will rent ■n■ Early Early viewing crucial viewing crucial ■n■ RENT Double glazingBILLS & Alarm INCLUDES ■■ Wall and loft insulation
n n
Maples Street
n Victorian house ■■Large Large Victorian house n double ■■Spacious Spacious double
bedrooms plus spare 5th bedrooms plus spare 5thfor room for guests/art room guests/art room room property n Homely ■ ■ Homelybig property n Separate lounge ■ ■ Separate big lounge n Large designed kitchen ■■
07860254 254180 Tel 07860 180
NG7 - 4 bed
n■Well maintained ■ Well maintained n■Double glazing ■ Double glazingand andalarm alarm n■Wall andand loftloft insulation ■ Wall insulation ■ Popular student area n■Popular student area ■ ■ Very close to Trent Uni n Very close to Trent Uni ■ ■ Can do bills included for ■■ . small extra sum
Large designed kitchen
Rent £74Rent pppw Deposit £86 pppw £250 pp Surti Mr Surti
07860254 254180 Tel 07860 180
Rent Rent£60 £67 pppw pppw Deposit £250 pp
Rent £86 Deposit£250 £250pp pp £95 pppw Deposit
Claypole Road
n double bedrooms ■5 ■ large 5 large double bedrooms n Aug 1113 ■Refurbished ■ Refurbished Aug
■Everything ■ Everything brand new n brand new ■Spacious ■ Spacious lounge n lounge
■Modern ■ Modern new kitchen n new kitchen ■■ ■■
2 bathrooms Double glazing and alarm
n Double glazing and alarm
Rent£88 £93 pppw pppw Deposit £250 pp Rent Surti Mr Surti
n Close to Trent Uni ■ ■ Close to Trent Uni n Forest Fields area ■ ■ Forest Fields area n 6 large bedrooms with new double beds ■■ 6 large bedrooms with new double beds n Separate large lounge and kitchen/diner ■ ■ Separate large lounge and kitchen/diner n 2 bathrooms ■ ■ 2 bathrooms n RENT INCLUDES ALL BILLS ■■ RENT INCLUDES ALL BILLS
Tel 07860 07860 254180 254 180
NG7 - 5 bed
n■Wall andand loftloft insulation ■ Wall insulation n■Popular student area ■ Popular student area ■ Very close Trent Uni n■Very close to to Trent Uni ■ ■ 1st to see will rent n 1st to see will rent ■ Early viewing crucial n■Early viewing crucial n■RENT INCLUDES BILLS ■ RENT INCLUDES BILLS
Claypole Road
■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■
Rent£86 £78pppw pppwDeposit Deposit£250 £250pp pp Rent Mr Surti Surti Mr
Maples Street
Tel 07860 254 180 254180
NG7 - 4 bed
Victorian 3 storey house ■■Immaculate Immaculate Victorian 3 storey house large bedrooms with new doublekitchen beds ■■4 very 4 very large bedrooms and separate n Separate lounge and separate kitchen ■■ Luxury and homely interior throughout n Luxury and homely interior throughout ■■ Double glazed and fully insulated for maximum n Double glazed and fully insulated for maximum comfort comfort n ■■ Prime location close to Trent Uni/city n Prime location close to Trent Uni/city ■■ Can do bills included for small extra sum n
Mr MrSurti Surti
07860254 254180 Tel 07860 180
NG7 - 5 bed
Large and Spacious 3-storey house Very close to Trent Uni 5 large bedrooms with new double beds 2 bathrooms both with bath & shower Separate large lounge and Kitchen/Diner Double glazed + wall & loft insulation RENT INCL ALL BILLS
Rent £84 pppw Deposit £250 pp Mr Surti
Tel 07860 254 180
Wellington Villas
■■
n
Rent £86 pppw Deposit £250 pp Rent £74 pppw Deposit £250 pp
254180 Tel 07860 254 180
■■ ■■ ■■
1st group to view will take the house The best & most spacious 8-bed around V.high spec throughout & quiet location Easy access to both Uni’s and City
■■ ■■ ■■ ■■
NG7 - 8 bed
8 large bedrooms with new double beds 2 bathrooms, large enclosed rear garden Double glazed + wall & loft insulation Can do bills included for small extra sum
Rent £82 pppw Deposit £250 pp Mr Surti
Tel 07860 254 180
The following adverts are from individual landlords >>
14 Radcliffe Road
NG2 - 5 bed
Radcliffe Road
NG2 - 5 Bed ■■ Bills Included ■■ Double beds ■■ Comfortable sofas ■■ Kitchen has dishwasher ■■ Fridges and Freezers ■■ Microwave and cooker ■■ Garden ■■ Offstreet parking ■■ Well placed for city ■■ Lots of buses for Clifton ■■ Maintenance manager
Rent £79 pppw
Contact:
Jill Green 07825 373 947
Rosebery Avenue
NG2 - 6 Bed ■■ Great House for 6 ■■ Double beds ■■ Living room ■■ Kitchen has lots of cupboards, fridges freezers, microwave and cooker ■■ 2 bathrooms ■■ Garden ■■ Close to Clifton and city, good bus service ■■ Bills included
■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■
Off street parking Great house for 5 friends Spacious bedrooms with double beds Comfortable living room Big kitchen, lots of storage fridges, freezers, washer dryer, internet ■■ Bills included packages available
Rent: £65 pppw Deposit £281 pp Contact:
Jill Green 07825 373 947
Burns Street
NG7 - 10 Bed
Rent £79 pppw
Contact:
Jill Green 07825 373 947
Larkdale Street
■■ All inclusive ■■ Cable TV ■■ WIFI Virgin ■■ Flatscreen TV ■■ Double beds ■■ Three bathrooms ■■ Good condition ■■ 1/4 Mile from NTU ■■ Private Landlord
NG7 - 7 Bed ■■ All inclusive ■■ Cable TV ■■ WIFI Virgin ■■ Flatscreen TV ■■ Double beds ■■ Two bathrooms ■■ Good condition ■■ 1/4 Mile from NTU ■■ Private Landlord
Rent £85 pppw
Contact:
07768 668 663 07711 59 665
Rent £80 pppw
Contact:
THE UNIPOL CODE IS FOR YOU
07768 668 663 07711 59 665
Excited about choosing your first house away from home?
We’ve got your back. The Unipol Code has been designed specifically to help you be sure that you’ll be living in a property that’s safe, secure and well managed. And if you have any difficulties with the property Unipol can help you out. The Code has the full support of these institutions, who all contributed to the Code with you in mind:
You can find more information and pictures of these properties online at www.unipol.org.uk/nottingham
Live with your friends in ultra modern fully inclusive accommodation
Limited Availability BOOK A VIEWING ON-LINE www.kexgill.com
Outstanding prices-Outstanding value
Kexgill... View on-line @ www.kexgill.com or call 0115 9582258
STUDENT ACCOMMODATION
LIFESTYLE
15
JANUARY 2015
Get out and about in January If Christmas or the January sales have left your wallet empty then here are a few things to do in Nottingham for under a tenner…
Feeling thirsty? Enjoy a pint in Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, one of England's oldest pubs, serving ales since 1240AD. As well as being one of the oldest pubs there are also caves in the cellars and the place is full of character having once been said to have been haunted.
Courtesy of http://blog.parkinn.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2014/01/RPI-NQTPD-Nottingham-Caves-Jan-EN.jpg
Check out Nottingham’s underground. Nottingham Castle, a 17th century ducal mansion, is most famous for its position high up on the Castle Rock. But you can also explore the mediaeval caves underneath, including Mortimer’s Hole. A joint ticket for entry to the Castle’s museum and art gallery, along with The Museum of Nottingham Life at Brewhouse Yard, osts £4 for students. If you think a tour of the medieval caves is more your thing go along on Wednesday - Sunday: 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm at £4 per person.
Go deer spotting at Wollaton Hall. The stunning parkland is home to herds of free roaming deer. The 16th century building houses the city's Natural History Museum. And the Courtyard Stables are home to an Industrial Museum, Steam Engine House, Visitor Centre and the Yard Gallery, which hosts natural history and science exhibitions. Free entry to the park, Hall & museums. Car parking charge of £2 for 3 hours or £4 per day applies. Please note that additional charges may apply for some tours, events and activities.
Take a guided tour of Nottingham. Dare to take the Nottingham Ghost Walk? Meet at At The Salutation Inn, Maid Marian Way, Nottingham NG1 6AJ 7pm every Saturday. There are lots of different tours available through the Galleries of Justice museum. choose from Robin Hood on Trial to the Crime and Punishment tour or the Courtesy of http://blog.fancydress.com/ wp-content/uploads/2014/06/nottinghamshire.jpg Facts and Felons Audio tour (all run on selected days). A daily available tour is the Lace Market Heritage Audio Trail at only £2.95 per person. for more details see: www.galleriesofjustice.org.uk/ tours/
Pop along to nottmstudents.com to get the latest news and info about what's going on in our fair city in the new year
Get to k know Nottingham ham like a local: cal:
www.nottmstudents.com www w.n .nottmstudents.com nottmstu udents.c com Does Nottingham really have seven women to every man?
Who’s Leo and why should What really he be a part of your goes on in the nights out?
secret caves under the city?
Get wrapped up to brave the cold. Take to the Olympic Rink at the National Ice Centre in Hockley. Admission is only £5.00 with an NUS card (apart from theme parties) - you also benefit from free skate hire. The university shop may also be stocking NIC discount booklets – check these out for even cheaper entry!
Welcome W elcome to Nottingham Notttingham
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JANUARY 2015
HEALTH
Stay Happy and Healthy this Winter Hannah, a University Student and part of the Unipol team gives you her tips for staying fit over the festive period
W
inter can be a magical time of the year, with crisp sunny mornings, blue skies, woolly jumpers and open fires. However it can also be a time of never ending colds, wet feet and the feeling that you might die if you get out of your warm bed and step out into the dark once again. At times like these your body can really suffer, as all you want to do is curl up on the sofa with a blanket and some beans on toast. Here are a few tips on how to stay healthy and happy over the winter period… Boost your immune system Diet is extremely important when it comes to avoiding illnesses. Nourishing your body from the inside means your immune system will stand the best possible chance of successfully fighting off any viruses that come your way. One of many vitamins you should be trying to take on board is vitamin C, which is especially good at helping protect your cells and keep them healthy in general. Common sources include citrus fruits, peppers, potatoes, broccoli, blackcurrants, strawberries and brussel sprouts. Combat tiredness Feeling constantly tired and drained can be a sign that you are
Good sources of iron Good sources of iron include: n
lacking in iron. Men need 8mg of iron a day, whereas women need a massive 18mg. Common sources for iron include oats, spinach and other dark leafy greens, chickpeas, beef and beans. Iron from vegetables is harder for our bodies to absorb, and getting enough Vitamin C actually really helps this process. It can be hard to get enough iron when you think that 100g of spinach only provides 2.7mg, so taking an iron supplement may be a good idea, especially if you are a vegetarian. Buy seasonal I know many students avoid buying many vegetables because they believe they’re too expensive. The reality is that they can be, especially on a student budget, and the way to get around this is to be smart and chose vegetables which are in season as these will be far cheaper than other types which have to be imported at certain times of the year, not to mention fresher! Cabbage, leeks, carrots, potatoes,
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cauliflower and the magical superfood kale are all in season right now, and all have their own incredible health benefits as well as being well within budget. Buying some items frozen, such as mixed berries for smoothies, also saves a lot of money and reduces waste. Get out Exercise may seem like the last thing you want to do when the temperatures plummet, but
Sources: Figures about spinach.. ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/3202?qlookup=11457&max=25&man=&lfacet=&new=1 Seasonal vegetables.. www.lovebritishfood.co.uk/british-food/fruit-and-vegetables/what-fruits-%26vegetables-are-in-season-when%C2%85/ Vitamin C rich foods.. www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vitamins-minerals/Pages/Vitamin-C.aspx Iron rich foods... www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vitamins-minerals/Pages/Iron.aspx
exercising regularly will help you get warm, feel great and sleep better, not to mention it’s actually a really nice way to socialise, whether you’re playing a team sport or jogging with a friend. Have fun! Having a healthy mind is just as important as having a healthy body; don’t let darkness and stress get you down! Make sure you always make time to see friends and do what interests you; keeping a good work/life balance is crucial. The pursuit of happiness has become serious business for students at Harvard University with a course on that very subject becoming the most popular ever taught at the University. Maintaining balance in your life is crucial. As Professor Tal BenShahar says “Attaining lasting happiness requires that we enjoy the journey on our way toward a destination we deem valuable. Happiness, therefore, is not about making it to the peak of the mountain, nor is it about climbing aimlessly around the mountain: happiness is the experience of climbing toward the peak”
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Good sources of vitamin C Vitamin C is found in a wide variety of fruit and vegetables. Good sources include: n n n n n n
House Hunting tips from the students' union
H
ey guys! I’m Michael Abiodun Olatokun, the Students’ Union Community Officer, your political representative in accommodation, and I represent you on all issues relating to where and how you live. I campaign to improve student living conditions and aim to give information that will hopefully allay some of the househunting concerns that you might have. There are a lot of myths and red herrings in the area of student accommodation. In light of one them, that “the best houses go at the start of the year,” many
students have already started looking for their accommodation for next year. Whereas the Students’ Union recommends that you wait until after the exam period in January, to give you a bit of time to look around several properties and to firmly decide upon the people you’d like to live with, we are available to give househunting advice throughout the year, whenever you begin to look. The Student Advice Centre supports students on accommodation, welfare, finance and educational matters, and is
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located on the B Floor of the Portland building, University Park Campus, and is the first place you should go when beginning your househunting journey. Advice experts have produced a useful househunting checklist, which makes students savvier about their legal rights, and also provides contract checking; a vital service that allows you to get the most out of your year in private accommodation. You should also have a look at our Love Your Home video series, which provides advice on a wide range of issues that will allow you to ask the right questions when looking around potential properties. Once students have checked
over a contract, they might well find that they like the arrangements and the accommodation that the landlord will provide. Despite this, students in Nottingham exist in a surplus market where there are far more bed spaces than students that need them, and you will always be able to find another option if you turn away from a deal. Don’t settle; get the optimal situation for your prospective housemates. Students are surprised when we tell them that there is often scope to negotiate decreases of the rent, or for bartering with a landlord to provide additional amenities at no cost. Be assertive; do not allow yourself to be signed up to a house on the spot, and use the Student
liver meat beans nuts dried fruit, such as dried apricots wholegrains, such as brown rice fortified breakfast cereals soybean flour most dark-green leafy vegetables, such as watercress and curly kale
oranges and orange juice red and green peppers strawberries blackcurrants broccoli brussels sprouts potatoes
Advice Centre’s resources to find a home you truly love. The Love Your Home Campaign can be found here: http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/ advice/housing-advice/love-yourhome/ University of Nottingham Students: Union Student Advice Centre: Tel 0115 8468730 Email: student-advicecentre@nottingham.ac.uk
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HOUSE HUNTING JANUARY 2015
We're going house hunting Who do I want to live with? Think about who you want to live with. You may be asked to sign a joint contract in your 2nd & 3rd year, so can you can rely on your friends to pay the rent and the bills?
How large is my group? Decide how many friends to live with as this will inform what type of property he can live in. It is best to know how many people before you start house hunting, so as not to waste valuable time.
there are four of us!
Get the right info The first port of call is the Unipol Office on Shakespeare Street to get started. Unipol has terminals to search for properties, free phones to arrange viewings and staff on hand to give impartial advice. Unipol provide students with FREE advice during the House Hunting season so the girls pick up a copy of the Tabloid and a House Hunting Guide
What area should we live in?
Consider: n n n
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where you study where you work how much public transport costs what amenities an area has going out on a night
Booking a viewing Pick up the phone and books a viewing through the agent or owner n Viewings for the green pins (Unipol properties) can be booked directly with staff at Unipol or phone 0115 9345024 n Blue (Code) and black pins give details of the owners contact number, so ring them directly to arrange a viewing
Viewing the property Take the checklist from inside the Unipol House Hunting Guide when you go around a property. It prompted the group to look at things they didn’t think of, including; did the property have double glazing, central heating, security, washing machine. etc
said landlordin TDS deposit is
Signing the Tenancy Agreement Read through the tenancy agreement and make sure you understand what you are signing for. Check the start date and finish date, how much you are paying and when. Find out how you would get out the contract during the year if you need to.
Note to Self: must remember to get contract checked....
Paying a deposit Most landlords require a deposit at the time of signing a contract. This is refundable at the end of the tenancy. The group make sure they get a leaflet from the landlord giving them information about which scheme the money will be protected in. If you are not paying a deposit, make sure the signing fees, booking fees and rent level are not increased or used in replacement of it. What might be appealing, may not add up financially.
Sorted There is nothing more for this lot to think about until they move in to their new home. ..‌they seem pretty happy!
feeling happy :-)
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JANUARY 2015
OP graduate sees excellent results C
rime in student areas of Nottingham continues to decrease thanks to a dedicated policing operation known as Op Graduate which saw crime reduce by as much as 40% in 2013 compared to 2012 figures. Officers and staff have been working with the Universities and the City Council to focus on student areas, raising awareness, and to help students to secure their homes to prevent crimes from taking place. So far 86 fewer burglaries were committed during the 2013-14 academic year in student areas
compared to the same period the year before. On one occasion more than 11 properties on one street were visited where either doors were unlocked or windows left open. In a second case, a single call to police on a Sunday afternoon resulted in three people being arrested and stolen property from two separate burglaries being recovered.
Op Graduate focuses on: Reiterating the importance of remembering to lock doors and windows n Informing students of the number of burglaries caused by insecurities n Raising awareness of the vulnerability of mobile phones n
Inspector Rob Wilson said:
COMMUNITY
Christmas comes to NTU T
he community forms a vital part of the experience that students have at Nottingham Trent University, and so our relationship with the community is really important. As part of this, we organised a number of events and activities in the run-up to the festive period, which have helped to highlight the partnerships that the university has with partner organisations in the community, and also raise some money for a number of deserving charities. Foodbank collection Students have donated unwanted and unused canned and dried food to local Foodbanks, before they departed for the Christmas break. Almost 1000 items were collected across all sites, and this will be divided between the St Anns Foodbank, Emmanuel House, and Hope Church (Clifton). Based on the success of this campaign, the university plans to repeat this activity at the end of each term.
“The level of insecurities we have identified and dealt with is very impressive, but many new students have moved into the city and we will continue to work with the universities to ensure students are aware of the consequences of not locking their doors and windows.”
NTU Christmas Jumper Day Friday 12th December was officially designated as ‘NTU Christmas Jumper Day’, with 40 members of staff paying for the privilege of wearing a Christmas jumper to work. Those with the best (or worst!) jumpers won prizes of bottles of wine, kindly donated by Weavers Wines – the university’s preferred wine supplier. All participants paid a minimum of £1 to take part, raising over £50, which has been donated to Save The Children.
NTU Community Christmas event On 2 December, we held the annual NTU Community Christmas event, at the university’s Newton building. Guests were entertained by singers from Radford Primary School, and a medley of classic songs and seasonal favourites by a singer/flugelhornist from a local brass band. The event hosted stands and stalls from a number of local charities including Foodshare (a sustainable food production initiative), Flower Pod (a charity based at our Brackenhurst campus, working with individuals with learning disabilities), PlayWorks, and a number of ethical trading craft initiatives. On sale were wide selections of homemade cakes and plants which raised £180 that will be donated to the Children’s Cancer and Helipad appeals at the QMC. Overall, the event raised over £360 for the charities who took part.
“We also continue to stress the importance of staying safe on a night out, this includes looking after your phone, being sensible about drinking and planning your travel home- not walking home alone.”
For more student advice visit: www.nottinghamshire.police.uk or www.nottmstudents.com
While students are away burglars play • • • • •
Make sure that windows and doors are locked - even when at home Ensure all items of value are out of sight of windows Always ensure keys are kept out of sight and never anywhere near doors Make your home look occupied when you are out Mark your property so that it is identifiable. You can order property marking systems and other security products from our website below, just search ‘crime prevention’
Ever thought about being a Residence Assistant? For more information contact our Crime Prevention Unit on 101 • • • •
Don’t lose your stuff, register it on a property database for free - Love it, log it! www.immobilise.com
Get training and support Develop your CV Save money on your rent Enhance your university experience
To speak to us call 101 or in an emergency dial 999 www.nottinghamshire.police.uk
nottspolice
nottspolice V1 04/2013
Find out more at: www.ntu.ac.uk/RAs
LOCATION
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JANUARY 2015
Things to consider - what lifestyle do I want?
“The trick to finding your perfect property on the doorstep is to do your research.” When choosing a place to live, the decision is not just about a roof over your head it is as much about deciding on the type of lifestyle you want. You are lucky to be studying and living in Nottingham as there is so much choice in the type of accommodation available so whatever you are looking for, Nottingham should be able to deliver. Once you’ve decided on your budget and who you want to live with try thinking about what else is important to you, everyone is different but some of the most important things to consider are:
n the Location
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local amenities on offer
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social environment you want I just want to live somewhere nice
I want to live close to Uni. With a surplus of student accommodation it has become increasingly easy for students to find accommodation close to where they study; from shared houses and flats to rooms in developments and university halls. Go out with your friends and decide on the streets you most want to live in and then use these as your starting point when using the Unipol website. It’s easy. You can also use our map search tool that is fun to use and allows you to look at nearby streets too.
With the Unipol Code it has become a lot easier to find good quality accommodation that is safe and secure. Finding something nice depends on personal preference. Nice could be living in a shared house in a vibrant student area such as Lenton, with its wide variety of small independent shops and cafes or it could be living in your own space, where the area is not so important. Unipol offers you the widest choice of student properties and our staff are always on hand to help you identify what is right for you.
I want to live in the City Centre. Living in the City Centre often means living in a purpose-built development. Shared houses are not as plentiful but do exist. To look for these pick your property type as 'Shared House' and 'City Centre' as the area you want to live. Not living in a shared house doesn’t necessarily mean compromising on moving away from that institutional feel. Developments vary in size and price and you can choose to live with a group of friends or on your own in a studio flat. The convenience of living in the city centre appeals to many students with the array of local amenities just outside your front door and none of those pricey taxis home after a night out.
I want to live somewhere where everything is included in the price. If you choose to live in a larger development, in most cases bills included will be the standard. This is a great choice if you don’t want the hassle of arranging bills and like the idea of living with lots of other students. Increasingly these developments include lots of additional extras such as internet access (often wireless), an onsite gym and an on-site or nearby convenience store. However, if you prefer the idea of living out in the community in a shared house more and more landlords will now offer all-inclusive deals so don’t be afraid to ask. Our website allows you to search for all inclusive deals so if this is what you want choose the advanced filter option on our search and choose ‘bills inclusive’ - yes.
“The convenience of living in the city centre appeals to many students with the array of local amenities just outside your front door and none of those pricey taxis home after a night out.”
I Want it All This means different things to different people but our advanced search option allows you to to include options such as distance to your university; ensuite bedrooms; all inclusive living; offstreet parking; outdoor space; the level of internet provision and many more. You can also filter by price in the main search, although paying more does not guarantee your dream property as that is as much about the people you share with as what you pay.
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