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Arts University

Accommodation Day

Accommodation Day We look forward to welcoming you to the Arts University Bournemouth Accommodation Day. These are unstructured days, which provide you with the opportunity to meet other students and arrange your private rented accommodation.

Before you arrive We recommend that you view the accommodation registered with the Arts University at www.aubstudentpad.co.uk and bring with you details of any properties you are interested in. You may like to make contact with the landlord and make advance arrangements to view the property on the day. If you have not already made contact with other students through the Studentpad messageboard, or the AUB Accommodation Facebook page, we would suggest you do so from the details enclosed – you may even be able to form your house share group before you arrive at the day. Landlords not present on the day can be contacted by telephone. Details from local letting agents will be available on the day, please be aware that letting agents and some landlords will charge fees for their services.

The Course Team If you have specific questions about anything in this pack please contact the course team. We are available on the following numbers:

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What to expect on the day The Accommodation Day will be held in the Arts University’s Gallery area, from 9.30am to 3.00pm. Car parking will be available on the Arts University campus on a first come first served basis. The Arts Café will be open for drinks and snacks. Upon arrival you will be provided with a 'goody bag ' which will include, amongst other things, a name badge for you to wear and a 'housemates bingo' card to use during the icebreaker. The icebreaker will take place at the start of the session so please arrive promptly. Please note that other than the icebreaker the day is unstructured – there are no formal talks or activities, and we do not arrange house sharing groups. However, staff from Student Services will be present throughout the day to offer you advice and guidance, and members of the Arts University Students’ Union will also be attending the day. If you have not already made contact with other students looking for accommodation you will need to form a house sharing group; the easiest way to do this is just to start up a conversation! Once you are part of a group you will need to decide on the properties you would like to view. Although it sounds daunting, remember that everyone at the day is looking for a housemate, and AUB students are very friendly. Some landlords will be attending so that you can talk to them directly. It is a good idea to view as many properties as you can – but remember other groups will be viewing the same houses as you.

What to expect on the day We will provide a list of properties downloaded from our website, however further details of each property and full contact details for the landlords are available from www.aubstudentpad.co.uk Details of any rooms being advertised by current students will also be available so keep a look out for students who are looking for 1, 2, 3 or more students to fill their houses. Useful information, such as bus timetables will be available on the day, and your goody bag will include a Bournemouth map. All landlords registered with us have been informed of the Accommodation Days and some will be present at the event, so do feel free to approach them and ask any questions you may have. We ask that landlords do not pressurise students, so it may be up to you to make the first move! Landlords not present on the day can be contacted by telephone. We will have property details from Letting Agents, who can be contacted by phone, and some Agents will attend the day. Please make sure you check what charges are involved if you decide to rent a property.

Induction Your first few days at the University will include enrolment and induction events to introduce you to the facilities and services you will be using as a student, as well as the activities and resources on your course. You will receive copies of important documents, including your course handbook and the Undergraduate Course Framework and HE Regulations.

The following activities have been arranged for you (You will have additional course related activities this week and will receive a schedule of those activities at the first meeting. Be prepared to be busy all week!):

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A few things to consider when choosing your housemates and finding a house • Set your budget; make sure you can afford the rent, bills, food and transport, with a little left over for yourself! • Think about how many people you would like to share with; a larger household can be more fun and may mean cheaper bills but can also mean more noise and possible arguments. • Think about how you might split the bills; one named person for each bill or a joint account where each student deposits money each week/month to cover the bills. • If you are finding your property through a letting agent check what their fees are, look on line to see if these are in line with other agents and if you can find any reviews about the agents. • Try to be punctual for any viewing appointments. If more than one group of students want to rent the property the landlord/agent may decide who to let to on first impressions. • To secure a property you will need to sign the tenancy agreement and pay a deposit. Once you have done that you are committed for the duration of the tenancy. • The majority of landlords and letting agents will ask for a UK based guarantor. • There are various UK companies that offer a guarantor service such as *Housing Hand, http://www.housinghand.co.uk/ * Please note that the AUB does not endorse any company over anyother. • Make sure you complete an inventory – dated photos are always a good idea.

House viewing It is a good idea to view as many properties as you can, so try to make sure you have transport on the day, and be prepared to get to know the local area. When you view any potential houses or flats try to take someone with you - for a second opinion or for your own personal safety. Even though you may be viewing as a group it is good to have someone to discuss it with later who may remember things that you didn't! Don't be afraid of asking "obvious" questions - you could be surprised at the answer, and it's best not to make assumptions. Ask if you can take a few photos as you look around the house, this will avoid confusion if you are looking at a number of properties. Take along the Househunting Checklist at the back of this booklet to remind you what to look for. If you want to secure a property on the day you will need to be able to pay a deposit.

Tuition Fees

The tuition fees for 2012/13 are as follows

For full-time UK and EU funded students: £8,600.00For Channel Island funded students: £8,600.00For International funded students: £10,950.00**Please refer to the AUCB website for discounts that apply

You can pay your fees by the following method

By cash in person at the University finance office.

By cheque made payable to ‘The Arts University Bournemouth’, posted to the Finance Section, The Arts University Bournemouth, Wallisdown BH12 5HH.

By debit/credit card, either in person at the finance office or by telephoning 01202 363214.

By electronic bank transfer using the following details:

Sort Code 30-91-08Account Number 00322852Account name The Arts University at BournemouthSwift Code LOYDGB21045IBAN Code GB28LOYD30910800322852

Lloyds TSB Bank PLC

PO Box 5, 45/47 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH1 1ED

Please ensure full payment information is listed on the credit (preferably your student number and name).

Should you have any queries, please contact Kristina Kuprijanova on 01202 363214 or kkuprijanova@aucb.ac.uk

If you are a UK funded student, don’t forget to apply for your tuition fee loan, student loan and grant as soon as possible by logging on to www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance. If your application for a tuition fee loan is approved, your fees will be paid automatically and you do not need to arrange payment.

If you are an EU or Overseas student you can pay your fees in your own currency,commission free through StudentPay which is an on-line system using Western Union Business Solutions. Western Union will transfer the funds directly to AUCB on your behalf. The link to StudentPay can be found on our website at www.aucb.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding8 | 9

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Tenancy Agreements The purpose of a tenancy agreement is to set out your rights and responsibilities as a tenant, and the rights and responsibilities of your landlord. The most common type of tenancy agreement is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. The agreement should set out exactly what is and is not included in the rent, and what each party can expect of the other. If you are renting a house with other students most tenancy agreements will state that all tenants are “jointly and severally liable” for maintaining the conditions of the agreement – this means that if one student defaults on the rent, all who signed the agreement are responsible for ensuring that the rent is paid. Legally, a landlord is not obliged to provide a written tenancy agreement, but at the very least you should insist on a “Statement of Terms” which covers the dates of the tenancy and rent due. You are strongly advised to get details of any agreement in writing. If the landlord tells you that improvements to the property will be made before you move in, ask for written confirmation of this before signing a tenancy agreement. If you sign a fixed term tenancy agreement you will be liable for the rent until the end of the agreement. If you decide that you want to move out before then, your landlord may release you if you can find a replacement to take your place. You should check with the landlord to see if this is possible. Trust your instincts – any tenancy agreement must be fair and reasonable, so question anything that doesn’t seem right. However, do remember that most landlords registered with the Arts University are used to letting their properties to students and it is in their interest to do so in a fair and responsible manner.

Rent and Deposit Deposits It is usual for landlords to request a deposit (usually equal to one month’s rent) at the time that you sign the tenancy agreement. The landlord may also ask for references or a guarantor (someone who will guarantee payment of the rent if you default – usually a parent). The landlord is also required to carry out a 'Right to Rent' check. The deposit you pay is held by the landlord for the duration of your tenancy and may be used to cover the cost of any damages or outstanding debts. All deposits for Assured Shorthold Tenancies must be protected by a Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme. There are two types of scheme – custodial schemes and insurance-based schemes. Your landlord must inform you which scheme they will be using – if they don’t, ask your landlord how your deposit will be protected.

Paying the rent If you pay your rent weekly your landlord must provide you with a rent book. You may be asked to pay your rent monthly by direct debit – this provides you and your landlord with a record of the rent you have paid. If you pay your rent, or deposit, by cash or cheque you should always ask for a receipt. Keep copies of any letters or tenancy agreements – they are legally binding and you may need them at some point in the future. Remember, you will be living in the property for the foreseeable future – make sure you are happy with it before you move in.

Preparing for your course

Preparing to studyLearning at university will probably be very different to how you learnt at school or college. To help you adjust to university study, the Arts University at Bournemouth has created a brief on-line introduction entitled The Art of Studying. For lots of helpful hints to develop the skills you need as a student, go to www.artofstudying.co.uk

Recommended reading

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Moving in Keep a note of the contact details for your new housemates - you may want to get in touch prior to moving in. You should also ensure you have contact details for your landlord/letting agent. Check what date and time you can collect the keys and move in. Make an inventory of all the furniture and equipment and ask your landlord to agree it. If possible take photographs, and make a note of any existing wear and tear. Make sure you have a copy of your tenancy agreement and if any repairs need doing inform the landlord in writing. Keep copies of all correspondence. Consider if you want to take out possessions insurance - most landlords will only insure the building. Take electricity & gas meter readings immediately and inform service providers.You will need to set up utility accounts and decide who will be named on the bills. You might choose to share them, and you may also decide to set up a joint house bank account. Check whether you need a TV licence - one licence will cover all the sets in a shared household, but individual tenancies will need individual licences, as will TVs in locked bedrooms. If you have a television or intend to stream live TV you must have a TV licence. Also from this autumn if you download or watch BBC programmes on demand - including catch-up TV - on BBC iPlayer you will need a TV licence. This applies to all devices.

House hunting checklist You may want to consider some of these points when viewing properties. LOCATION:

• Is the property conveniently situated for getting to AUB? • Are there shops, a launderette, etc. nearby? • Is it on a bus route to the University, town centre, etc.? • Is there car parking available if you need it? • What about visitors’ parking?

OUTSIDE:

• Does the property look in good repair? • Do all the windows open? • Is there room to store a bicycle? • Is the garden/shed clear of rubbish?

GAS & ELECTRICITY:

• Does the landlord hold a current gas safety certificate? • Does the cooker work? • What type of heating is there? • Do any gas/electric fires work? • How is the heating, electricity, gas paid for? • Do all light switches work? • Are there enough sockets? • When was the wiring last checked?

PLUMBING:

• Try all the taps. • Does the toilet flush properly? • Is there a good supply of hot water? • If there is no natural ventilation in the bathroom there should be a

(working) ventilation fan. INTERIOR:

• Is there any sign of damp/mould or a musty smell? • Windows should open directly to external air. • Are carpets clean and properly fitted on stairs?

Additional course details

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House hunting checklist FURNITURE/FURNISHINGS:

• Is it all in good condition? • Is there enough for all the tenants? • Check if any furniture belongs to the present tenants.

SECURITY/SAFETY:

• Check the security of all outside door locks and windows. • Who else has keys to the property? • Is there an outside light? • Is access to the back of the property secured by a lockable gate? • Is there a fire blanket and/or smoke alarm? • Can you get out of the house in the event of a fire?

OTHER THINGS TO CHECK:

• How much is the rent? Does this include electricity, hot water, etc.? • Will you require a guarantor? • Who pays the water rates? • How much is the deposit? Which Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme is

used? • How long is the tenancy agreement for? • Have you read & understood the conditions? What does it say about

notice? • Are all repairs/improvements promised by the landlord written in to the

contract? • What services is the landlord providing? • Check gardening, window cleaning, lighting of common parts & refuse

disposal.