Living Out Campaign
4
The OUSU Student Advice Service’s Living Out FAQs
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Living out for the first time is really exciting but it can also be a bit daunting! How do you figure out when to look, where to look, and who to approach with questions when it comes to private housing in Oxford? This basic guide to Living Out FAQs should get you started, but if you have any other questions or need help along the way, you can always contact OUSU's Student Advice Service at [email protected].
Transcript of Living Out Campaign
The OUSUStudent Advice Service’s Living Out FAQs
This document will answer the following questions:
• WhenshouldIstartlookingforprivateaccommodation?• WhereshouldIlook?• HowmanypropertiesshouldIviewbeforechoosingone?• ArethereanyagenciesIshouldavoid?• WhereshouldIlive?• Howmuchwilllivingoutcost?• WheredoIgoifIhavequestionsaboutlivingout?
When should I start looking for private accommodation?It’simportanttokeepinmindthatthereisplentyofprivatehousingavailableforstudentsinOxford,soyoudon’tneedtorushtofindaproperty.TheUniversityandCollegeshavebuilthundredsofnewstudentroomsoverthelastfewyears,meaningthatthereisaconsiderableover-supplyofprivateaccommodationforstudentsnow.Infact,takingyourtimewillgiveyouamuchbetterchanceoffindingtherightpropertyandtherighthousemates!
Ifyou’reusingalettingagency,youshouldstartlookingatthebeginningofHilaryTermforaleasestartinginOctoberthatyear.Manyofthebeststudentpropertiesheldbytheagencieswillnotbereleaseduntil1February,thereforewaitinguntilthenwillgiveyouabetterchanceoffindingabetterproperty.Ifyou’regoingtorentfromanindependentlandlord/landlady,theywillnormallyexpecttoreceiveenquiries2-3monthsbeforethestartofanewtenancy,inwhichcaseyoushouldstartlookingatthebeginningofthesummerforaleasestartinginOctoberofthatyear.
Where should I look?StudentPad(www.oxfordstudentpad.co.uk/Home)isagreatplacetostart–it’sapropertyfinderthatisfreetouseandmanagedbytheUniversity’sAccommodationOffice.Bothagenciesandprivatelandlords/landladieslistpropertiesonStudentPad,sobesureyoureadeachadcarefullytounderstandwhohaspostedit.
Youcanalsoenquireaboutstudentlettingatvariouslettingagentsinthecity.However,beawarethatlettingagentswillchargeyouadministrationfeesofuptoaround£150perpersononceyoudecidetorentapropertywiththem.
Becarefulifyou’reusingclassifiedsiteslikedailyinfo.co.ukandgumtree.com.Althoughthesearebrilliantforbuying/sellingfurnitureonceyou’vefoundaproperty,itisdifficulttoassessthequalityandsafetyofthepropertieslistedonthem.
How many properties should I view before choosing one?
Thisisentirelyuptoyou,butit’sgoodpracticetoseeatleastafewpropertiesinordertogetagoodideaofthequalitylevelbetweenpropertiesandafeelforthearea.Whateveryoudo,don’trentsomewhereorfromsomeonethatmakesyoufeeluncomfortable.Also,readyourcontractindetail(includingthefineprint)andaskanyquestionsyouhaveinadvanceofsigning–thisisalegallybindingdocument,andonceyou’vesignedityoucan’tescapeliabilityjustbecauseyoudidn’treadpartofit.Don’tfeelpressuredtosignifyou’renothappywithsomethinginthecontract!
Are there any agencies I should avoid?
OUSUandOxfordBrookesStudents’Unionhavedevelopedatrafficlightscheme(green-amber-red)tohelpyouunderstandwhichagenciestouseandwhichtoavoid.Whilebeinga‘green’or‘amber’agentdoesnotmeantheagencyisperfect,itdoesmeanthattheyareeitheraccreditedbytheCityCouncilorhavesignedOUSU’sEthicalLettingAgreement(orboth,inthecaseofgreenagencies).We’veinstitutedthisschemetohelpyousortthebetteragentsfromtheworseones,andwewouldadviseyoutoprefergreenagentstoamberagents,andambertored.We’realsoworkingtoprovideyouwithmoredetailedinformationaboutindividualagents.
It’sagoodideatolookintoseveralagenciesandtotakeyourtimechoosingtherightone.Thisdecisionshouldbebasednotjustonthepropertiestheyhavebutonhowtheytreatandcommunicatewithyouaswellaswhatfeestheycharge.Weedingoutsuspiciousagenciesatthestartcansaveyoualotofheadacheslateron!
Where should I live? Thisdependsonwhatkindofpersonyouare!Ifyouwanttobeinthethickofit,thentheCityCentremightbetheareaforyou,althoughyou’llhavetodealwithhigherrentsandmorenoise.CowleyRoadandIffleyRoadcanalsobenoisybutgenerallyhavelowerrentsandstillhavepubsandshoppingnearby.QuieterareasincludeJerichoandSummertown(bothabitpricey)andAbingdonRoadandBotleyRoad(lowerrentsbutfewerentertainmentoptions).Makesureyouvisiteachareayou’reconsideringbeforeagreeingtolivethere–youneverknowwhetheryou’lllikeituntilyougetafeelforityourself. How much will living out cost? Thisdependsonwhereyoulive,howmanypeopleyoulivewithandwhatkindofpropertyyourent,buttherearesomegeneralcostbandsyoushouldkeepinmind.Rentislikelytobebetween£400and£550foraroominasharedhouseandmorethan£650tolivealone.Bills(includingelectricity,gas,waterandinternet)willcostyouuptoaround£50amonthperperson.
Youwillalsohavetopayadepositupfront,whichusuallyamountstobetween1and2months’rent.Youragencyorlandlord/landladyshouldputyourdepositintoaDepositProtectionScheme,whichsecuresyourdeposituntiltheendofthetenancy.Neverpayadepositwithoutsigningacontract–theseshouldbedoneatthesametime.
Where do I go if I have questions about living out? YoucanalwayscontacttheStudentAdviceService([email protected])withanyquestionsyouhaveaboutlivingout.Inadditiontoansweringgeneralquestionsaboutlivingout,wecanreadthroughyourcontractwithyoubeforeyousignit.Don’tbeafraidtotakeyourtimebeforeyousign!
For free, impartial and confidential support on issues that affect your life
as a student, contact us at [email protected]
