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A GUIDE TO POSTGRADUATESTUDENT HOUSING

WELCOME

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Congratulations on aCCepting a postgraduate plaCe at the university of leeds!

As you’ll know from other information you’ve been sent, the University has its own exclusive Halls of Residence for postgraduates (Grayson Heights and St. Mark’s Residences). However, you may prefer to live in the private rented sector where you will find plenty of choice from rooms in shared houses to studios and en-suite accommodation in private large developments.

Find out how Unipol can help.

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unipol are here to helpWe can help you to meet other students who are looking to flat/house share or help you find something om your own. We are fully supported by the University of Leeds and Leeds University Union (LUU).

Unipol help you to decide what you want, how to find it and how to get the best deal.

Finding a property with our help

There are a few different ways to find your new home:

• ByusingtheStudentNoticeBoard

• Bycomingtooneofourmixingdays,arrangedforPGCE,PostgraduateandMatureStudents

• ByvisitingtheAccommodationBureauinperson

• Online

house hunting online

www.unipol.org.uk/leeds

Unipol’s website is available 24/7 allowing you to search for accommodation at your leisure. We advertise over 15,000 bed spaces a year offering plenty of choice. If you are not connected to the internet, no problem – just call in and use one of the terminals in the Unipol office.

Address: 155–157 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 3ED Open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 4:45pm.

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searChing for properties onlineThe Unipol website provides you with the largest choice of student properties available in Leeds in one place, allowing you to easily compare properties to ensure you’re getting the best possible value for what you want.

Before you start using the website it’s a good idea to create an account, you can do this by clicking ‘My Unipol Login’ located at the top right of the homepage. Registering makes it easier for you to contact landlords and post on the notice board.

property search

This is where we display adverts from many different private landlords, letting agencies, large developments and our own portfolio.

To start looking for a property click on the Housing tab on the homepage and you can then do a search using basic filters:

• Whattypeofpropertydoyouwant?

• Howmuchdoyouwanttopay?

• Howmanybedroomsdoyouwant?

• Whichareadoyouwanttolivein?

The Advance search allow you to further refine your search to include:

• Choosingthedistancefromwhereyoustudy

• Optingforanindividuallet

• Choosingthetypeofprovideryouwanttorentfrom

• Choosinganallinclusiverent

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student notiCeboard Our noticeboard is designed specifically for students to make contact with other students and is a great way of finding extra house mates. You can use the noticeboard to form a group to go house hunting with, find an extra person to fill a spare room or even find a replacement for yourself. There is a dedicated postgraduate board and many students use this to make contact before attending one of our house hunting mixing events.

To post messages just select Noticeboard from the choices under the housing tab, choose the board you wish to post in and select ‘new thread’ to post a new message or click on a message you wish to respond to. New messages are checked and approved approximately every six hours.

Needed!!HouSeMate

double bedroom available in spacious flat 50% off rent!!!Spare room available immediatelyPHD stuDent looking for Housemate

AccommodAtion wAnted for August/september onwArds

EN-SUITE ROOM AVAILABLE FOR pOSTGRADUATE STUDENT

Room in beautifully fuRnished fRiendly houseshaRe Annexe in Adel

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You will find information on all aspects of student housing in the “Advice” section of the Unipol website.

Some of this you may need during house hunting whilst other information will only become relevant during your tenancy.

You’ll find up-to-date information on the following topics:

• Market conditions:Findoutaboutthelocalhousingmarketandgetthebigpicture.

• what you need to know:Whathousingisavailableandwhen,plushowmuchitcosts.

• house hunting:Howtodoitquicklyandeasily,plusothersupportservices.

• Viewing properties:Makingsureyourentasafe,secureandwell-maintainedproperty.Includeshousehuntingchecklist.

• living in leeds:Howyoucanmakeacontributiontotheareayouliveinandavoidfriction.

• disrepair:Who’sresponsibleforwhat,thestandardsrequired,howtogetitdoneplussampleletters.

• contracts:Whathaveyousigned,typesofcontractsandcommonissues.

• deposits and epcs:FindoutallabouttheTenancyDepositSchemeandhowtoensureyoursisprotected.

• rent levels:You’llalsofindcurrentaveragerentlevelsontheUnipolhomepage.Tryaquicksearchofanystreettoseehowyourrentcompareswithothersavailableinthemarket.

need some housing adviCe?

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house hunting mixing eventsUnipol runs a series of single day events aimed at postgraduate students who have not been offered, or do not want to live in, University accommodation.

eVents For 2015

Friday 24th July

Thursday 20th August

Friday 28th August

If you cannot attend one of these days please contact us at info@unipol.leeds.ac.uk to make alternative arrangements.

agenda

9.30am – 10.00am Arrival and Coffee

10.00am – 10.05am Welcome and Introduction

10.10am – 10.30am Presentation by Unipol about House Hunting in Leeds

10.30am – 11.30am Mixing and forming groups

11.30am – 5.00pm House Hunting

After a short talk on house hunting, we’ll help you to mix with other students. From experience the majority of students attending find people that they are happy to share with, and as a group will search for properties online. If you see something you like you can arrange a viewing with the owner. Once you’re happy that you’ve found a property you all want to rent, you can get the contract checked and then sign the contract.

It might seem like a daunting prospect, but this kind of arrangement generally works well. And our experienced staff are always on hand to break the ice and help out.

The aim is to accomplish all this in one day. It’s a lot to fit in and you have to be prepared to get to know people quickly. But for students who make friends easily it’s a great way to find a shared property. And if you already know a couple of people who want to share and you’re looking to make up numbers – even better.

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Booking a Mixing eVent

House Mixing Days are limited so please book your place as soon as possible. To book simply use the following link: www.unipol.org.uk/advice/students/ house-hunting-events

Select the event you want to attend and complete the booking form. Once the date of your mixing day is confirmed it’s a good idea to visit the Student Notice Board on our website and look for messages from other students who are attending on that day and post an invitation to other postgraduates.

However if you do prefer to house hunt alone we will provide one-to-one assistance on the day so please book on to the event of your choice.

international students

Special arrangements have been made for International students who are new to the UK as part of the University of Leeds Welcoming Scheme. You will have further details on arrival in Leeds. If you are arriving early and would like to attend one of these events you are welcome to do so, just complete the booking form.

visiting leedsthe accoMModation Bureau

If you don’t want to take part in a mixing event, come along to the Accommodation Bureau anyway. That way, you can chat to our experienced and friendly staff and use our computers to find details of all the properties we advertise. The website has the largest section of rooms available to single students in self-contained units, shared houses or rooms in large developments.

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oVernight

If you need to stay overnight for house hunting there are several options you can consider, subject to availability: The University of Leeds Conference Office can provide self-catering accommodation in their on campus residence, Storm Jameson Court at £44 a night for a superior single en-suite. This is available between 22nd June and 11th September for short stays of two weeks or under. For booking enquiries call 0113 343 6100. Bookings can be made online at: www.meetinleeds.co.uk/shortbreaks

Leeds Tourist Information Centre provides details of room availability in hotels, guest houses or bed and breakfast. You can find overnight accommodation and book online at: www.yorkshire.com/where-to-stay

suMMer stays oF 2 weeks or More

From 11th July to 7th September the University of Leeds Accommodation Office will be able to provide accommodation on a self-catering basis (this will be off campus). Book in advance by email (from May, for stays of two weeks or more): summerletting@leeds.ac.uk

Unipol has a selection of short term lets over the summer (July and August) contact lettings@unipol.org.uk for more information.

You can also do a search on the website for short term lets by choosing the advanced search and then making your selection under ’Short Term Let?’

temporary aCCommodation

incoMing students (strictly For uniVersity oF leeds students only)

From 2nd September to 10am on the 16th September the University of Leeds Accommodation Office will be able to accommodate prospective students on campus at Ellerslie Global Residence (and adjacent buildings). The online booking form will be available from early July. Please book before you leave home at: www.accommodation.leeds.ac.uk/early

From 16th September you will need to find accommodation in private bed and breakfast accommodation or hotels.

hoW to find us!Address:155–157 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 3ED.

Opening HOurs:Monday to Friday 9:30am to 4:45pm.

UNIPOL STUDENT HOMES!

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