2
Welcome to Central! 4
SECTION ONE: WHAT ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS DO I HAVE?
My Accommodation Options 6
Private Rentals 7-8
Student Halls 9-11
Living with a Resident Landlord / Homestay 12-13
SECTION TWO: HOW DO I FIND FLATMATES?
Finding my Flatmates 15
SECTION THREE: HOW DO I BUDGET FOR MY
ACCOMMODATION?
The Rent Formula! 17
Other Housing related Expenses 18-20
My Weekly Spending 21
Contents
3
SECTION FOUR: WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR WHEN VIEWING A
PROPERTY?
Inspecting a Property 23
SECTION FIVE: WHAT SHOULD I LOOK OUT FOR IN THE
CONTRACT?
My Contract 25-26
Contract Checking Services 27
My Deposit 28
Right to Rent Check 29
SECTION SIX: WHAT IF I HAVE A DISABILITY?
Advice for Students with a Disability 31
SECTION SEVEN: CAN I HAVE A LIST OF CONTACTS?
Useful Contacts and Links 33-35
4
This guide’s main aim is to inform you of what accommodation
options are available during your studies at Central.
Whether you are looking to live a house with other students, live in
halls or live on your own, it is important for your wellbeing that you
find a living arrangement that you are comfortable and a property
that works for your budget.
By providing you with a brief outline of what housing options you
can choose from, our aim is make you feel more confident in
making a decision about where you want to live.
The Student Advice Service (SAS) Accommodation Guide contains:
What type of accommodation options are available
An overview of expenses you will have as a student
What to remember when signing a contract
A list of useful contacts and websites
We hope you find this guide useful and we welcome any comments
and feedback you may have.
For an online version of this guide, please visit:
https://www.cssd.ac.uk/content/accommodation-support
Whilst Central aims to work with as many providers as
possible, we do not endorse any individual organisation. This
guide is for information only.
Welcome to the Royal Central
School of Speech and Drama!
6
As a student at Central, you can choose from the following
accommodation options:
Private Rentals (p7-8) Many Central students decide to rent out a flat for themselves or
live in a house with other students. Each student would have their
own room and share communal spaces such as the kitchen,
bathroom and living room.
Student Halls (p.9-11)
University of London’s Intercollegiate Halls
(p.9)
As a college of the University of London, Central receives allocated
rooms each year. Halls are located in Central London (Paddington),
are catered and have communal areas.
Private Halls of Residence (p.10-11)
Private halls are student residences operated by private companies
or housing associations. Prices for rent are generally include bills
but are self-catered, with rooms varying from studios, single en
suite and twin. Some have communal areas.
Living with a Resident Landlord / Homestay (Host
family) (p.12-13) Students sometimes opt for this type of accommodation as there is
a more flexible and cost effective approach to renting. A student
would usually get their own room and share the rest of the
facilities with the Landlord/host family.
My Accommodation Options
7
The majority of students at Central choose to live in private rented
accommodation as this allows them to live with friends and have
their own space too. It is usually more cost effective than halls.
Outlined below are a few pointers which will help you in your
search.
Join the SAS Accommodation Facebook Pages
This Group is used by students searching for properties and/or
roommates. Students post properties on this page if they are
looking for flatmates or looking to move out and need to find a
replacement tenant. You can also like our SAS Accommodation
Page.
RCSSD Accommodation Private Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/296002547214739/ RCSSD SAS Accommodation Page:
www.facebook.com/RCSSD.Accommodation
Attend the Sharers’ Days This event will allow students to meet other potential housemates.
The SAS, the Student Union and University of London Housing
Services will be there to provide advice and guidance. Local letting
agents are also invited to present any suitable properties.
Sharers’ Days for 2019 will be held on:
Friday 19th July and Friday 16th August*
To book a place, email [email protected] stating your full name,
course and the date you wish to attend.
*correct at time of print, please see https://www.cssd.ac.uk/content/accommodation-
support for more details
Private Rentals
8
Contact a Letting Agent
A letting agent acts as a channel of communication between a
landlord and the tenant for the rental property. A large percentage
of private accommodation in London is advertised via a letting
agents. Using a letting agent has its advantages as they have
access to a large number of properties. However, do keep in mind
that there is no government licensing of agents which means
standards of service differ. Letting agents can in turn join
associations whose aim is to promote a high standard of
service and code of conduct.
When choosing a Letting Agent, make sure they are a member of
the following body:
ARLA (Association of Registered Letting Agents)
NALS (National Approved Letting Scheme)
Below is a list of local letting agencies to Central:
Abbey Properties (t): 020 7722 4333, Alan Goldin Estates (t): 020
8209 0101, Cedar Estates (t): 020 7431 1100, Empire Estates (t):
020 8459 2600, Parkinson Farr (t): 020 8459 4555, Rose & Co
Estates (t): 020 7372 8488, Dreamview Estates (t): 020 8455 0055
Letting Agencies over London - For a list of Letting Agents across
London visit: www.housing.london.ac.uk/find-accommodation/our-
landlords-and-letting-agents/registered-letting-agents
Property Search Engines - A full list can be found on page 36.
University of London’s Student Homes
https://studenthomes.london.ac.uk/ (2nd and 3rd Year
Undergraduate and all Postgraduate students only)
Average Rent- Search the average rent in London by Postcode
www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/housing-and-
land/renting/london-rents-map
9
As a Central student, you have the option of choosing between the
University of London Intercollegiate Halls and Private Halls.
University of London Intercollegiate Halls
The University of London owns and maintains eight
Intercollegiate Halls. To be eligible for these halls you
have to be a full time student. Students who are
interested in living with students from other
universities should consider this type of
accommodation. All the rooms in halls offer catering
throughout the week. To make an application for
Intercollegiate Halls, please email [email protected].
Intercollegiate Halls Allocation for 2019/20
Lillian Penson Hall
4 x Small Single En Suite Catered Rooms
11 x Single En Suite Catered Rooms
£176.05 – £203.00 per week, £500 deposit, 40 week contract
Halls are catered (two meals per day are provided and included in
the rent) and you are not permitted to cook your own food. Meals
are served at the following times:
Breakfast: 8am-9:30am (Monday-Friday)
Brunch: 11am-12:30pm (Saturday-Sunday)
Dinner: 6pm-7:30pm (Monday-Sunday)
If students are going to miss dinner in order to attend
evening rehearsals, they can request a Packed Dinner.
For more information visit: www.halls.london.ac.uk/lillian-penson-
hall
Student Halls
10
For information about applying for a place at Lillian Penson Hall
please visit our Intercollegiate Halls webpage
https://www.cssd.ac.uk/content/university-londons-intercollegiate-halls or contact the SAS Office directly
(t): +44 (0) 20 7559 3900
(e): [email protected]
For information and advice concerning the Intercollegiate Halls
contact: Intercollegiate Halls Reservation Office on
(t): 020 7862 8881
(e): [email protected]
Clandon House
The University of London also offers affordable accommodation to
returning second and third year undergraduate students and
postgraduate taught students at their Clandon House site in
Finchley. You can find out more information on their webpage
https://halls.london.ac.uk/clandon-house and by contacting
Private Halls of Residence
Private halls vary widely from traditional halls
with long corridors of study bedrooms and
shared bathrooms to self- contained studio
apartments with sports and entertainment
facilities.
Many also have shared flats where you can
have a bedroom and share the kitchen and
bathroom with four or five other students.
Please note that if you wish to make an application for the private
halls, you will need to contact them directly.
11
Private Halls near Central:
IQ Student Accommodation
www.iqstudentaccommodation.com/
Goodenough College (PG only)
www.goodenough.ac.uk/
The Nido Collection
www.thenidocollection.com/student-
accommodation-west-hampstead/
Unite Students
Beaumont Court:
www.unitestudents.com/london/beau
mont-court
St Pancras Way:
www.unitestudents.com/london/st-
pancras-way
Chapter
www.chapter-living.com/
Urbanest Student Accommodation
uk.urbanest.com/
For a list of private halls all over London, please visit:
www.housing.london.ac.uk/find-accommodation/registered-independent-
halls-residence https://www.casita.com/accommodation/uk/london/the-royal-central-
school-of-speech-and-drama-london
Netherhall House (Men only)
www.nh.netherhall.org.uk/
Host Wembley
www.hostwembley.london/
AXO Student Living
www.axostudent.co.uk/
Osbourne House
www.axostudent.co.uk/osbourne-
house/
The Stay Club
Camden: www.thestayclub.com/
Homes for Students
Bloomsbury Janet Poole House:
https://wearehomesforstudents.com
/index
Scape Wembley
https://www.scape.com/en-
uk/student-
accommodation/wembley
12
Some students opt for this type of
accommodation as there is a more flexible
approach to renting, i.e. there is space to
negotiate a contract length that suits you. A
student would usually get their own room
(sometimes bathroom) and share the rest of the
facilities with the Landlord/host family. There might be particular
‘house rules’ that might restrict your freedom and independence
which would need to be explained in advance by the landlord/host
family.
Homestay is an accommodation option sometimes explored
overseas students looking to improve English as their second
language, who would like to live in a home setting or for those
moving to London for the first time.
Families/individuals offering homestay are generally very helpful to
the student and are happy to give advice on living in London.
Homestay also does not require you to commit to a long stay if the
arrangement is not working for you.
Central students post details of their room and host family on the
SAS Accommodation Facebook platforms listed below.
RCSSD Accommodation Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/296002547214739/
RCSSD SAS Accommodation:
www.facebook.com/RCSSD.Accommodation
Living with a
Resident landlord /
Homestay
13
Please note that the SAS does not have a database of
Homestay Families.
If you would like more information on homestay or would like to
find families offering homestay, the University of London’s Housing
Service provide more information on the organisations listed
below: https://housing.london.ac.uk/find-accommodation/short-
term-housing/homestay-host-family-accommodation
Britannia Student Services
http://britanniastudents.com/
HFS London
http://www.hfslondon.com/
Home from Home -
London Homestays
http://londonhomestays.com/
Hosts International
http://www.hosts-international.com/
15
Finding my Flatmates
Be prepared to ask and answer all kinds of questions in relation to living
habits. For example:
What music do you like?
What time do you go to bed?
Do you mind friends coming to the house?
Do you cook? / How we will arrange a cleaning rota?
These questions are not about judging one another, they are about working
out how compatible you and your potential housemates will be. For further
advice, please email [email protected] and more resources will be sent to you.
Be cautious! If you’re meeting people
you’ve communicated
with online, arrange to
meet in a public place
or even bring someone
along with you.
1. Join the RCSSD Accommodation Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/296002547214739/ and post details of the
flatmate they are looking for
2. Attend the Sharers’ Days (more information can be found on p.7)
3. Use online search engines dedicated to finding flatmates such as:
SpareRoom
www.spareroom.co.uk/
Accommodation for Students
www.accommodationforstudents.com/
RoomGo
https://www.roomgo.co.uk/
RoomBuddies
www.roombuddies.com
Remember to ask questions!
It is very important that you think carefully and talk
about what you and your flatmates are looking in your
house-share. This begins by choosing people you are
comfortable sharing a home with.
Students looking for flatmates often:
17
Many letting agencies charge rent on a weekly basis, however, if you
wanted to work out how much you are paying per calendar month
(pcm), this would be your calculation:
For overseas students that want to work this out in their home
currency, visit: www.xe.com
THE RENT FORMULA!!!
Weekly
rent
charged
for the
whole
property
X =
Monthly
rent for
the entire
property
52
(weeks
in a
year)
÷
12
(months
in a year)
Monthly rent
for the entire
property ÷
Number of people
in the house =
YOUR
RENT
PCM
Then calculate…
18
It is no secret that London is an expensive
place to live in. We therefore encourage
Central students to choose a living
arrangement in which you (and your flatmates)
feel financially confident with. Before you choose your
accommodation, it is important to plan a realistic budget. This
should include all your income (i.e. student maintenance loan,
bursaries, work salary etc.) and all of your costs. Do ensure that
you work out a budget before you choose where to live. This could
determine the type of accommodation you will eventually choose.
Below is a table which indicates what expenses you will have
on top of your rent in various types of accommodation:
Type of Accommodation
Council Tax
Utility Bills
TV Licence
Broadband Insurance (contents)
University of London
Intercollegiate Halls
X X
Private Rentals
X X X X
Private Halls
X X
Homestay
X X X X
Other Housing related Expenses
19
Council Tax
If you are a full time student you are exempt from council tax. You
will have to prove your student status by requesting a letter from
the SAS. However, if you live with other people who are not full
time students, they will still be eligible but may receive a discount.
For further advice on this, please email [email protected] or get in
touch with your local council: www.gov.uk/find-your-local-council.
Utility Bills
If you are living in a privately rented property, you may need to set
up accounts with utility companies (e.g. water, gas, electric). The
landlord should be able to tell you which companies supply your
address. Utilities such as gas, electricity, heating and hot water
should already be connected. You should note down and
photograph all utility meter readings for future reference. All you
would need to do is transfer the account to your name or, ideally,
the names of everyone in the property.
TV Licence
You will need a TV License even if you live in halls or watching TV
on your laptop. Full guidance can be found on the following site:
www.tvlicensing.co.uk.
Telephone and Broadband
If you are living in a private rental, ask your landlord if there is a
working phone line/broadband connection in the house. If not,
there are some suppliers that offer special student deals, including
shorter contracts. You can compare student broadband deals at
https://www.moneysupermarket.com/broadband/student-broadband/
If you opt for homestay, it is rare not to find a telephone line in the
house. Generally, hosts would allow you to use their wireless
internet at no extra cost. However, there are some cases where
you would pay them to use their landline.
20
Insurance
It is a good idea to first check with your chosen accommodation if
there is insurance to cover your possessions. If you are in halls,
there is a high possibility that possessions are automatically
insured. There may be an extra cost for higher value possessions
such as laptops, so do ask before signing a contract with them.
You may also wish to check with your family and see what type of
household insurance they have. There are cases where your
possessions are insured under household insurance even if you live
away from home.
If you are renting on your own, please double check with the
landlord to see if your possessions are automatically insured (it
should be stated in your housing contract). The landlord usually has
insurance for the property which may not cover your possessions.
Endsleigh are well- known for providing
student friendly insurance. Their website is:
www.endsleigh.co.uk/Pages/Home.aspx
21
As prices for accommodation in London vary greatly, it is difficult to
provide students with an exact figure. A student should expect to
pay approximately £150 - £210 per week in rent. This of course
depends on the facilities offered in the property, the size of the
room and the area.
Below is a rough guide of what a Student should expect to pay
per week in London:
£150 for accommodation* £10 for gas/electricity/water* £25 for food £2.50 for contents insurance* £1 for a TV License* £30 for entertainment £30 for travel £5 for books/equipment £10 Home Broadband*/ Phone bill £15 other costs such as toiletries, clothes, laundry, photocopying, printing
Approximately: £278.50 per week
*based on three people sharing
My Weekly Spending
It’s worth noting that the type of accommodation can
change this guide. For example, Halls of Residence
may cost approximately £200 per week (depending on
location and room type, it can be more than this)
23
When viewing a property it is easy to get carried away
and ‘fall in love’- especially when it has big
rooms, a garden and if you are seeing it on a hot
summer’s day: it will definitely seem more appealing.
What you have to do is imagine it during the winter when
it is a cold blustery day. Remember to ask yourself:
Is it within your budget to heat all the large rooms?
Do you want to spend your time gardening?
Do you feel safe walking home at night in the area when it
gets dark early?
Please have a look at the SAS’ Housing Checklist (this will be
handed to you with this booklet). It gives you an outline of what to
look out for when viewing a property. If you do not have one,
request one from [email protected].
Inspecting a Property
For your SAFETY make sure:
There is no evidence of damp, mould or condensation
Windows are double glazed
Locks on windows and doors are secure
The heating in the house works- find out if the property is
centrally heated or are there electric fires?
All furniture, décor and rooms are in good condition
The bathroom has an extractor fan if it has no windows
There is a smoke alarm and a fire extinguisher
There is a carbon monoxide detector
Your landlord must give you an up to date
Gas Safe Certificate for ALL gas appliances.
25
On the Contract, also known as a tenancy agreement, always
remember to check for the:
Start date of tenancy
Date rent is due
Length of the fixed term (if there is one)
How rent is paid
Promises, promises…
If the landlord/ managing agent promises to carry
out repairs, decorating or even provide additional
furniture, make sure you receive a written and signed
pledge. You may be able to negotiate some form of
compensation if the written agreement is not carried out.
Inventory
Make sure the landlord provides you with an
inventory so you and the landlord know
exactly what is in the property and what
condition it is in when you move in. If the
landlord does not provide you with an
inventory, you insist on one being created or
write one yourself and send it to your landlord or letting agent.
If any of the property/ furniture is damaged, do take photographs
as evidence.
For more information about inventories please get in touch with
the SAS at [email protected] or visit Shelter’s Inventories page:
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/how_to_check_and_agree_an_inventory
My Contract
26
As a student, you are likely to get an Assured Shorthold Tenancy
(AST). The AST comes in two forms: Joint and Individual Tenancy
The tenant has exclusive possession of the property, so the
landlord cannot enter without permission.
The landlord needs to protect the tenant’s deposit and
undertake certain repairs within a reasonable timeframe.
Entitles the landlord to regain possession of the property at
the end of the fixed term tenancy.
The tenant is bound to this contract for the whole of the
fixed period and liable for the rent- whether in occupation
or not
Your landlord needs to give you two months’ written notice
on a standard form in order to end the tenancy.
If you have a joint AST it means you and your flatmates
rent a property together and are jointly liable for the full
rent of the whole property, all bills and the jointly
responsible for the condition of the property.
If one of the tenants move out, the remaining tenants will
be responsible for the full rent of the property.
An individual AST means that you are liable for the rent of
only YOUR room, but have access to all the joint facilities of
the property
With this contract, you have no say in who moves into the
property and if you have a TV, you will need your own
licence
Always ensure your room has a lockable door with this
agreement
This type of tenancy can only be given if the landlord is
not a resident in the property
The AST
Joint AST
Individual AST
27
NEVER SIGN A CONTRACT YOU DO NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND.
Remember that you have every right to take a copy of the tenancy
agreement and seek advice from:
Contract Checking
Services
The University of London Housing Service
www.housing.london.ac.uk/cms/housing-advice/
Law Centre Federation
www.lawcentres.org.uk/i-am-looking-for-advice
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice.htm
Shelter
https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help
28
From the 1st June 2019, a deposit can be no more than the
equivalent of 5 weeks rent (if the annual rent is £50,000 or
less). However, there are cases where some international students
are asked for 6 months’ rent in advance (if they do not have a UK
guarantor). Holding deposits are capped at one week’s rent.
A landlord MUST protect your deposit by choosing
to register with one of the following schemes:
Deposit Protection Service (DPS)
www.depositprotection.com
My Deposits
www.mydeposits.co.uk
Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) – does not cover holding
deposits*
www.tds.gb.com
The schemes encourage landlords and tenants to draw up clear
tenancy agreements and provide a free service to resolve disputes.
In any other scheme, the deposit is not protected by the law.
If your landlord fails to protect your deposit, you can take them to
court. The landlord will also be unable to seek possession of the
property.
*Landlords and Agents are not required to protect a holding
deposit with a scheme before you become their tenant,
however, once you have signed the tenancy agreement the
holding deposit becomes a deposit which must be protected
with a scheme.
My Deposit
29
This information is important for UK and International
Students.
From 1st February 2016, landlords and letting agencies are
required to carry out checks relating to the immigration status of
the tenants. This applies to UK students as well.
The landlord or the letting agent will ask you to provide original
copies of certain documents to prove that you have the right to
rent in the UK. This could include:
- Passport
- BRP (Biometric Residence Permit)
REMEMBER!
- You should not be charged for a Right to Rent Check
- Do not send any original documents via post or email
to the landlord or the letting agent – these checks need to
be done in person
- It is illegal for a landlord or letting agent to
discriminate against you on the basis of your nationality
or race
If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or if you
require more information, visit: www.gov.uk/righttorentchecks
Right to Rent Check
31
Advice for Students with a
Disability
For support and advice on adaptations you might need if you have
a disability, contact the Learning Centre at [email protected]
Below are a list of organisations that offer advice, support and
guidance regarding housing and disability.
Habinteg
www.habinteg.org.uk/main.cfm
Ability Housing (requires a referral from your social worker)
www.ability-housing.co.uk/
Thomas Pocklington Trust: for people with Sight loss,
blindness and partial-sight
www.pocklington-trust.org.uk/guide-finding-home-visually-
impaired-people
www.pocklington-trust.org.uk/i-will-be-student
Disability Rights UK
www.disabilityrightsuk.org/getting-advice
https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/how-we-can-help/benefits-information/factsheets/education-factsheets
Disability Rights Commission
www.odi.gov.uk (Information on disability rights)
Rethink
https://www.rethink.org/living-with-mental-illness/housing
Private Halls and University of London Intercollegiate Halls
Please note that if you are living in halls, it is illegal for them to
charge you higher rent or an additional fee to accommodate any
form of disability.
33
Student Housing Advice
The Student Advice Service
(t): 020 7559 3900 (e): [email protected]
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm
Facebook:
RCSSD SAS Accommodation:
www.facebook.com/RCSSD.Accommodation
RCSSD Accommodation Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/296002547214739/
University of London Housing Services:
www.housing.london.ac.uk
(t): 020 7862 8881
(e): [email protected]
Disability Rights Commission – information on disability rights
and accommodation: www.odi.gov.uk
Independent Advice Bodies
Citizens Advice Bureau: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Shelter: www.shelter.org.uk
Legal Advice
Civil Legal Advice: www.gov.uk/civil-legal-advice
Law Centres Network: www.lawcentres.org.uk/
Law Works: www.lawworks.org.uk/
University of London Housing Services:
www.housing.london.ac.uk
(t): 020 7862 8881
(e): [email protected]
Useful Contacts and Links
34
Letting Agency Associations
ARLA (Association of Registered Letting Agents): www.arla.co.uk
NALS (National Approved Letting Scheme): www.nalscheme.co.uk
NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents): www.naea.co.uk
RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors): www.rics.org
TPOS (The Property Ombudsman Service): www.tpos.co.uk
LLAS (London Landlords Accreditation Scheme):
www.londonlandlords.org.uk
Property Search Engines
https://housing.london.ac.uk/find-accommodation/housing-
database
https://studenthomes.london.ac.uk/ (2nd and 3rd Year
Undergraduate and all Postgraduate students only)
www.rightmove.co.uk
https://www.zoopla.co.uk/
https://www.openrent.co.uk/
https://www.spareroom.co.uk/
https://www.accommodationforstudents.com/in/london
Find your Local Council
https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
Safety
www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk/Students
www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice/for-students/
Deposit
General Information: www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection
Deposit Protection Service (DPS): www.depositprotection.com/
My Deposits: www.mydeposits.co.uk/
Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS): www.tds.gb.com/
35
Currency Converter
XE Services: www.xe.com/
Travel
Transport for London: www.tfl.gov.uk/
Local Letting Agencies
Abbey Properties (t): 020 7722 4333,
Alan Goldin Estates (t): 020 8209 0101,
Cedar Estates (t): 020 7431 1100,
Empire Estates (t): 020 8459 2600,
Parkinson Farr (t): 020 8459 4555,
Rose & Co Estates (t): 020 7372 8488,
Dreamview Estates (t): 020 8455 0055
Useful Numbers:
Police Emergency 999
Police non- emergency 101
NHS 111 111
Crime Stoppers 0800 555 111
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