Private Accommodation
Who to live with
If you decide to spend your student days in private rented accommodation you will need to decide whether to live alone or share with others. If you opt for the latter you will be able to share household bills. This can also be a great way of meeting new people, especially if you have moved to a new location. However, living with people, particularly those you have not met before, can be problematic. Issues such as bill paying, cleanliness of communal areas and living with each other’s habits can cause tension. You need to be certain that you are going to be able to get along with whoever you decide to live with.
Where to live
When you think about where to live, you will need to consider the condition of the house itself as well as the area that you will live in. The Voluntary Code of Practice takes the uncertainty out of house-hunting, by recognising landlords who take a responsible approach to letting their properties. It is an agreement between the York institutions, the Students’ Unions, the City Council, the Landlords Association and other organisations. The code of practice consists of a series of standards that landlords must comply with, and lists properties which meet the recommended standards. Click here to view a copy of the Voluntary Code of Practice. The NUS have also produced a house hunting checklist, to help you ensure the property is sound.
Whether you opt to live alone or house share, you should give careful consideration to the location. You will need to travel into your institution several times a week and so may want to consider areas within walking distance, or close to good transport links, to your college or university. You may also want to think about whether the house is in a convenient location for nightlife and shops.
Click here for information about renting in York, including details of the average rent charged in different areas of the city.
Tenancy agreements
A tenancy agreement is a contract between you and your landlord. It means you both have legal rights and responsibilities. The agreement should be written in clear language so both parties understand their obligations. If there is something you don’t understand, or if you have any questions or queries, you need to raise these before you sign the contract. If you wait until after you’ve signed the agreement, or have moved into the property, it will be extremely difficult to resolve any disputes.
A tenancy agreement should include the following:
- How much the rent is and when and how it should be paid
- The landlord’s and tenants’ names
- The address of the property being let
- The date the tenancy will begin and end
- Who is responsible for the utility bills, including water rates and council tax
- The length of the notice which both the landlord and the tenant need to give if the tenancy is to be ended.
Most tenancy agreements for private accommodation are “Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements” for a fixed term, usually 12 calendar months. This means you will be required to pay rent over the summer months, whether you are in the property or not. You will also be responsible for paying utility bills on top of your rent.
Tenancy agreements will either be joint or individual. If you sign a joint tenancy, i.e. all the names on one contract, you are jointly responsible for the payment of the rent. This means the rent must be paid by you all as if you were one person and if one housemate decides to move out, the landlord could demand any remaining rent from the other tenants. If you sign individual tenancy agreements you are only responsible for your own rent and would not be liable to cover anybody else’s if they left the property.
It’s likely you will have to pay a deposit to your landlord before you move into the property. Make sure you are aware what the deposit covers and how you can ensure this money will be returned at the end of the contract. A landlord can make deductions from a deposit to cover costs such as damage to the property, outstanding rent and unpaid bills. If your landlord is refusing to refund part or all of your deposit and will not explain why, or you feel his grounds are unreasonable, you need to take further action. In the first instance you should contact the Office of Fair Trading. The Office of Fair Trading also has a comprehensive website providing a range of information relating to tenancy agreements.
Accommodation search
Accommodation Officers at the institutions in York will be able to offer tips on house hunting and give you details of reputable landlords in the area. The Universities and colleges only advertise properties that have met the standards detailed in the Voluntary Code of Practice.
You can also search for suitable accommodation in the following:
- Thursdays’ Evening Press. ‘Accommodation to let’ is usually shared housing and ‘Property to let’ is self contained, i.e. flats.
- Adverts in post offices and local shops. - Letting agencies. There are a number in York who specifically target students. Please note that private agencies will charge you a fee if they find you somewhere to live. Click here for details of letting agencies situated in York. | 
