House Hunting Tips
- Pick your housemates carefully - especially if this is your first time renting shared accommodation. In some circumstances landlords will ask groups of students to sign a joint contract which will make you all responsible for each other’s rent and any damage caused to the property.
- Decide where you want to live and what budget you can realistically afford. You may need to pay a deposit now and later a retainer to hold the property until September. Damage deposits should be held in a government approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme and your landlord is obliged to notify you with 14 days of the scheme in which the deposit has been secured. A retainer is a non refundable charge that some landlords charge but it does not usually give you any rights to live in your new home over the summer period.
- Don’t rush in. The myth that you must have everything sorted by a certain date is exactly that – a myth! You can look for your new home at a time that suits you and there is always good quality accommodation available at the start of the next academic year.
- Have realistic expectations about where you want to live. There are very few large traditional houses located in the City Centre. The majority of accommodation available in the City Centre is found in the larger student development units with a limited number of one and two bedroom flats dispersed across the City. The choice of accommodation on the periphery of the City Centre is in abundance.
- The first place you should visit to find your next accommodation is Liverpool Student Homes. LSH is the only university-approved agency dealing with private sector accommodation and gives you the choice from over 16,500 beds in house, flats and private halls. By using Liverpool Student Homes you will have the reassurance of renting a home which has complied with our registration process.
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By registering with LSH, your new landlord has undertaken to manage the property
in accordance with the LSH Code of Practice and:
- Has provided a gas safety certificate and electrical periodic certificate
- Provides appropriate fire safety precautions
- Provides an appropriate level of security to the property
Housing Scam:
LSH has been made aware of a possible housing scam through an online advertising outlet.Case Study:
A student made enquiries regarding a vacant flat available in Liverpool. After responding to the advert the owner/landlord requested the student to send copies of his bank statement and a deposit of £500 to be transferred through Western Union.
The student was unhappy with the requests made to send personal information and did not pursue the tenancy.
A recent BBC report (detailed on our website) highlighted the pitfalls and risks associated with sending money for advertised properties before viewing.
LSH would advise students not to send any money prior to viewing a property. We would suggest only when you have viewed the dwelling and are happy with the contract which you will be entering should monies be exchanged.
We recommend all students studying in our universities ensure that the prospective property they are making enquiries about is either registered with Liverpool Student Homes and or CLASS Accredited with Liverpool City Council.
If you are in doubt always seek guidance and information from your Student Union or LSH.
New Property Email Facility
The property email facility is available for students searching for accommodation through the LSH website. You can register your email address to receive information regarding new properties which are advertised on the site each day.
Tenancy Support Service
LSH is piloting a scheme to assist students and landlords with problems which may arise within a tenancy and to which no suitable resolution has been achieved.
The service will offer tenants and tenants or tenants and landlords to meet in a neutral venue to discuss issues which have resulted in a breakdown in communication.
All parties should be willing to engage with the process.
The service will only be available to registered landlords and tenants residing in a registered property. The service does not encompass legal action between parties and were appropriate legal expertise is required a referral will be made to Liverpool Student Union for students and the North West Properties Owner association for landlords
SUMMER LETS 2010
1 June to 31 August
Woodside Street Period
Woodside Street,
Liverpool 7
Rates: £69 per week
Contact: Andrew Argyrou 07977 423685 or email andrewargyrou@btconnect.com
Period: 5 July to 22 August 2010
Victoria Hall
Hatton Garden,
Liverpool 3.
| RATES*: | Excluding bedding: | Including bedding: |
| NIGHTLY | ||
| Single | £25.00 | £30.00 |
| Double | £35.00 | £40.00 |
| WEEKLY (6nights) | ||
| Single | £83.00 | £105.00 |
| Double | £89.00 | £110.00 |
Contact: Tel 0151 907 7000 or www.victoriahall.com or email Liverpool@victoriahall.com
Period 26 June to 21 August 2010
Atlantic Point
Leeds Street,
Liverpool 3.
Rates: £82 per week
Minimum letting period: 2 weeks (although this could be negotiable)
Contact: Tel 0151 500 0000 or email k.walmsley@libertyliving.co.uk
Period 26 June to 21 August 2010
Liberty Park
Paddington,
Liverpool 7.
Rates: £88 - £92 per week
Minimum letting period: 4 weeks
Contact: Tel 0151 709 8288 or email Liverpool@libertystudents.com
Period 7 July to 31 August 2010
Great Newton Hall
Lower Gill Street,
Liverpool 3.
Rates: £77 per week (10% off if booked for 8 weeks)
Minimum letting period: 2 weeks
Contact: book through website www.greatnewtonhall.com
Period 10 July to 21 August 2010
Cosmopolitan
The Marybone Project,
Marybone,
Liverpool 3.
Rates: £69 to £87 per week
Contact: Tel 0870 600 4777 (Option 1) or www.cosmostudents.com or email Liverpool-questions@cosmostudents.com
Period 1 July to 22 August 2010
Europa
Erskine Street,
Liverpool 6.
Rates: £70 per week
Minimum letting period: 4 weeks (although this could be negotiable)
Contact: Tel 0151 260 5672 or www.freshstudentliving.co.uk
Period 29 June to 20 August
Unite
Cambridge Court,
Cambridge Street,
Liverpool 7.
Rates: £400 for the whole of the summer
Contact: Tel 0845 602 9978 or call into Cambridge Court.
