Hackney Citizens Advice Bureau offers top tips on university fees and accommodation

As students prepare for university, many will be thinking about sharing private rented accommodation.

While lots of people have an enjoyable time sharing with friends, here at Hackney Citizens’ Advice Bureau we hear of the things that have not worked out so well, such as co-tenants leaving with debts to pay, deposits not being returned at the end of the tenancy and even bogus letting agents.

A few tips when looking for accommodation:

Lettings agencies are not regulated so it is best to use an agent that has signed up to the National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS), or is a member of a body such as the Association of Residential Letting Agents, National Association of Estate Agents, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or UK Association of Letting Agents or the Property Ombudsman.

They offer some protection, such as a complaints procedure or money protection. Agencies that have the Safe Agent registered mark show they protect your money.

Lettings agencies are not allowed to charge for registering with them or for simply providing a list of properties.

If they do, it is a crime and you can report them to Trading Standards at the council.

Fees can vary, so check them and shop around.

Ask for receipts for any payments made.

Agencies can charge a holding deposit if you’ve agreed to take a property but have not yet signed the tenancy agreement.

Check if it can be returned, for example if you fail a credit check, if you change your mind or the landlord does not go ahead.

You will probably need to pay a security deposit against damage or getting into rent arrears.

Security deposits for assured shorthold tenancies paid on or after 6 April 2007 must be protected in a government approved scheme which you must be provided details of within 30 days.

If you are a joint tenant, then you are each liable for the rent jointly and individually.

This means that if someone else does not pay their share, you are liable to pay.

To avoid the risk of being left with someone else’s rent arrears, try and opt for a ‘sole tenancy,’ if the landlord will agree.

For more advice about letting agents contact Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline 08454 04 05 06.

For general advice, contact Hackney CAB adviceline 0844 499 1195.

We also have various outreach services at Children’s Centres and GP practices, such as for patients at the Gadhvi practice.