FAQ
Q. How long will my tenancy agreement be for?
Q. Can I move out of my student accommodation before the end of my tenancy?
Q. Do you take up references and make credit checks? Do you require parental guarantees?
Q. Is all student accommodation fully furnished?
Q. Do you provide kitchen utensils or do I need to bring my own?
Q. Do all student houses and flats have a washing machine and tumble dryer?
Q. Can I bring my own furniture instead of using yours?
Q. My partner and I want to share a room. Is this allowed?
Q. Can I have a friend to stay?
Q. Are pets allowed in your student accommodation?
Q. Do you charge administration fees?
Q. Will I have to pay a deposit or bond?
Q. How much should I budget for water, electricity and gas bills?
Q. Do you offer student accommodation with bills included?
Q. Do you have any 'student halls' type accommodation?
Q. Will I be able to get an internet connection installed?
Q. I work during the week. Can I view your student accommodation at the weekend?
Q. How long in advance do we need to book if we want to view some of your student accommodation?
Q. Do we meet you at the property or should we come to your office?
Q. Do you offer a Summer discount?
Q. What happens if something in the property stops working?
Q. When and how does the rent have to be paid?
Q. Do I have to pay my rent by bank transfer?
Q. Can my parents pay my rent?
Q. Can I paint my room?
Q. Where can I keep my bike?
Q. Will I have to pay Council Tax?
Q. What happens if I can't pay my rent?
Q. How long does it usually take to get my tenancy deposit refund?
Q. Can I rent student accommodation from you for more than one year?
Q. Does your student accommodation have fire detection systems?
Q. Do you provide off-street parking?
Q. What if I've got a question not answered here?
Q. Do you only rent student accommodation to groups or can I just rent a room?
A. We rent our student accommodation to established groups BUT (with the exception of 1 & 2-bed properties) all properties are let under individual tenancy agreements. So although you need to be in an established group to rent from us, unlike other landlords and letting agents we do not expect you all to sign one joint tenancy agreement. If you are a mature student (age 21+) not part of a group looking to rent just one room you can rent a room in one of our student shared houses exclusively for mature students by following this link to our exclusive mature student accommodation in Plymouth.
Q. How long will my tenancy agreement be for?
A. Tenancies are for a fixed term of 48 - 52 weeks. If the tenancy period doesn't suit everyone in your group please contact us and we will be happy to discuss it with you.
Q. Can I move out of my student accommodation before the end of my tenancy?
A. You can move out whenever you like, but you still have to pay the rent until the end of your tenancy! Under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement you are legally bound until the end of your tenancy. If for some reason you have to leave early we will try and re-let your room, but you must pay the rent up to the day a new tenant moves in. We also make a small charge to cover our costs in preparing the tenancy agreement for the new tenant, checking the inventory and other essential administration that is caused by your early departure.
Q. Do you take up references and make credit checks? Do you require parental guarantees?
A. We may request a reference from your previous landlord and check your credit history, but we will always tell you before doing so. Unlike other landlords and student letting agents we do not require parental guarantees.
Q. Is all student accommodation fully furnished?
A. Yes, all of our student houses and flats are furnished to a good standard. All bedrooms have a bed (usually a double), bedside cupboard, wardrobe, desk, chair and bookcase plus fitted carpet, curtains and lampshade. Kitchens are fully equipped.
Q. Do you provide kitchen utensils or do I need to bring my own?
A. Our properties are fully furnished, and kitchens are fully equipped. All houses have just one kitchen, with at least one oven and hob, a microwave oven, kettle, sink and draining board. Houses with 6 or more bedrooms have 2 ovens, 2 hobs and 2 sinks. All properties have a fridge and a freezer or 2 fridge/freezers, so that everyone gets a fridge shelf and a freezer drawer. All kitchens have enough cupboards so that everyone has one base cupboard and one wall cupboard. We provide pots, pans, cutlery, crockery, tea towels and just about everything you will need except sharp knives.
Q. Do all student houses and flats have a washing machine and tumble dryer?
A. Yes. All of our student houses have an automatic washing machine and a tumble dryer. Our 1-bed flats have a washer/dryer. All properties also have an outside washing line.
Q. Can I bring my own furniture instead of using yours?
A. We will not remove any of our furniture from the property but if you wish to supplement what we provide (for example, whilst we do not always provide them, many of our rooms are big enough to accommodate a sofa or armchair), you may do so as long as the furniture you bring meets the appropriate regulations (fire retardant covers and cushions etc.). However, you must get our written permission before bringing any furniture into the house. Please also make sure that you take the furniture with you when you move out!
Q. My partner and I want to share a room. Is this allowed?
A. This is possible in some of our properties; please contact us for more information.
Q. Can I have a friend to stay?
A. As long as your housemates don't mind, you can have a friend to stay from time-to-time. However, you cannot let someone else move in with you on a permanent basis.
Q. Are pets allowed in your student accommodation?
A. Definitely not; not even a goldfish!
Q. Do you charge administration fees?
A. No, we do not charge registration fees, administration fees, inventory fees or make any other charges when renting student accommodation. We are not letting agents and only rent student houses and flats that we own.
Q. Will I have to pay a deposit or bond?
A. Yes. When your group reserve one of our student houses or flats we require a refundable reservation deposit on each room equal to one weeks rent. At the beginning of your tenancy this becomes part of your first rent payment.
At the start of your tenancy we require a tenancy deposit of £300/person. This tenancy deposit is protected in a Government approved tenancy deposit protection scheme and so it is fully refundable at the end of your tenancy.
Your tenancy deposit will be protected with my|deposits. For more information see http://www.mydeposits.co.uk/tenants.
Q. How much should I budget for water, electricity and gas bills?
A. 200Mbps broadband is networked through every property and is included in the rent. In our student shared houses and flats water, gas and electricity are also included. The only exceptions are our 1-bed flats, where WiFi is included but the other bills are not included. Look for properties with bills included here.
Where water, gas and electricity are not included, Plymouth University recommend that you budget up to £10 per week for for these bills.
Q. Do you offer student accommodation with bills included?
A. In most of our student properties we offer bills inclusive rents. Look for properties with bills included here. At these properties the rent includes water, gas and electricity bills up to a generous maximum of £12 per person per week. So in a 7-bed student house over 52 weeks this allowance equates to a total of £4,368.00. In the unlikely event that this limit is exceeded any excess will be divided equally between all student tenants and deducted from your tenancy deposit.
Q. Do you have any 'student halls' type accommodation?
A. No, we do not. We specialise in providing quality student accommodation in shared houses and flats. Our tenants prefer quiet student accommodation away from the hustle and bustle of halls of residence. If you spent your first year in halls such as Mary Parker House, Beckley Point, Astor House or one of the many other student halls in Plymouth, you'll welcome the quieter homely feel of our student houses and flats.
Q. Will I be able to get an internet connection installed?
A. All of our student properties have Virgin Media 200Mbps broadband networks already connected from the day you move in. Most properties have both wired and wireless networks, but some are wireless only.
Q. I work during the week. Can I view your student accommodation at the weekend?
A. We can arrange viewings most days but to minimise disruption to our student tenants we try not to do any viewings on a Sunday. We always give our tenants at least 24 hours notice before showing people around their home, so please be sure to call us before you arrive in Plymouth.
Q. How long in advance do we need to book if we want to view some of your student accommodation?
A. We need a minimum 24 hours to inform current tenants of any viewings. Please arrange viewings before travelling to Plymouth. To arrange viewings please call us on 07971 431121.
Q. Do we meet you at the property or should we come to your office?
A. We will normally ask you to meet us outside the property.
Q. Do you offer a Summer discount?
A. Very few landlords in Plymouth offer discounted rents in the summer. Our tenancies are for 48 - 52 weeks and the rent is the same during the summer months.
Q. What happens if something in the property stops working?
A. We are professional full-time landlords. You will be given an emergency contact number, which is available 24/7 to report anything that requires attention, from a noisy washing machine or blocked loo to a light bulb that needs changing. Unlike many student landlords we live in Plymouth ourselves, so we are able to deal promptly with any issues that arise.
Q. When and how does the rent have to be paid?
A. Rent must be paid by bank transfer direct to our bank account termly in advance. The first instalment is due on the first day of your tenancy, which is usually before the start of the term (and therefore before you receive your student loan). Subsequent payments are on the first day of term after the Christmas holiday and the first day of term after the Easter holiday. If you are on a gap-year placement or for some other reason are being paid monthly we will be happy to discuss alternative arrangements for paying your share of the rent, but please discuss it with us BEFORE you agree to rent from us.
Q. Do I have to pay my rent by bank transfer?
A. Payment by bank transfer is the most efficient way of paying your rent. It is also the cheapest for us, which helps us to keep your rent down. Most banks will allow you to arranged payments in advance via telephone or internet banking. There is rarely any reason why the rent cannot be paid in this way. Once you have set up the payments (usually set up as a bill payment via internet or telephone banking) your rent is paid directly from your bank account into our bank account automatically on the day it is due. If there is a genuine reason why you are unable to set up these payments we will be happy to try and help you, but please discuss this before you rent from us.
You should not confuse these payments with a direct debit. The rent payments that we ask you to arrange with your bank are a simple instruction from you to your bank to pay three specific amounts on three specific dates. Unlike a direct debit, it is not an authorisation for us to dip into your bank account to take whatever money is owed to us whenever we wish. So, even if you are nervous about signing a direct debit, there is really no reason why you should not set up rent payments by bank transfer.
Q. Can my parents pay my rent?
A. Anyone can pay your rent on your behalf. Just tell us who is going to pay your rent and we will send them our bank account details so that they can arrange the payments at their bank. However, please remember that you will be signing the tenancy agreement, not your Mum or Dad, so it is your responsibility to ensure that your share of the rent is paid on time.
A. No. Your favourite colour may never appeal to anyone else. You can decorate your room with pictures and posters but painting is not permitted.
A. Many of our student houses have an outhouse where your bike can be securely stored. You will have to provide your own padlock for the door. Bikes cannot be wheeled through the house or stored indoors.
Q. Will I have to pay Council Tax?
A. If you are a full-time student during the whole of your tenancy you are exempt from Council Tax. If one of your group ceases to qualify for Council Tax exemption you will still not have to pay anything. BUT, if you cease to qualify for the student exemption (if you are no longer a full-time student) you will become personally liable for the whole amount of any Council Tax bill. In any of our 6 or 7-bed houses this will be at least £1,208.76 in 2019/20 (so more from April 2020). For more information about Council Tax for students see the Government website gov.uk.
Q. What happens if I can't pay my rent?
A. If for some reason you cannot pay your share of the rent on the day it is due (if for example your student loan is delayed) please speak to us before rent day. We will be far more sympathetic if you speak to us before rent day than if we have to chase you for payment afterwards!
Q. How long does it usually take to get my tenancy deposit refund?
A. We always repay tenancy deposits as quickly as possible. We aim to repay all tenancy deposits within 6 weeks of the end of the tenancy; most tenants receive their tenancy deposit refund in their bank account much earlier than this. All tenancy deposits are protected by my|deposits, who provide a free dispute resolution service in the unlikely event a problem arises. For further information see http://www.mydeposits.co.uk/tenants.
Q. Can I rent student accommodation from you for more than one year?
A. Yes. Your initial tenancy will usually be for 48 - 52 weeks starting in September 2020 and ending in September 2021. If you are studying in Plymouth for more than one year you will be given the opportunity to reserve again for the following academic year (2021/22). However, because traditionally in Plymouth students start searching for accommodation starting in November each year for the following September, your group will have to pay another refundable reservation deposit and sign a new tenancy in November 2021 to reserve your student accommodation before it is offered to anyone else.
Q. Does your student accommodation have fire detection systems?
A. All of our student houses comply with the standards required by Plymouth City Council. At the very least every student house and flat has mains powered and interconnected smoke detectors on each floor plus a heat detector in the kitchen. Some properties have a full fire alarm system. All properties also have a fire blanket in the kitchen and fire extinguishers on every floor.
Q. Do you provide off-street parking?
A. Very few student properties in Plymouth have off-street parking. On street permit parking is available to all of our student tenants in all of our houses and flats. You will need to buy a permit from Plymouth City Council, for which they charge £30 for 12 months.
You must have your vehicle registration document (foreign ones are acceptable for vehicles registered outside the UK) and your signed tenancy agreement. We will be happy to advise you further if you are planning to bring your car to Plymouth.
Plymouth City Council now exclude many student properties from their permit parking scheme. All of our properties are eligible for parking permits and all of our student tenants can obtain a parking permit. Before renting accommodation from another landlord you should first check that the property is not on Plymouth City Council's list of excluded properties.
Q. What if I've got a question not answered here?
A. Please contact us and we will be happy to offer as much help as we can.
