“When choosing to study in the UK, what problems should we pay attention to when renting student accommodation London? Knowing in advance can help us better avoid or solve problems.
1. Fake landlord
Beware of some house advertisements, they will be unbelievably good but the rent is very low. Some fake advertisements put some “”bait””, and then ask you to pay through the Internet before viewing the house.
2. Repeatedly charging credit assessment fees
Landlords often run credit checks on prospective tenants in order to avoid them defaulting on the landlord, although some agents charge a hefty credit check fee.
In general, a credit check report is around £100, but some agents make tenants pay more. What’s worse is that some agents will show you many properties and then ask you to do multiple credit checks, which is completely unnecessary, because the credit check will only tell the landlord the tenant’s previous credit history.
3. Non-refundable handling fee
An international student once reported to us that she was charged a handling fee of 210 pounds by the agency because she thought the house was already hers. Then her agent notified that the landlord accepted another offer, but her handling fee cannot be refunded. Other cases have also occurred, with the tenant paying upto £540 in processing fees. One should refuse to pay the closing fee until they are sure the property is theirs. One may not have to pay any fees when dealing with a private landlord.
4. Unprotected Deposit
Landlords are required by law to protect tenants’ deposits in one of the following three programs: Deposit Protection Scheme, My Deposit and Tenancy Deposit Scheme. Still, some landlords do not follow this.
It is very important to determine which project they use to protect your deposit before signing the contract, and ask them to produce evidence to prove that your deposit has been protected, which can avoid future disputes.
Every deposit protection program has a free appeals service that you can use if the landlord willfully withholds the deposit. Look for a website that will help you. To check if your deposit is secured, ask your agent for a reference number and call them yourself.
5. Expensive search fees
Some companies charge you an expensive house search fee, which should not be done, and you should not pay any house search fees.
6. Check in and Check out bills
Please determine the fees you want to charge, such as these two fees, before appraising the contract. You can use their appeals service if the agent is a member of the Association of Residential Letting Agents, National Association of Estate Agents or National Approved Letting Scheme. There is Property Ombudsman or Ombudsman Service.
7. Multiple files
There may be a fee if you want an extra contract.
8. Changes in lease term
You may have to pay a fee for lease changes and changes to tenant names.
9. Increase the rent
Real estate agents and landlords can increase your rent in certain circumstances. Find rents for similar properties in the same area, and use these to negotiate with the landlord.
10. Renewal fee
Be aware that some agents will charge you a renewal fee if you wish to renew your lease.
The above are the problems that are easy to appear when renting a student accommodation in London in London. It is most important to protect one’s own interests while living overseas. Knowing how to avoid and solve the problem is an effective way to protect one’s own rights and interests.”
