When your child is looking for student accommodation, it’s easy to focus on the nice room, good location and whether it looks decent in the photos, but before anyone signs a contract or pays a deposit, there are a few important questions every parent should ask.
What does the rent actually include?
A cheap-looking property can quickly become expensive if bills are added on top. Check whether gas, electricity, water and Wi-Fi are included, and whether there are any usage limits.
We recommend checking this early, so that you can compare the real cost of each property properly.
What are we signing?
Make sure your child understands the tenancy agreement before signing anything.
Check how rent is paid, how long the agreement lasts and what happens if they want to leave early. If something isn’t clear, ask. It’s much better to sort it before moving in than deal with confusion later just because your child felt like they were ‘being annoying by asking too many questions’.
How much is the deposit?
Find out exactly how much is being paid, what it’s for and where it will be protected. For most private rentals in England, tenancy deposits are capped at five weeks’ rent where annual rent is below £50,000.
Also, check whether any holding deposit has already been paid and how that money will be used.
What happens if something breaks?
This sounds basic, but it matters. Ask who your child contacts if the boiler stops working, if there’s a leak or an appliance breaks because knowing whether they should contact the landlord, letting agent or maintenance team can save a lot of stress later.
Is the location actually practical?
Don’t just look at how close the property is to university. Check public transport, nearby shops, the journey to campus and how your child would get home after an evening out.
Here, you may consider how safe the general area is for each property that you are considering.
Do they need a guarantor?
Many student landlords ask for a guarantor, often a parent. Before signing, make sure you understand exactly what you’re agreeing to and how long the guarantee lasts. It’s important not to treat this as just another form to fill in.
Before you book…
The main thing is not to rush. Student accommodation can move quickly, but your child should still understand the rent, bills, deposit, contract and location before saying yes.
If you have already booked a house viewing, here are some of the best questions to ask. We also suggest looking at the overall condition of the property, including heating and insulation.
Ask the awkward questions now, and you’ll probably save both of you a lot of hassle later.
Still looking for accommodation? Check out what properties we have available in your city!
