Using a Letting Agency for Student Accommodation in the UK

Student accommodation in the UK is not easy to find. Being able to study in the UK is something most students strive for. The quality of education as well as the exposure that one gains through experience is attractive for many high-school students and their parents.

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However, one of the biggest concerns for international students who are applying for further studies is finding adequate, affordable and sustainable accommodation in the UK. However, there is no need to fret, as here is a small guide for prospective students on finding places to live in the UK.

UK accommodation for international students

It is an excellent idea to study in the UK because it is home to world-renowned universities. With all the processes and buying airplane tickets, accommodation can be on your priority list and most of the houses become available in June. After reading this article, you will know clearly about UK accommodation for international students. It is true that when a new student arrives, it is very hard to find suitable student accommodation in the UK. For an international student, it is difficult to select a location, price, and a suitable house as well.

Once you’ve selected your course and university, the next thing you need to consider is finding accommodation in the United Kingdom. You need to keep in mind that most UK universities offer accommodation for their students. They’ll also provide information on the range of housing options and their associated costs. The universities also provide access to student housing databases and assist you in preparing to make the move.

Before start searching for student accommodation in the UK:

Ensure your budget

Before start living in UK, you have to make a list about your living cost including your house rent. Make sure that how much you can afford to pay each month.

Select area

Be warned always, in UK all areas are not same. In cities and town house rents are expensive than remote area. If you choose your living place as close to the university this will reduce your transport bills.

Choose Living partner

If you want to reduce your living cost, you can share the flat with others. It is a wise idea to choose your house mates very carefully.

Types of Accommodation in the UK

There are numerous kinds of student accommodation in the UK that are popular amongst students. All have a difference in the amenities they provide, whether they are shared or private, and how much they cost to rent. Here are some of the prominent places to live in the UK for international students:

• Student Halls
• Private Halls
• Renting flats or houses

Student Halls

Student halls are usually the first option students opt for when looking for places to live in the UK due to the availability of all necessary facilities in the building, alongside the opportunity to meet all kinds of new people and get to know your classmates more, as well as find a community to feel comfortable as a foreign student. There are two types of student halls: one is the university-provided dormitories and the other is privately owned and managed student halls. In general, it is obvious that the university dorms cost less than privately owned student halls.

However, with university dorms, you have to make sure to enrol early or you may not get a room! The positives are that it is on campus, so you will not have to travel a long distance to and from your room to class. The privately owned dorms are more expensive but are well-maintained and offer the quality that the price demands. And for those who do not prefer sharing their space with other people, they would not find a dorm suitable for them. Some of the most famous privately owned student halls are APT Student Living in Wembley, Victoria Hall in London and Independent Student Living in West Hampstead.

Private Halls

Private companies and are open to all students. They provide better facilities than other student halls. Though they are mostly expensive but as an international student if you can effort and searching for a better place to live these private halls are best for you. The owners of the private halls, they provide their best security system for the students. Covered with Closed-circuit television (CCTV), security guard facilities.

Renting flats or houses in the UK

For those who prefer a more intimate setting, a shared flat or house with a couple of friends or colleagues would be the most suitable. You can find comfortable places to live in the UK within your price range. For those who prefer living alone and can afford it, renting out a flat or house can be the best choice.

For international students, nowadays the studio housing option has played an important role that they still live in their home outside their home. If you are looking for cheapest accommodation in the UK you can choose studio apartments. Mainly, Studio apartments are small one-bedroom and kitchen rooms are present outside the university building.PBSA or popularly known as the (Purpose Built Student Accommodation), after the pandemic properties in the UK attract large number of students.

When renting what documents, you should provide:

In UK, landlord personally cannot rent their house, with agency approval they take monthly rent. So as an international student you have to take house for rent from agency. Agency need some documents for rent and they will make an agreement with you for house. Always remember that you ask for an inventory and take photos for your records. When you inspect the room or flat or house make sure that you have a written contract with details.

There are many ways to find an Accommodation in the UK.

• Using a letting agency
• University Accommodation
• Searching for private accommodation online

Why Use Letting Agency

First of all, letting agencies have made the lives of British landlords easier than ever. They employ these agents, and they deal with and make contracts with the tenants on behalf of the landlords. Moreover, letting agencies can be helpful if the property being handled is not in the same neighborhood as the landlord. The role of letting agents is to bring knowledge to the table, as well as professionalism and efficiency. In this article, we will briefly discuss how to use a letting agency to find an accommodation.

You can find a private house owned by a landlord through a letting agency. When you deal with a letting agency, sometimes, you may not have direct contact with your house landlord. You should remember a few things before going to deal with a letting agency. It is best to use an agency which is a member of a voluntary self-regulating trade body. If you use one of these agencies then you won’t lose your money even if they go out of business.

Please note that a letting agency cannot charge you for

1. to register with the agency
2. for a list of available for renting
3. a deposit which will be returned to you if it does not find you a suitable property.

It is a criminal offence for an agency to make these charges. If you have paid any of these charges, you should contact your local council´s Trading Standards Officer or Tenancy Relations Officer who can take action against the agency.

Checklists of points you should check with the letting agency before registering with them.

• Details of the services it provides
• Full details of the charges it makes
• Whether it is a member of a trade body such as ARLA, NAEA, RICS or NALS, it must have a complaints procedure and protect your money if the agency goes out of business.
• Whether the agency has a complaints procedure and whether it is a member of the Property Ombudsman Scheme
• Details of the tenancy deposit protection scheme it uses

Jobs at Letting Agency

Generally, a letting agent operates and performs responsibilities related to the landlords’ rental house on behalf of them and arranges the cheapest accommodation in UK for international students. They verify on the basis of your agreement and how much you pay them. The amount you pay the landlord will vary based on the degree of service you demand.

Furthermore, letting agents can provide a lot of peace of mind and assistance, whether you’re a seasoned landlord with a huge portfolio or a young landlord just getting started. This could be quite useful if you’re unsure about the law and compliance obligations of becoming a landlord. While renting out the house yourself is always an option, using a rental agent may be easier and ultimately less expensive. You can typically have three levels of required service when it comes to letting agents’ responsibility.

1. Find renters and organize your property’s rental—a basic service that covers promoting your home to potential new tenants as well as the first setup of the lease. Photography, internet advertising, and scheduling viewings are all examples of this. The letting agency will proceed with credit checks, references, collecting the deposit, creating the tenancy agreement, and managing the inventory once an agreement has been reached.
2. Rent collection: one of a rental agent’s responsibilities may be to collect rent from tenants on your behalf. The main benefit is that a letting agency can act independently and professionally, helping you to avoid difficult and perhaps painful discussions about your tenant’s rent.
3. Full command—your leasing agency will eventually take care of the day-to-day operations of your home, such as maintenance and upkeep, as well as renewals and renegotiations. They’ll also keep an eye on things like tenancy deposit schemes and act on your behalf if necessary. 

Services Provided by the Letting Agents

A rental agency or accommodation agency can provide you with a variety of services. The services depend on how you wish to maintain your home. Moreover, every letting agent has its own way of doing things, but the vast majority of them offer a similar set of services. Keep in mind that the cost of your letting agent will vary based on the level of service you receive, the type of home you rent, and your location.

Letting Agency’s Service	Description
This service is sometimes combined with the tenant-finding service. It entails collecting and safeguarding the security deposit as well as collecting rent from the renter. It also includes following down rent arrears, sending notifications, and counselling renters on what to do if they do not pay their rent. Some agencies even provide insurance that ensures your income if your rent payments fall behind.	Arranging student accommodation in London is one of the major jobs for these agencies. Tenant-find is one of the most basic services — the renting agent will do all of the legwork in locating appropriate renters for your property. This procedure often entails taking professional pictures of the home, creating floor plans, and advertising in venues such as local newspapers and online property websites. They will also organize and attend property viewings, as well as do referencing and background checks. They will establish a legally valid tenancy agreement for both the tenant and landlord to sign, and they can even make an inventory of the property in order to collect exact, fair deductions from the security deposit when the tenancy ends.
Collect Monthly Rent	This service is sometimes combined with the tenant-finding service. It entails collecting and safeguarding the security deposit as well as collecting rent from the renter. It also includes following down rent arrears, sending notifications, and counseling renters on what to do if they do not pay their rent. Some agencies even provide insurance that ensures your income if your rent payments fall behind.

There are some common documents you can ask by agency

• References
• Show that you are a student or a worker
• You will need a guarantor
• References from any previous rentals
• Bank statement
• Contract for sign

Some affordable areas in the UK

• Derry, Northern Ireland
• Bradford
• Yorkshire and the Humber
• Salford, North West
• Sand well, West Midlands
• Coventry
• Brighton

Average Costs

You have to pay around £60 to £120 per week for a room in a hall of residence, it covers all bills, plus Wi-Fi and security, and sometimes it can be more.

By sharing with others have to pay around £550 per month and utilities bills are not included in your rent.

Utility Bill

• Food (you can cook or order)
• Gas
• Electricity
• Internet and phone connection
• Laundry services
• Travel bills
• Books and any equipment for college or university

Responsibilities

• As tenant, you have some responsibilities, such as-
• Pay your house rent on time to the agency
• Pay your all utility bills
• Maintain carefully
• If you face any problem, contact your landlord or agency

You have to pay monthly and first month in advance for house security. You should be very careful about house, go and make a house tour before shifting, if you find any problem you can contact directly to agency.

Moreover, if you would like to share accommodation with someone known or unknown, you must consider whether it is suitable for you or not.

If you are an international student coming to the UK to study and need help to find accommodation or need any advice, you can contact us. For more information about the accommodation help, please visit our student services page and go to the accommodation assistant in the travel plan section.

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