For many undergraduate students, the academic year will be coming to an end within the next couple of months, meaning many of you will choose to leave your student accommodation shortly, whether that is permanently to start the next chapter of your life after graduating or temporarily for the summer.
Whether you are leaving your current student home to move into a different student accommodation in the new academic year or are finishing university entirely, there are some things you should be aware of, including your rights when it comes to property viewings, filling any unoccupied rooms in your accommodation, and what to do when it comes to getting your deposit back.
Shelter Plymouth have kindly answered your most asked questions on these topics and are available to contact should you have any concerns or questions when it comes to your student housing.
Q. Is my landlord\letting agent allowed to having viewings at my accommodation without telling me?
A. In short, no they are not allowed. Here’s what should happen:
- Notice: your landlord or letting agent should give you at least 24 hours’ notice before a viewing (sometimes more).
- Consent: they need your permission for the viewing, and you can say no if the notice is too short, or the timing is bad. The landlord and their agents are not entitled to access the property without consent.
- Check your tenancy agreement: see what it says about viewings and how much notice you should get.
- Contact the letting agent or landlord: let them know you weren’t informed and ask them to follow the rules next time.
- Follow up: if it happens again, send a formal email or letter asking them to respect your rights. If you need further advice please make use of Shelter’s webchat, website or approach our local office.
Q. One of our housemates is graduating and ending their tenancy, therefore there is an extra room in my student property, can the landlord fill it?
A. Whether the letting agent can fill the extra room depends on your type of tenancy:
- Joint tenancy: if you and your housemates have a joint tenancy, the letting agent cannot add someone without everyone’s consent. The tenancy agreement would need to be amended, and all tenants would need to agree.
- Room in a shared house: if you're renting a room in a shared house, the situation is different. In this case, the letting agent may have more flexibility to fill the room without needing your consent. However, you could try to convince the landlord to keep the room vacant, perhaps by offering to absorb the cost between the remaining tenants.
In short, if you're in a joint tenancy, the agent needs your consent, and the tenancy agreement will need to be updated. If you're renting a room, there’s less you can do, but you might be able to negotiate with the landlord.
Q. What do I do if I am being refused my deposit back? Specifically, they are claiming they need to do a ‘deep clean’.
A. There are a few things you can do...
- Check your agreement. Look at your tenancy contract to see if you agreed to any cleaning charges. They can charge for cleaning only if it was mentioned in the agreement and reasonable to do so. They landlords’ preference for a deep clean does not mean its required
- Ask for a breakdown. Ask the letting agent to explain exactly why they’re keeping a specific amount of your deposit. They should show you receipts or proof of the cleaning costs.
- Consider the condition of the property. Always gather any photos or evidence you have to show the property was in good condition before you leave.
- Use a dispute service. All deposits should be secured in one of three approved deposit schemes, all three of which have dispute resolution services. You are encouraged to make use of them. If your deposit is not secured, then you will be able to seek compensation from your landlord. Shelter has a detailed guide on how to do so on the website here.
- Write a formal letter and taking further action. If talking to them doesn’t work, follow Shelter’s helpful guide on deposit recovery on its website here. We have a clear easy to follow guide with templates for how to do so.
Shelter drop-in session at the SU:
Are you experiencing issues with your accommodation? Repairs not being done, wanting to end your tenancy or thinking about how you get your deposit back?
Why not drop into your SU on the 1st May from 10am in the SU Lounge where a specialist Housing adviser from Shelter will be on hand to assist with any questions you may have.
For more information, please email advice@su.plymoth.ac.uk who will be able to help!
You may also find our other articles in collaboration with Shelter helpful:
Get in touch with SU Advice!
The best way to contact us is via our online enquiry form.