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HUB HERALD STUDENT MAY MAYHEM W elcome to May’s Housing May- hem, a month of events run by the Student Hub to help you in your search for housing in the private sector. We know how difficult finding proper- ty in the private sector can be - there is a lot to consider and commit to. However, help is at hand. The Student Hub have organised three events in May which will help you in the various stages of your housing search: Contract Checking and Advice, Find a Flatmate and the Housing Fair. As well as all that, you will also find this news- paper stuffed full of articles and advice. If you’ve already found a place to live and need a little support with the con- tract, we are providing free contract checks throughout the month in various halls - see page 2 for the full timetable. However, if you haven’t got a contract at the time we come to visit you, or you are no longer living in halls, you can always make an appointment to visit the Hub, Contract information Avoiding dodgy dealers Budgeting and Area Guides Finding a Flatmate Housing Horoscopes with Charles pg.8 Ask Agony Aunt Kel! pg.3 May 2013 Housing Events Galore as Spring Fever hits Imperial! Get as excited as James! He cannot wait for all the fun of the fair! Student Hub Real Life Stories! Housing Fair Classified Adverts Sponsored by Foxtons pg. 2 pg. 2 pg. 3 pg. 4 pg. 5 pg. 5 pg. 6-7 pg. 6-7 Inside our housing special: where our advisors will be happy to help you go through it. We are also hosting the Find a Flat- mate event on 16 May. A fun evening de- signed to help you meet other students who could potentially become your flat- mates. The event’s now in its third year and we hope to make it as fun and use- ful as the previous ones! Finally, following the success of the Private Housing Talk and Exhibition back in February, we decided that we should do it again - but even bigger and even better! So we have invited estate agents, private landlords and other ser- vice providers to the first ever Housing Fair to be held on 20 May. Make sure you come along too! We’ve tried to cover as many of your concerns as we can, however if there is any more that we can do to help, please don’t hesitate to come and ask us either by coming into the Student Hub on level 3 Sherfield Building or ask us online at www.imperial.ac.uk/studenthub

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Page 1: May Mayhem Newspaper

HUB HERALDSTUDENT

MAY MAYHEM

Welcome to May’s Housing May-hem, a month of events run by the Student Hub to help

you in your search for housing in the private sector.

We know how difficult finding proper-ty in the private sector can be - there is a lot to consider and commit to. However, help is at hand.

The Student Hub have organised three events in May which will help you in the various stages of your housing search: Contract Checking and Advice, Find a Flatmate and the Housing Fair. As well as all that, you will also find this news-paper stuffed full of articles and advice.

If you’ve already found a place to live and need a little support with the con-tract, we are providing free contract checks throughout the month in various halls - see page 2 for the full timetable. However, if you haven’t got a contract at the time we come to visit you, or you are no longer living in halls, you can always make an appointment to visit the Hub,

Contract information Avoiding dodgy dealers Budgeting and Area Guides Finding a Flatmate

Housing Horoscopes with Charles pg.8

Ask Agony Aunt Kel! pg.3

May 2013

Housing Events Galore as Spring Fever hits Imperial!

Get as excited as James! He cannot wait for all the fun of the fair!

Student HubReal Life Stories!Housing FairClassified Adverts

Sponsored by Foxtons

pg. 2 pg. 2 pg. 3 pg. 4

pg. 5 pg. 5 pg. 6-7 pg. 6-7

Inside our housing special:

where our advisors will be happy to help you go through it.

We are also hosting the Find a Flat-mate event on 16 May. A fun evening de-signed to help you meet other students who could potentially become your flat-mates. The event’s now in its third year and we hope to make it as fun and use-ful as the previous ones!

Finally, following the success of the Private Housing Talk and Exhibition back in February, we decided that we should do it again - but even bigger and even better! So we have invited estate agents, private landlords and other ser-vice providers to the first ever Housing Fair to be held on 20 May. Make sure you come along too!

We’ve tried to cover as many of your concerns as we can, however if there is any more that we can do to help, please don’t hesitate to come and ask us either by coming into the Student Hub on level 3 Sherfield Building or ask us online at www.imperial.ac.uk/studenthub

Page 2: May Mayhem Newspaper

Contract Checking and Advice

Contract Checking and Advice Timetableappointments

There are some strange phobias out there (and some even stranger names). Do you suffer from geniophobia, a fear of

chins or arachibutyrophobia, the fear of pea-nut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth? Maybe you’re contractaphobic too. OK, so we made that last one up, however just because there isn’t a name for it, it doesn’t mean con-tracts aren’t a scary venture.

It’s easy to see why. Full of technical terms and jargon, contracts are hard to read and the fact that they are legally binding adds a grave seriousness to the prospect of finding private accommodation. However, as long as you are thorough, and take the time to fully read and understand what you are signing, then you have nothing to fear.

So, what exactly is a contract? It’s a legally binding document that is enacted and once

signed binds you to all the terms and condi-tions. For example, if you sign a contract for a flat, but later decide you want to leave, this could be extremely difficult and potentially costly.

Some contracts will contain a break clause which may allow you to leave after six months so check the specific terms and conditions of yours.

If there is no break clause, then you’ll need permission from your agent/landlord to leave earlier than agreed. You will usually need to find another tenant to replace you in your contract or face heavy financial penal-

Contract Glossary Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement - this is a fixed term contract that the majority of people will sign either as a group or indivi-uals when renting a whole property.

Break Clause - clause within a contract that will allow you to give notice (according to the notice period laid out within the contract) to finish prior to the end of the term.

Deposit Protection Scheme - introduced in 2007 and provides protection to tenants by preventing landlords and letting agents from unfairly witholding a deposit.

Licence Agreement- is a permission to oc-cupy. This is normally signed if living with a resident landlord or if you are subletting from a tenant. (Make sure they have permis-sion to sublet from the landlord.)

Protect yourself from Dodgy Dealers

It’s a sad fact of life, but there are unscrupulous people out there who just want to rip you off. Knowing your rights as a prospective tenant be-

fore starting on your property search, will help you to identify those people who want to take advantage.

Marketplace websites such as Gumtree can be fantastic places to meet potential tenants and proper-ties. Particularly for those landlords who want to be more involved in who they lease their properties to, and without the agents’ fees it can be an attractive cheaper op-tion as well.

However, these sites aren’t industry regulated, so some people use this as an opportunity to fleece unsuspecting users. Flatmate searching sites such as spareroom.co.uk or studentrooms.co.uk are a bit mroe proactive in weeding out those who are trying to scam you, but even on

these sites, scammers still exist. Also important to look out for are the deals that

sound too good to be true - they often are. If you see a penthouse in Park Lane for £50 a

week, we advise you to steer clear. Another scam that has caught

students and other victims in the past are landlords who claim they are trying to establish

whether you are a genuine pro-spective tenant. They will ask you to

transfer a sum of money to one of your family or friends, not to them, but to then give them a copy of the receipt of the transfer to prove that you have the funds available. However, once they have the receipt they can create a fake ID using the name of the person you transfered your funds to, and col-lect the money from a money transfer company.

Keep your wallet in your pocket ‘til you’re sure!

DATE HALL LOCATIONThursday 2 May Paragon Paragon Hub Tuesday 8 May Southside/Eastside Southside Social SpaceWednesday 9 May Beit Hall West Common RoomTuesday 14 May Evelyn Gardens Willis Jackson Common

RoomWednesday 15 May Xenia Conference RoomWednesday 22 May Garden Hall/Weeks

HallWeeks Hall Common Room

Thursday 23 May Pembridge House 32 TV Room

All checks take place between 17.30 - 19.00

Come and meet our advisors as they visit the halls to get your contracts checked or get answers to your private housing questions.

If you can’t make it to one of the hall sessions, then you can book an appointment at the Student Hub. Advisors are available to help with more complicated housing queries such as: contract checking issues with your agent or landlord, deposit disputes medical or welfare issues Appointment times are available from 14.30 to 16.30 Monday to Friday. You can request an appointment online at: www.imperial.ac.uk/studenthub

ties. Therefore it is extremely important that you are happy with the accommodation and potential flatmates before committing.

If the landlord is in breach of the terms and conditions, e.g. not carrying out agreed re-pairs then you may have a case to leave the contract prior to its completion. However this can be difficult to prove.

This may sound like scary stuff, but the contract is there to protect both parties.

We’ll be running Contract Checking Eve-nings in halls throughout May for any ques-tions you may have or just make an appoint-ment to speak to one of our advisors at another time.

Take your time and read through your contract thoroughly. If there is anything

you don’t understand then ASK! Make a note of anything that you don’t understand. We can help you better if your questions are already prepared

You cannot be charged for simply wishing to view a property.

Do not hand over any money until you have seen the property and are certain that you want it.

Don’t rent accommodation from abroad. If you need help arranging accommodation from overseas, contact [email protected]

Make sure you get a receipt for paying a holding deposit and all other payments that you make.

No dodgy dealers here please! Remember to follow these top tips to protect your money

2 Student Hub Herald May 2013 www.imperial.ac.uk/accommodation/privatehousing

Page 3: May Mayhem Newspaper

Ask Aunt Kel!Got a problem?

A holding deposit is an amount of money to pay to an agent or a landlord to secure the accommo-dation. It demonstrates your intention to rent the property, and should prevent the landlord from continuing to show it whilst contracts are being drawn up and references checked.

You should only pay the holding deposit if you are serious about taking the property, as should you change your mind you are unlikely to get this back.

If the landlord decides they don’t want to take you on as tenants, (perhaps they find your refer-ences insufficient) then you are entitled to your holding deposit back.

The amount of a holding deposit can vary, so it’s worth asking what this cost will be when first visiting the property. Usually, once the contract

has been signed, the money put down for the holding deposit will be subsumed into the secu-rity deposit, but make sure you check that this is the case.

Always make sure you get a receipt for any money you hand over. This should include the amount you pay, the date, your name, the agent or landlord’s name, and description of the pay-ment. Dear Aunt Kel, I paid my deposit three weeks ago, but have had no confirmation of it being put into a Deposit Protection Scheme. What can I do?

The deposit (sometimes referred to as the se-curity deposit) is an amount of money, usually 4 to 6 weeks’ rent that you would pay to the agent/landlord in respect of any cleaning or damages that may be required when you leave the prop-erty.

The landlord or agent should then put this into one of three government backed schemes, the Deposit Protection Service (DPS), My Deposits and The Dispute Service.

In April 2012 the law regarding deposit pro-tection was changed and courts can now order

landlords to pay compensation to the tenant if: the landlord protects a tenant’s deposit after 30 days, fails to give details of the scheme used within 30 days or fails to protect a deposit.

If this is the case, visit the Student Hub and we will be able to assist you further.

Dear Aunt Kel, when we viewed a property the landlord said he would carry out repairs and provide furniture, but he’s not done this. Is there anything we can do?

The only surefire way to compel a landlord to carry out repairs or replace household items is to have it put into the contract prior to signing it.

This amendment should read as follows: We (name of tenants) agree to take the tenancy on understanding that (name of agent or landlord) will carry out the following repairs (to be listed) and/or supply the following items (to be listed).

Once this has been added to the contract and signed by both parties, the legal obligation is there to fulfil the tasks. If you raise this after you have moved it, it is only seen as a request.

Therefore get it in writing and incorporated into the contract prior to signing it.

The importance of being thrifty...

Living in London is not cheap and we all know how quickly bills and expenses add up. Although everyone will have their own budgets, there’s no harm in saving the pennies

where you can - even for the flushest of Londoners - to put towards things that are far more enjoyable.

Before you can really work out where to save money, you need to know where you are spending it. Draw up a list of expenses and compare that to your income. Be honest and jot everything down, including bills, rents, TV licence, food, books, house-hold goods, travel, socialising etc.

Once you have your expenses, check against your income inluding student loan, maintenance grant, part-time work etc. If there are large discrepencies then it may be worth speak-ing to Student Financial Advice who will be able to go through your budget and offer you help. Visit the Student Hub to make an appointment with a member of the team.

Here is a list of money-saving tips, that can help you to keep your budget under control.

Tips for your home - switch appliances off rather than leave them on standby.

- only fill the kettle with the water you need, it costs less to refill and heat.

Food budget - the average houshold throws away 1/3 of the food it buys. Plan

what you want in advance and make a shopping list. Be strict and don’t buy items you don’t need.

- try visiting local markets. Often prices of fruit and vegetables, as well

as meat can be cheaper than from the supermarkets.

Club together - team up with your house-mates and each contribute to communal items such as toilet roll, cleaning products, milk and bread.Look for more tips on websites like moneysavingexpert.com

Oh wouldn’t it be lovely if we could find affordable palaces within walking distance of where we

need to be? Yet without being a multi-millionaire, you have to compromise some aspects of your big dreams, and with Imperial sitting in one of the most expensive areas to live in the country, the first of your preferences to go is often proximity.

But where do you move to? London is a huge and diverse city, and it can be daunting looking for properties in areas where you have spent little time.

It is important that you conduct your

the area online. Look at what ameni-ties there are locally: supermarkets, churches, restaurants etc. Visit web-sites such as london.gov.uk/rents to get an idea of average rent prices.

Budget - don’t just consider the cost of the accommodation. Factor the costs of bills, travel, food especially if there are no supermarkets nearby.

The Student Hub have produced a handy Area Guide that looks at some of the most popular areas that Impe-rial Students choose to live, so visit the Student Hub for your free copy.

All I want is a room close by...own research so here are some of the key things you should consider so that you can find an area that is best suited to you.

Travel Time - rather than focusing on distance, look instead at travel times (the TFL website is a great resource). Of-ten how far you are from the nearest tube or bus stop is more important than the distance from your destination.

Personal Safety - visit an area by day and night to see if you still like it. Look out for night bus routes nearby.

Research Online - supplement your first-hand impressions by researching

Don’t go ‘wilde’ with your money.

Dear Aunt Kel,I have been asked to pay a holding deposit. Should I do this, and what happens to it after?

Kelly is the manager of the Student Hub and she and her team are on hand to answer

your questions

May 2013 Student Hub Herald 3www.imperial.ac.uk/accommodation/privatehousing

Page 4: May Mayhem Newspaper

Southside Social Space

Find a Flatmate - 16 MayWhere (and how) to find a Flatmate

Where can you find a flatmate? It’s not as if you can wander to the super-market and pop the perfect house-

mate into your shopping trolley. So how do you determine if any of the people you have shared halls with are also the same people you want to share your personal space?

Firstly, be honest about yourself and what you want. Don’t pretend that you’re happy to be a party animal, if realistically you would rather stay in and go to bed at 9pm.

Before choosing to move in with people, have a frank discussion about your habits and perhaps establish a basic set of prin-ciples so you are under no illusions about what you or others expect from a hous-eshare. Once you have signed a contract, it will be difficult to get out of it at a later date.

It’s worth considering the following when deciding who to live with:

Tidiness - Are you the excessively tidy type that views each day as a war against dirt and

dust, or do you not even know what a vacuum is? People have differing standards as to what they consider as ‘tidy’.

Noise - Are you a lively soul who is looking to have fun and party, or are you hoping to live a state of zen-like serenity?

Sleeping Patterns - If you’re unaware of the world existing prior to midday, it could be problematic if you choose to live with an early riser.

Friends/Partners - everybody likes a visitor and having your friends or partners stay over. However consider how frequent this may be, particularly if they aren’t paying rent, and yet are taking up resources.

Comparable Incomes - don’t let money get in the way of a friendship. Budgeting can af-fect not only the type of property you rent and where you live, but also your social life. It could be very isolating if you couldn’t af-ford to be out as often and the rest of your housemates.

Diet - if you have a particular diet, think about how you’ll feel sharing a house where people may be cooking dishes you detest.

Length of Stay - are you wanting to rent a

Register for your place online at

www.imperial.ac.uk/ accommodation

by 10 May

Thursday 16 May 18.00 - 20.00

The Find a Flatmate event is open to all Imperial students who are looking to find someone to live with. You may be looking as an individual, or already have someone to live with but would like to team up with others to reduce the costs. You may even already have a property and have a room to fill. Whatever the reason for seeking a flatmate, come along and mingle with potential flatmates - it’s completely safe and free!

Be certain about what you want. That way you can be sure to find like-minded people and hopefully happier living.

Top Tips for living in a happy shared home

Clean up after yourselfNothing causes as many arguments as dirty dishes left festering for days on end.

Respect the sanctity of communal areas

What you get up to in the privacy of your own room is one thing, but people are less tolerant when it comes to illicit liaisons in the lounge.

Be prepared to compromiseYou’re sharing a flat with people whose expectations will differ from yours. Don’t expect to get your own way all the time.

Raise problems early onVery few people like confrontation, but it is much better to address a problem early on rather than let it build up, which can culmi-nate in a huge argument.

Be considerate and tolerantThere needs to be a good balance between being considerate and being tolerant. You may tolerate the late night dancing, but they should also be considerate of the effect these actions can have on the house. Just because you don’t say anything, doesn’t mean they should continously do it.

Pay your wayLife as an impoverished student can be a drag at times, however it is not fair to as-sume that your housemates will be able to pick up your slack. If you do have genuine money concerns, speak to Student Finan-cial Advice.

property during term-time only (9 months) or do some of you intend to stay all year?

If you decide that you don’t want to live with your friends or the peo-ple you have met in halls, then

where do you go to meet potential flatmates?Imperial Home Solutions, which is only for

Imperial students, not only host listings from a range of landlords but it also has forums and message boards. So you can share tips and advice with your fellow students, and advertise for flatmates.

If you are looking to live with people out-side of the College, online resources such as Student Pad, student rooms or spare rooms have threads where you can find available rooms. Be aware though if you end up shar-ing accommodation with non-students you may be expected to help pay towards things such as council tax, despite your exemption.

Don’t forget, there is the Find a Flatmate event, a fun and free evening hosted by Stu-dent Hub where you can mingle with other students seeking accommodation. Don’t miss out!

Snapshots from the frontline - a collection of notes from disgruntled housemates

Be certain about who you want to live with as it can be extremely costly if you need to leave later.

4 Student Hub Herald May 2013 www.imperial.ac.uk/accommodation/privatehousing

Page 5: May Mayhem Newspaper

student hub - student life support

Housing Fair Monday 20 May 12.00 - 16.00 College Main Entrance and

Mechanical Engineering FoyerVisit

www.imperial.ac.uk/ accommodation for more details

Get a headstart in your search for private housing

Meet estate agents, private landlords and other service providers

help+advice in one place

Real Life Stories: A student’s contract nightmare

My friend and I met through our course and decided that we wanted to live together in our second year. We spent

time looking for property and but weren’t having much luck in finding a place that we both liked.

She had to leave for home abroad, so I contin-ued to look for places to live and found a nice flat. I spoke to the agents and explained the situ-ation - that the other person I was planning to live with couldn’t come and sign but we’d still want to rent the property as two people - and they said it would be no problem.

However, when I received a copy of the tenancy agreement, it was written in my name only. When I questioned them, again they said it would be no problem and that my friend’s name could be added later. However, this was only agreed ver-bally.

So I signed and paid for the initial 6 months, and moved in.

All was well for the first few months of living together, then one day the landlord came round and asked who my housemate was. He had nev-er been informed of the flat being let to two peo-ple, so I was accused of sub-letting the property. He then demanded an extra £100 per week.

Because there was no written evidence of the arrangement I had agreed with the agent, there was nothing that I could do, and being the only signatory on the contract all the legal responsi-

bilities fell to me. Being unable to afford the additional rent

increase, I ended up leaving the contract, which in itself incurred heavy financial penal-ties and added to the already stressful situa-tion.

My advice is to get absolutely everything in writing. Make it clear from the outset that you always intended to rent a property as a group. Even better, if you can get it written into the contract that one person will be signing the tenancy agreement at a later date, then there can be no ambiguity as to what the situation is.

What the Hub team say:Although situations like these are un-

common, they are not unheard of. It is crucial the names of all tenants ap-

pear in the contract. By law landlords need to know who is living there for visa and im-migration purposes, and can face heavy fines if they are found to be in breach of this. It also protects the landlord from ten-ants who may be illegally subletting.

The student’s advice about getting eve-rything in writing is correct. Written proof is the only course of action that can pro-tect you from events like this.

If you’re ever in doubt, ask us.

accommodation

admissions

exams

international student enquiries

research degrees

student financial support

student records

tuition fees

UROP - undergraduate research opportunities programme

Speak to the Student Hub if you need help or advice. Our advisors are here to guide you on a wide range of student matters. There is no such thing as a silly question. Come along in person, or ask us online at www.imperial.ac.uk/studenthub

May 2013 Student Hub Herald 5www.imperial.ac.uk/accommodation/privatehousing

Page 6: May Mayhem Newspaper

Roll up! Roll up! It’s time to come to the fair! Every year, the Student Hub hold the

Private Housing Talk and Exhibition to help students in halls find their way through the process of searching for a home in the pri-vate sector.

Given the success of this event, (around 1,200 of you have attended every year!) we have decided this year we can do even more! On Monday 20 May, we are hosting a housing fair in the College main entrance and Mechanical Engineering foyer. We have invited estate agents, private landlords and other service providers to attend between 12.00 - 16.00.

There are very few chances in London to meet a group of private housing providers in one location - so this is a great opportu-nity to mingle with exhibitors who will be here exclusively for Imperial students.

Even if you are not quite ready to begin your housing search, it is still worth going along to get some details and ask ques-tions about the things that matter most to you about where you live.

The event is free and open to everyone, so pop along during your lunch break, or between lectures.

Housing Fair - 20 May

CLASSIFIED

Beaney Pearce offers a fantastic service to students looking to rent in the area surrounding Imperial College specialising in modern apartments with

porters offering safety and convenience. Studios from £300+pw, 1 beds from £400pw, 2 beds from £500pw. For further information; Call: 020 7838 1888 Email: [email protected] www.beaneypearce.co.uk

Amber Marsh - The Student Accommodation Specialists - “Look NOW and START SEPTEMBER!”Call 0207 243 7000 as we

specialise in INTERNATIONAL and Home STUDENTS only. We do NOT insist on UK guarantors or One Year UPFRONT! We’ve been associated with the University of London since 1996 and have properties that are walking distance to Imperial and within budget. Visit now at www.ambermarsh.co.uk

Why lug everything home for the holidays then drag it all back again? It’s a lot easier to keep your stuff safe with us. Plus we are offering students 50% off their first 8 weeks storage and a discount on packing

materials. It’s completely flexible and hassle free.www.bigyellow.co.uk

Champions are near to Imperial and for many years have been helping Imperial students find

suitable apartments. We always have properties within walking distance of the campus or they are a short tube/bus ride away. We are not regular estate agents - you will find our services extremely friendly and professional. www.champions.co.uk

Chard Estate Agents provides decades of collective residential lettings expertise to ensure Imperial College students have a hassle free experience when letting in London, from studio flats to substantial

houses covering Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham boroughs. Call our dedicated Student Accommodation Office on 020 7244 7711 to start your property search!

At City Living London we pride ourselves on managing furnished flats in central London. Many of

our properties are situated close to Imperial College, only a few minutes’ walk from an underground station, shopping facilities, restaurants and bars. Call 020 7351 6100 or email [email protected]

Endsleigh are the UK’s largest provider of student insurance, and the only company recommended by the National Union of Students. Originally founded in 1965 we currently insure over 300,000

students each year. For more information please see www.endsleigh.co.uk, like ‘Endsleigh’ on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @endsleigh

We are a well established, innovative and successful estate agency with an impressive portfolio, ranging from studio apartments to 4 bedroom+

properties. We deliver an effective service designed to exceed your expectations. With over 30 years’ experience of the rentals market, our approachable team and professional service are here for you. Please contact us on - 020 7590 0333 or visit www.faronsutaria.co.uk

Find Digs is a London based student accommodation provider. We offer rooms

throughout the city at a range of different prices that suit every type of budget: from twins and singles to ensuites and studios. For more information email [email protected] or call 07985 940349

Contact Foxtons Student Services Department and speak with one of

our dedicated team to start your free property finding service.

We have a long running relationship with Imperial College London and are London’s largest and most established lettings agent with over 30 years of experience and 43 offices.

We understand the difficulties of finding student accommodation within London and will happily provide expert industry advice and guidance.

You can reach us on 0207 893 6329 or [email protected]

If you want to take the hassle out of shopping for your bedding, crockery and cutlery and essential electrical items then you’ve come to the right place!

At www.gailarde.com/imperial we offer a wide range of products especially geared towards the student market. Simply order your pack through us and we will deliver everything to your door in a matter of days.

Life’s too short to be bogged down by bills. Glide makes bills simpler for tenants

and property businesses. Glide supplies bundles services to students living in shared accommodation. Everything’s split equally and you only pay your share. No more arguments, chasing housemates for money or falling out over bills.

Visit www.glide.uk.com for more information.

Home House Estates understands the pressure of moving to London to

study. We can make the process of finding a home a lot easier, due to our relaxed and professional approach, ensuring your full concentration is on your studies and the year ahead. No administration charges for Imperial College students! www.homehouseestates.co.uk 020 7493 1911

Questions you should ask the exhibitors

We have chosen some of the most common and crucial questions you should be asking the exhibitors.

Do you let only, or do you let and manage?Find out who you will need to contact for repairs. Let only means after arranging the let, and the paperwork, you will need to contact the landlord for repairs. If they let and manage, you will contact them for every-thing.

What administration fees do you charge?Ask how much you may need to pay to cover the costs of having references checked, contracts drawn up etc.

Do you offer discounts to Impe-rial Students?Many exhibitors will offer dis-count rates to Imperial students. Be sure you check what the dis-count specifically applies to, don’t assume all fees will be waived.

What do you charge as a holding deposit?Check if there’s a flat-rate, or based on a percentage of rental value, and have those funds available when searching should you see a property you like.

What if I haven’t got a guarantor? How much will I need to pay in advance?Many agents and landlords will require a guarantor to be sure that they will have a secure in-come. Thus, should you fail in your tenant obligations, agents/landlords will look to recover the costs from a guarantor. If you do not have a UK based guarantor, then you may be expected to pay a lump sum upfront - this could be the entire rent.

Do you do term-time rents?Find out whether you will be ex-pected to pay for a full year, or if you can rent between Septem-ber and June.

All the fun of the fair!Find out about our first ever

Housing Fair.

Photos of the Private Housing Talk and Exhibition

26 February 2013 Great Hall and Queen’s

Tower Rooms

When should I start looking?Work out when you will need the property for and take into con-sideration whether you will be in the city over the summer to search.

Do I need to take out insurance if putting my items into storage?Is insurance cover for your items included in the rental costs, or should you consider taking out additional protection.

Fresh Student Living – Glassyard BuildingNEW for September – the modern studios at Glassyard Building

each have en suite showers and stylish kitchenettes and include ALL bills, plus FREE high speed broadband and FREE contents insurance. Located between Brixton and Clapham, just 5 minutes’ walk to Stockwell tube! Find out more at newstudentflats.com/london or call 07584 137 601 to arrange a viewing.

London; from Ealing to the City, Muswell Hill to Balham and everything in between.

Home counties to include Surrey, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. We will provide ongoing assistance from the very start to the very end of your tenancy including advice on the property process, different areas in London, documentation, and implicated costs.

020 7758 8499 www.hamptons.co.uk

6 Student Hub Herald May 2013 www.imperial.ac.uk/accommodation/privatehousing

Page 7: May Mayhem Newspaper

CLASSIFIED

List of Exhibitors • Amber Marsh• Beaney Pearce• Big Yellow Group• Champions• Chard• City Living London• Endsleigh• Faron Sutaria• Find Digs• Foxtons• Fresh Student Living• Gailarde• Glide• Hamptons• Home House Estates

• Independent Student Living• IQ Lettings• Lero• Mansion Student• Nido• Pure Student Living• Residential Land• RR Property• Student Castle• Studios 2 Let• The Stay Club• tlc• Unite• Urbanest• Victoria Hall

Housing Fair - 20 May

ISL is a brand new student accommodation building located in trendy West Hampstead, just an easy 30 minute journey from Imperial

College. From £199 per week (all inclusive), students can have an ensuite bedroom or studio with 50mb internet and wifi, all utilities paid, personal contents insurance, within an architecturally designed building with amazing common areas, gym, cinema screening room and more! www.independent-sl.co.uk

iQ London has two fantastic buildings to choose from in Zone 1, iQ Hoxton and iQ Shoreditch just 35 minutes from Imperial College. Both have all inclusive rents, free on-site gyms and fantastic social spaces with a great

range of studios and en suite rooms available and many suitable for couples. Rents from £230pw.www.iq-student-accommodation.com

We love renting to students and have been doing so since the swinging 60s! Our apartments, in a row of historic period buildings, are not like student halls. Instead we offer the privacy and independence

that many student housing companies don’t. Lero Property is small and friendly - not corporate! AND we are JUST across the park from Imperial. The perfect location! Find us at www.leroproperty.com

Nido offers you the perfect environment to live, study and socialise in the heart of London. Our Notting Hill residence is

close to the Imperial campuses so come and check us out! Students can choose from a range of Studios and Two-Bedroom Apartments. Live at Nido and enjoy 24/7 gym, 20Mb/s WiFi and much more!www.NidoStudentLiving.com +44 (0)207 1000 100

Pure Student Living offers stylish, central London accommodation for students featuring all-inclusive affordable rent, complete security,

excellent customer service and fantastic transport links. Pure Student Living has three fantastic locations for you to choose from: Pure Highbury in Finsbury Park (N7), Pure Hammersmith (W6) and Pure Bankside (SE1). Contact us today to reserve your room!

0203 326 1600 [email protected] www.purestudentliving.com

Residential Land has a portfolio of over 1,200 flats and houses in the best postcodes across

the Capital. All of our properties are managed in-house so tenants deal directly with the landlord. All of the properties are clean and modern each with a dedicated building manager and 24 hour maintenance support. Email [email protected] or visit www.residentialland.com

RR Properties has had over 15 years experience providing first class

quality flats for Imperial College London students. With no administration fees, start your search with us today!For more information call 0207 373 0323 or email [email protected]

Living with Mansion Student is about much more than renting a bed!

With eight sites in London to choose from, there’s something to suit everyone. You’ll be provided with stylish, high-quality accommodation in a safe environment, each site chosen for their quick routes to the main universities. With a friendly hospitality team on-site to help you settle in, we create a strong sense of community by hosting various events throughout the year. The hardest part will be choosing which site was made for you! Email:[email protected] www.mansionstudent.co.uk

As a former student of the University of London I know how difficult it is to find convenient and affordable accommodation.

tlc let properties to Imperial students which are not only close to your campus but also much better value than other agents. Call us anytime! 020 7370 4000Toby Brown Director tlc

tlctlcREAL Estate Agents & Property Consultants

www.tlclondon.com tel: 020 7370 4000

UNITE are the leading pro-vider of student accommo-dation in the UK, home to over 7,500 students across

London. With a choice of great locations and a range of room types they’ll have something to suit you, whether you’re looking for a room, studio flat, or a flat with your friends.Find out more! 0207 831 2447 unite-students.com

Providing fully f u r n i s h e d accommodation with loads of free facilities

(wifi, sky tv), University Hall has properties across Central and West London making them ideally placed for student life. Offering a huge range in price, size, shape and area we can cater to your specific needs giving you somewhere perfect to stay during your studies.Call 020 7486 5445 or visit www.universityhall.co.uk

urbanest is London student living made better! To enquire: visit www.urbanest.co.uk

e-mail [email protected] or call 0844 371 5623.

It could be you!This is Georgina, the very lucky winner of an iPad mini at the Private Housing Talk prize draw. And we like prize draws so much we are going to do it again! Come along to the Housing Fair and collect a passport from the Student Hub stand. All you will need to do is visit the exhibitors to get your passport stamped, fill out your information and return the card and you’ll be entered in the prize draw for your chance to win an iPad too!

Househunting can be a rather bamboozling and long-winded process - arranging visits, paying de-posits, getting references.

So we’ve put together this quick list to help you get organised in your search. If you want more information, pop into the Student Hub to pick up your free copy of the Life After Halls guide.

Make a checklist - who doesn’t love a good check-list? Not only do you get to have neat, ordered rows of information (some of us appreciate that anyway!) but it makes it a lot easier to compare properties later on. It’s especially useful if you’re viewing a property when someone else can’t be there, as that way you will know you are comparing places on the same criteria.

The topics you should include on the checklist can be split into two distict categories: the administration side of the search, and the physcial property checks.

For the administration side you should note the fol-lowing: property address, full contact details of the landlord/agent, rent, how much the security deposit is, how much the holding deposit is (and whether this is refundable), length of tenancy, is there a break clause, will you need a guarantor.

For the physical property check you should make note of: number of bedrooms, whether they vastly differ in size; is there a lounge that could be converted into a bedroom; the size of the kitchen and if it is big enough to eat in; the number of bathrooms/toilets there are; the windows - is there evidence of mould/condensa-tion; what is the general state of repair; what items within the property will be there when you move in.

Take photographs - you should take photographs when it comes to actually moving in so you have a point of reference for the inventory, but it’s also worth seeing if you can take photos whilst viewing a property. Par-ticularly if you are viewing more than one it can become difficult to distinguish between them.

Go viewing with someone else - even if they aren’t the people you intend to live with, going to view a prop-

erty with another person is not only safer, but having the extra pair of eye may help you spot things that you didn’t notice. Hint and tips for getting out and about

to find that perfect place

Handy Househunting Hints

After the search

The first thing you should do after all that hard work of finding a property, signing the contract, paying deposits, confirming your references is to take a

well deserved break. Go on, make yourself a cup of tea.Once you’ve had your cuppa, there are a few final de-

tails that you may need to think about before you move in that may not have crossed your mind.

Crockery and bedding - hopefully you followed the last item on the checklist and remembered to find out what items would be in the property when you moved in. If there are lots of you sharing a house, it might be worth clubbing together to buy items like pots and pans, as if 4 or 5 of you brought along your full saucepan set, you wouldn’t have much room in the kitchen.

Also important is to remember to bring your own bed-ding. Some landlords will provide a mattress, but there is no guarantee that it will be a new mattress. If you are wanting to sleep on something fresh, but don’t want to spend a lot of money on anything new, or find some-where to store the old one until you leave, a great tip is to invest in a foam mattress topper. These are relatively cheap and easily transportable and mean that not only are you sleeping on something new, you’re also protect-ing the mattress from damage, thus helping to protect your deposit.

Council Tax exemption - as a student you are exempt from paying council tax, however you will need to prove this. Get your council tax exemption letter from the stu-dent Hub.

Insurance - most landlords will only insure the prop-erty and their own contents, absolutely everything else that you bring along will need to be covered separately. Don’t over look this as it can be very costly should your items be stolen or damaged.

Storage - if you have a lot of belongings that you don’t want to ferry to and from London over the summer, con-sider putting it into storage. Many companies offer stu-dent discount.

Victoria Hall offers top quality student accommodation across the UK, Ireland, Spain and Germany. We currently run 3

student halls in London located within short distance to Imperial College London campuses and offer safe and 24hr secure student flats, with en-suite bedrooms and studios. We believe in stylish, comfortable and, above all, affordable student living. Stay at Victoria Hall - the UK Student Accommodation Private Hall Provider of the Year 2011 and 2012!

Brand New for September 2013, Student Castle London

will offer some of the best student accommodation in central London. Ideally situated only a minutes’ walk from Aldgate East station, our ultra modern accommodation will offer everything from air conditioning, 50mbps super fast broadband & an onsite gym.www.studentcastle.co.uk

The Stay Club @ London provides cutting edge studio

accommodation to students. With two convenient locations to choose from, Camden and Willesden, students benefit from private kitchenette and Shower room, double sized beds, broadband internet and large desk space for studying. The Stay Club offers flexible renting terms as well as student friendly rates for academic year 2013/14. Email: [email protected] www.thestayclub.com

May 2013 Student Hub Herald 7www.imperial.ac.uk/accommodation/privatehousing

Page 8: May Mayhem Newspaper

With CharlesYour Housing HoroscopeAs the plughole of pleasantness phases into the cycle of the landlord, the signs are looking less than promising. However, with the settee rising on the eastern plane, it may not be so bad for some afterall.

Find your perfect student accommodation with Foxtons• Registerwithanyofour43officeswithonesimplephonecall

• Guidanceandsupportwithyoursearchandthroughoutyourtenancy

• Chauffeuredviewingsattimestoworkaroundyourlectures

• Multi-lingualcompanywith44languagesspoken

To start your property search contact Foxtons Student Services on 020 7893 6329 or email [email protected]

I see mould in your future. Check the ventilation in your property.

You may aspire to reach for the stars, but I advise you contact the landlord to repair that roof.

Struggling to remember what your landlord told you a few months ago? Should’ve got it in writing.

Charles has been looking at

your housing horoscope

now for many years,

and is an experienced

House Astrologer.

Be wary of dodgy dealers, don’t pay anything to just view a property.

Penicillin has already been discovered. Stop trying to justify your manky plates.

Don’t be so sure that your landlord won’t notice that broken vase. Consult the inventory.

I see a windfall coming your way. All that hard work cleaning has paid off as your deposit is returned to you .

Tensions are running high in your household - be prepared to compromise.

It’s no use crying over spilt milk. Nor indeed no milk. Although if it’s your turn to replace it, make sure you do!

You’ve been plagued by a host of rodents - time to take out your rubbish.

I see a dry and smelly future for you...remember paying utility bills is often your responsibility.

Be aware of deals that sound too good to be true.

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Imperial Home Solutions

• Searchpropertiesavailablewithprivatelandlords• Searchrooms&flatshareslistedbyImperialstudents• Createahotlistoffavouriteproperties• Searchdistancetocampus,routesandamenities• Findadviceonprivatehousing

www.imperialhomesolutions.co.uk

Day 1 2 weeks later...

3 weeks later...

4 weeks later...

Notice a leak

notify your landlord Immediately

don't wait for your notice

Enjoy London Stay in Halls this Summer

www.imperial.ac.uk/accommodation

• Great for getting to campus and enjoying the city

• A variety of rooms and rates

8 Student Hub Herald May 2013 www.imperial.ac.uk/accommodation/privatehousing

Don’t do that, Danny!What’s Danny been doing wrong this week?