2013

Summer’s here... it’s almost time to put away the books, dust off those flip flops and soak up some sun. Oh, and sort out your accommodation for next year. Looking for housing can be a daunting task, especially for London students. This booklet will guide you through the process to make finding your own place that bit easier.

What to expect and timing

03

Living in London 04 How to find the perfect home

05

Living at home

06

Choosing housemates

08

Location, location, location

09

Viewing a property 10 Money, money, money ... money! 13 Moving in 15 House issues 16 Gas safety  17 Keeping you and your possessions safe

19

Greener living 21 Useful contacts 22

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What to expect and timing Finding student housing in London works very differently to many other cities in the country. In London it’s recommended that you start to look 1-2 months before you plan to move in. Although this may seem to be a bit last minute, it has its advantages; you have more time to decide who you’d like to live with as well as finding the perfect location. It’s worth bearing in mind, though, that your potential flatmates might be away over the summer, so you’ll need to plan for not everyone being there when you view properties. Another key difference about living in London is that there’s no specific ‘student area’. It’s always a good idea to talk to students in the years above you to see where they live. As King’s has a central location, it is often quite expensive to live close to campus and living in Zone 1 means higher rents for smaller premises. It is sometimes cheaper to live further out, even when you add a travel card onto your weekly rent, plus there are plenty of areas in zone 2 that have excellent transport links to King’s campuses. Tenancies are usually 12 months long, so bear this in mind when deciding when you want to move in, as you may need to pay for one summer. If you don’t live near London, it may be worthwhile to secure housing for the next term before leaving over the summer.

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LIVING IN LONDON Living in London provides opportunities for social and cultural experiences that are hard to find anywhere else! You may find living in London to be quite expensive, so make the most of our ‘Money, money, money’ section on page 13 to ensure you’ve got enough budgeted to make the most of what the City has to offer. There’s always plenty going on so check out timeout.com/london to find something that interests you. Also check out kclsu.org/unlockinglondon for our Unlocking London programme, which offers subsidised tickets to popular attractions as well as opportunities to socialise. There is a card scheme called London Pass that gives you free access to 60 attractions across the city. There is a charge for this card but you’ll make big savings- check out londonpass.com for more info.

Where in London should I live? There’s a huge diversity in the personality and house prices across London, and we’d advise you to spend some time in areas you’re thinking of buying a house in to see if it’s right for you, as where you choose to live will have a big impact on your personal time. You can visit the ULU housing site at housing.london.ac.uk/cms to search properties by area.

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How to find the perfect home There are different ways of finding a property in London; through the University of London Housing Service (ULHS), a private landlord, or through an estate agent. These all have their advantages and disadvantages, and it is recommended that you consider these before you sign anything. For example, renting a house or flat managed by an estate agent means there is a mediator between you and your landlord to manage the relationship for you. However, things may get done quicker if you have direct contact with your landlord. Going through an estate agent also comes with extra charges such as reference fees. Check how much these will be before deciding and weigh up all of your options. Property websites The number one rule is: if it looks too good to be true, it normally is! Although there are some gems which can be found on such websites, be very cautious. Be wary of online scams to get money out of you, never visit a property alone, and always keep your wits about you. There’s probably a reason they are only charging £60 a week. Having said that, a lot of estate agents use these websites to advertise their properties, so it is worth having a browse. Useful websites www.housing.lon.ac.uk www.gumtree.com www.findaproperty.com www.primelocation.com These websites are a good starting place, especially to get an idea of price and location. Remember, the price advertised is usually not set in stone, you can put an offer in lower than this price.

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LIVING AT HOME Part of the university experience is moving out of your parent’s home and going to live on your own. However London is a very expensive city and if you have to work long hours to afford a place of your own it might be better to consider different options. If your parents live in London or in an area well connected to the capital, living with them might allow you to save some money and still attend all your classes. Even if your parents do charge you rent it is likely to be less than the cheapest flat out there. Staying with your parents or going back to live with them will mean making some compromises but so does living with your flatmates. STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Sophie’s Experience Pros: Money! I think it’s pretty reliable to assume that living at home, whether postgraduate or undergraduate, is going to save you significant amounts of cash. With university costs continuing to rise beyond belief, money is the single biggest factor now in considering further study. Many students - whether they are happy about it or not - will have to live at home to afford university at all. Comfort: You don’t have to move in and out once term finishes and you don’t have to live between two places. You also don’t run the risk of having nasty housemates and there is a standard level of living enforced by being at home – you just CANNOT get away with the same level of untidiness that dominates your time living in halls, as your parents just won’t allow it. Cons: Almost everything else! You live under someone else’s roof and abide by their rules, so you have to compromise on your independence. It also can cost you some of your social life. Coming home at 4am will probably not go down well with your parents. It also enforces restrictions on you, as your folks want to know where you are and when you’ll be back. It also means that you don’t have any of the life lessons that ‘come along for free’ with university such as learning how to deal with accommodation issues and how to food shop.

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STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Olaide’s Experience Pros: I pay no bills, I don’t have to buy food and I don’t have pay to wash my clothes. Because of this I have a lot of spare change so I can afford to splurge on luxuries that my friends may not be able to. Another benefit is that I am in the comfort of my own surroundings and the fact that I don’t have to keep packing and unpacking stuff. It ‘s also easier to study because there are fewer distractions. The greatest pro I would say is not having to deal with landlords or annoying housemates. Cons: I live over an hour away from King’s and sometimes the journey can be tedious and make you not want to bother coming in to lectures at all. As the trains have set times I have to plan my journey, if I miss the train I would miss my lecture. Another con is that you miss the whole university experience, the whole living with mates and gaining that independence that it gives you. My advice would be to make as many friends as possible so that you’ve got somewhere to stay after a night out. The worst thing about living at home is being far from university services such as the Library and KCLSU.

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Choosing housemates Ideally, the first thing to decide is who you are going to live with. Remember you have to live with these people for a year, so choose wisely! Living with someone who loves nothing more than going out every night until 5am, when you have to be up at 7am most days may not be the best idea. Bear in mind that if you live with people who are on different campuses, you need to take this into account when deciding on a location. Agreeing on a budget and area before you start looking is an important step. If your budget is more Elephant and Castle than South Kensington, try and find housemates with a similar budget. Compromise by splitting cost by room sizes. If you really can’t afford a house that your future housemates want, speak up! You don’t want to be stuck in a 12 month contract not being able to afford it. Remember, rent won’t be your only cost and you’ll need to budget for other things such as food and travel. STUDENT PROFILE

Kelly Kirkham

MA Medieval English

Lives: Dashwood Studios, Victoria Halls How do you travel to uni and how long does it take? Walking, it’s about 30 -40 minutes to the Strand campus. I chose this area because...of the amenities and the transport links. On the road I live I have Tesco, Poundland, Morrison’s, M&S plus local fruit and vegetable stalls. The building is really lovely as well; living in my own studio I have my own bathroom and kitchenette. I was able to pick my own room and living there I’ve met loads of other students from all different universities and all different places across the world. My best piece of advice would be to go and look; it needs to feel like home before it is home!

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Location, location, location Top tips for deciding on an area

Be open minded. Don’t have your heart set on a certain area, look around. If you are new to the area, do some research. It’s the little things, like where the nearest supermarket is that will end up making or breaking an area. Most importantly, check out the transport links. Look into local bus and tube services before you decide. Make sure there are night buses too! Do you feel safe in the area? Imagine having to walk home alone. Make sure you and your housemates feel comfortable in the area. Compromise! You may have to settle for a less than perfect house to live in a nicer area. If you haven’t already, get yourself an A-Z map and check out these areas which are popular with King’s students: North

Finsbury Park Holloway Road Camden Town

Central

Bloomsbury

South West

Vauxhall Kennington/Oval Battersea Clapham Junction

East

Bethnal Green Bow Shoreditch

South East

New Cross Elephant and Castle Camberwell Bermondsey Canada Water

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Viewing a property... Use this handy checklist when you’re looking at properties to rent. Location of property Is the area convenient for your studies and social life? Is it near to local public transport and local amenities? Would you feel safe walking around the area in the day and the evening? External features Does the outside of the property look well maintained? TIP! Look for things like broken gutters, missing roof tiles, cracked windows and damage to doors.

Are all boundary walls in good condition?

TIP! Look for things like crumbling bricks and cracks.

Are there enough bins for the property, including recycling? If there is a garden... Is it well maintained and free of rubbish? Is the landlord/agent clear about who is responsible for the maintenance of the garden? Internal features Is there a good communal living space? Are the bedrooms the right size for everyone’s expectations? Is the interior well maintained?

TIP! Check for any damp patches on walls or ceilings, try the hot water to make sure it works, look at what

condition the furniture and decor is in and that all of the lights and appliances work.

Is there sufficient heating throughout the whole property? TIP! Ask whoever is showing you around to turn it on as soon as you arrive so you know it works.

Safety features Check the landlord has a gas safety certificate that has been issued within the last 12 months. You can check it at gassaferegister.co.uk Are there working smoke alarms? Are the plug sockets in good condition - i.e. no cracks or burn marks? Are there enough plug sockets in each room for all your appliances?

Above all, take your time over any decisions and don’t feel pressured to sign something if you’re unsure. 10

Security features Are all the windows lockable and secure? Are there good strong locks on all external doors that are up to the current regulation standard? Your landlord Are you sure that you will be renting from a landlord and not subletting from another tenant? If not, speak to the University of London Housing Service (ULHS) or KCL Student Advice before signing anything. Is the landlord or agency part of an accreditation scheme that your university or local council have approved? Do you have the landlord’s full contact name and address? Are you sure you’d be renting from the landlord and not subletting from another tenant? If not, get some advice before signing anything. If the property is for five or more of you, make sure you see a copy of the HMO license. Try to see at least three other properties so you can compare rent levels and the standard of the property. Ask the landlord to provide details of which deposit scheme they will use to protect your money. Contract Contact KCL Student Advice or the University of London Housing Service (ULHS) for an appointment or email advice in order to have your contract checked. Find out how much the weekly/monthly rent is and when payments would be due. Would you be on a joint or individual contracts? What is included within the rent? Council tax, utilities, broadband etc. If there is any work to be done on the property before you move in, make sure you get the completion date in writing. If you meet the current tenants, ask them... Are you happy with the condition of the property? Is the landlord professional and do repairs get done quickly? Do the heating and hot water supply work well? Is there a burglar alarm and how easy is it to operate? Do they like living there? Why are they leaving? Are there any outstanding issues?

Always seek advice on anything you’re in doubt about.

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STUDENT PROFILE

Becky Quillish

BA War Studies and History Lives: Shared flat in Camden How do you travel to uni and how long does it take? Tube, it takes on average 30 minutes. I chose this area because... of the busy and vibrant location. The housing market in London moves scarily fast. You really need to be available to view flats immediately. If you leave it even a day, it will go and this happened to us! The best time to look is in between your last exam and the end of term if possible. You also need to have clear budgets and discuss these with any people you’re planning on moving in with. If there are tenants there when you are looking round, ask them what the landlord is like. Some of my friends have rubbish landlords and it can really affect how much you enjoy your flat! Another piece of advice is to constantly ring estate agents even if you have called before because flats/houses are always coming on the market! If the property you’re interested in is no longer available they’ll offer similar alternatives.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!

Absolutely never rent a flat based on pictures. We saw a flat that looked lovely in the pictures, and went there only to discover both the door and fireplace were being held on by sellotape - not ideal! Tenancy Deposit Schemes This government initiative ensures that you get the money you deserve back at the end of your tenancy. Your deposit will be kept in an independent account for the duration of your tenancy. When you move out, any costs for damage that have been caused to the property must be agreed by both the tenant and the landlord before your deposit can be released. When moving in, check what type of scheme your deposit is being put into, and look up the details. If you would like further advice and information contact KCL Student Advice & International Student Support [email protected] or visit www.direct.gov.uk

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Money, money, money... money! BILLS Sadly, it is unlikely that your rent will also include utility bills. Therefore, you must budget for these as well as your rent. They may be more than you first expected. Gas and electric You can save money by paying these bills by direct debit. This also makes budgeting easier, as you pay a set amount each month. You can find out who supplies the gas and electric to your property by calling : Gas: 0870 608 1524 (Meter Point Administration Service line) Electric: 0845 601 5467 Water Thames Water supplies the London area with water; this can either be paid up front or in monthly instalments. www.thameswater.co.uk Landline phone Why would you need a landline phone in this day and age? Doesn’t everyone have a mobile phone? A landline is useful in getting the most important thing in a student’s life: the internet. Shop around for the best deals depending on how much you use the internet. Internet Many mobile phone providers now offer cheap rates for their customers. Shop around for the best deal, and bear in mind the cost of a landline. Council Tax This one is free for full-time students because you’re exempt from paying Council Tax. You must provide proof of this, and send it to your local Council. Failing to do this will result in a court appearance and possible fines. A Council Tax exemption certificate can be obtained from The Compass (www.kcl.ac.uk/compass). If you’re a part-time student, or living with a non-student you’ll still have to pay, but you might be eligible for a discount.

vice r ad rthe eting u f g ke ld li bud wou nce on ac.uk. u o . If y ssista @kcl a e and l advic i a m e

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Mobile phone Don’t forget to consider this cost on top of all the other stuff. TV Licence It is illegal to watch live TV without a TV license, even if it is on your laptop. A TV license currently costs £145.50 a year, and can be paid in full or in instalments. For more information check out the website: www.tvlicensing.co.uk OTHER COSTS As well as bills there are other things that need to be considered when working out your budget. Food Although this differs from person to person, you can estimate to spend about £40 a week for food. Travel Again, this differs depending on where you live and how often you travel into uni. You can get a student Oyster card which will give you a discount on fares. Visit http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets for more information. It may be better financially for you to purchase a weekly or monthly travel pass rather than pay for single journeys. Insurance An annoying cost, but you know if you don’t have it, you will regret it. A small cost is better than having to fork out more to replace uninsured possessions. Some companies do possession insurance tailored towards students, which covers just your room. PAYIN THE B G ILLS

Decid e how bills a div re go going ided up. ing If t o b e resp one pers to be then set o o n s ible f on is ut cle payin or a ar g most them th arrangem ll bills, e mo impo ents n fo rt e the s tart o ant thing y owed. T r he f is y our t to ag mon ree a ey wil enancy t h l be r econ ow the c iled. If you want help with

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Moving in There are a few steps you can take to ensure that the move-in process goes as smoothly as possible. Reading 50 pages of tenancy agreement may seem like the worst thing ever, but it is essential! Get it double checked by a parent or a friend who has more experience when looking for loopholes. You can also get a King’s Student Advisor or Housing Advisor at ULHS to check this for free – just make sure you ask them in plenty of time. Remember you have to sign this and agree to it for months, so flag up anything you are unhappy with. Take date stamped photographs to prove the conditions of EVERY room (don’t forget stains and burns in carpets) and keep them in a safe place. You will probably be asked to sign an inventory which lists the contents of the house. Dispute any discrepancies BEFORE you sign it. If your landlord/letting agent did not provide you with an inventory, then compile your own to be on the safe side. Make a note of any problems and let your landlord know as soon as possible. Take meter readings and inform utility companies of the date you moved in to prevent you paying for other people’s use. Work out bill arrangements from the outset; decide who is paying what and write it down in a communal area to save any disputes.

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House issues It’s always best to be prepared for any issues that may arise. Maintenance If an appliance breaks down, or a window gets smashed, call your landlord right away and inform them of the problem. Also inform them in writing and keep a copy of the letter or email. Depending on your contract, it will most likely be their responsibility to address the situation. Make arrangements with your landlord about when and how this will be fixed. If anyone will be visiting the property, try to make sure a tenant is there. Pests ‘Unwanted guests’ are a common problem in London houses. Mice are not thought of as a serious health concern. You can pick up traps and other pest control devices cheaply at pound shops or hardware stores. Rats and cockroaches are a bigger risk, although less common. Tell your landlord and the local authority and they will begin to deal with the situation. Landlords may be a bit difficult about pest problems, so ensuring the house is as tidy and clean as it can be is important.

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heADAChes

nAUseA

BreAthlessness

COllAPse

DIZZIness

lOss Of COnsCIOUsness

signs of a good night out?

Or carbon monoxide poisoning? Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. Don’t mistake the symptoms for a hangover.

By law your landlord must keep all gas appliances supplied for you to use in good condition. They must arrange for a Gas Safe registered engineer to carry out a gas safety check on them every 12 months and provide you with a copy of the Landlord’s Gas Safety Record.

AlwAys:

• Ask for a copy of the Landlord’s Gas Safety Record before you move in. • Cooperate with your landlord and let a registered engineer in when a gas safety check or servicing has to be done. • Check the ID card of any gas engineer that comes to do work in your home. Remember to check both sides of the ID card for: • • • • •

the licence number the start and expiry date the security hologram the work the engineer is qualified to do up-to-date qualifications

GasSafeRegister.co.uk/students Gas Safe Register is the official list of gas engineers who are qualified to work safely and legally on gas appliances. It has replaced CORGI registration. Only a Gas Safe registered engineer should fit, fix or service gas appliances.

If you think a gas appliance is faulty, turn it off and let your landlord know immediately. In an emergency call the gas emergency helpline on 0800 111 999. If you feel unwell, seek medical help right away. GS cards MockUp v5_86x54 18/05/2010 08:49 Page 3 Licence No. 3456789

123456789

Gas appliances that are badly fitted or poorly serviced can put you at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning, gas leaks, fires and explosions. Gas safety may not be your top priority but knowing your rights when you rent could save your life.

3456789

Name Patrick Brian Glover Company Glover & Sons Gas Installers

To confirm the validity of this card please contact Gas Safe Register on: 0800 408 5500 or online at: www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk If this card is found please return to Gas Safe Register, PO Box 6804, Basingstoke, RG24 4NB

Registration No. 123456 Valid from 01/04/2010 Expires 31/03/2011

GS cards MockUp v5_86x54 18/05/2010 08:49 Page 4 Domestic

Gas

Pipework

31/03/11 31/03/11

Cookers

LPG

Non-Domestic

Gas

LPG

31/03/11 31/03/11

Gas Fire

31/03/11 31/03/11

Water Heater

31/03/11 31/03/11

Comb Analysis

31/03/11 31/03/11

The cardholder is deemed competent only in the categories of work identified by a date.

3456789

Gas engineers must be Gas Safe registered in the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Guernsey.

Find or check a Gas Safe registered engineer:

0800 408 5500 GasSafeRegister.co.uk

Better GAs sAfe thAn sOrry

Keeping you and your possessions safe The Home Office suggests that 1 in 3 students become a victim of crime each year. Sadly, unlike halls, your new home won’t come with a security guard, so use your common sense when it comes to reducing your risk of crime. Possessions Make sure doors and windows are locked, and keep expensive possessions out of sight. Mark your belongings with the initials of your university and your student number.This will make the item harder to sell on and allow the police to return it to you. Insure your room and its contents. Many student insurance policies do not cover mobile phones, as these are usually the easiest thing to steal, so check to see if your policy covers your phone. If not, it is worth insuring it separately. Also take note of your International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, as this will prove it’s yours if anything does happen. Note down your card numbers, so if they are stolen it will bequicker to cancel them. Also if you have more than one creditor debit card, try not to carry them at the same time. Thisway if one gets stolen, you have a spare. Again, common sense, don’t flash your new iPhone on the bus when you know you have to walk from the bus stop alone. The average student takes around £1165 worth of gadgets to university. At Endsleigh, we want to make sure your possessions are protected. Today, we are the UK’s leading student insurer and the only one recommended by NUS. Endsleigh’s top tips for keeping your possessions safe. Don’t flash them about Lock all doors and windows, and keep your expensive possessions out of sight Mark your gadgets Sometimes, things do go wrong, and in those scenarios the right insurance is essential. This is where Endsleigh can help. Get a quote today at endsleigh.co.uk/student

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Travelling at night When travelling at night, plan your journey before you leave the house. Travel home with your housemates; if you want to leave early find someone who gets the same bus or get a taxi. It’s always better to pay for a taxi than risk your personal safety. Text CAB to 60835 to receive the number of one taxi and two licensed mini cabs in the area that you are texting from. Do this before leaving where you are, so you are not hanging around on the streets alone. Plan your journey using tfl.gov.uk’s Journey Planner tool.

STUDENT PROFILE

David Simpson

MSc Clinical Neuroscience Lives: Clapham How do you travel to uni and how long does it take? It takes about five minutes on the overground or thirty minutes to walk. I chose this area because... it’s got everything a student needs and is very close to my campus. My mate and I have a great two bed flat that’s the perfect size for two and comes with a little garden. The flat is less than one minute walk from Clapham North underground station and about four minutes from Clapham High Street overground station. We have an amazing local pub, great shopping and Clapham Common is 10 minutes up the road. We went through a large and well established estate agency so the paper work and deposits went smoothly and quickly. The area does come at a price, I’ve had to work more hours than I originally planned to pay rent and a pint of beer isn’t cheap in the local pub. Research the area you might be interested in before you start looking at properties there. Make sure the area works for you as you will spend more time there.

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Greener living Recycling On www.recyclenow.com, you can find out all you need to know about recycling household waste. You’ll see what your borough recycles and which day they’ll pick it up. If you get into the habit of recycling at the beginning you’ll be doing a good job for your area and also won’t have to argue so much about whose turn it is to take out the bins! To get rid of bigger items, it’s worth signing up to www. freecycle.org. Register on the site and you can post an ad for anything you have available, from books to washing machines, and someone will come and take it off your hands. It’s also brilliant if you fancy a new sofa/bike/grand piano without shelling out any cash. Money-saving tips Reducing bills can be good for the environment as well as your bank balance. Paying by Direct Debit is usually cheaper – check with your supplier. Simple things such as turning off lights (which, of course, should all be fitted with energy saving lightbulbs), timing the heating and saving water will mean that your bills go down. An energy monitor can help you work out where your electricity is going and show you how to save some cash. You can pick one up for about £15. Mini water meters can also show you how much water is being used and make sure you aren’t spending too much time in the shower and washing money down the drain!

Here at KCLSU we’re doing our bit too, and helping you to do yours! Look out for food waste and paper/cardboard recycling bins on campus, we also provide you with collection boxes for old mobile phones, batteries, books, and printer cartridges.

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KCLSU Advice Service Signposting you to the services that can support you whilst you are searching for accommodation with useful links and information on housing events.

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KCL Student Advice Advice on housing iss ues and some useful information about ho use hunting, moving in, Council Tax and proble ms.

kcl.ac.uk/advice

kclsu.org/advice

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k kcl.ac.u We hope you found this guide useful. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of printing.

Available in alternative formats on request 22