Parent's guide: Private accommodation
|
What Happens After Living in University Residences in First Year? If your son/daughter is indenting to apply to live as a returning student in a university residence after his/her first year, they are able to do so in February of the year of entry. The University of St Andrews accommodates the highest percentage, proportionally, of its student body in the UK. Nevertheless, the consequence of high demand is that Student Accommodation Services (SAS) are not able to guarantee that returning students will get a place within a University residence. Therefore, it is important that you encourage your son/daughter to familiarize himself/herself with the process of renting privately in St Andrews and also actively consider the private sector, even if he/she has applied to be a returning student as a place is not guaranteed. |
This guide will give parents advice on where they can look for private accommodation and what they will need to consider when their son/daughter is viewing a potential property to rent.
Where to Look For Properties
Resources
- Local Estate Agents
- The first place to look when searching for privately rented accommodation is the local estate agents. There is a list of the estate agents that have signed the Landlord Tenant Charter (a code of conduct between landlords and their tenants) with the University of St Andrews Students’ Association and are approved by them; see Private property letting.
- There are various allocation systems in place at letting agents and these can include the letting agent publically releasing a list of the available student properties or could involve students completing an application form and/or attending a meeting where they specify the location and price that they want, from which the estate agents can then allocate them a property.
- StudentPad
- Properties are also available via StudentPad. This website lists properties that are available to let directly from the landlords themselves and also includes additional information on how to rent and where to get information.
- Local Advertisements
- The Accommodation section of The Sinner might also provide some lists of properties. The local newspapers also advertise for properties to let.
Location
Not all of our students live within St Andrews itself. Some students prefer a more rural location, cheaper accommodation outside of the town or city-living in Dundee. Searching for accommodation outside of St Andrews itself can seem daunting, especially as a parent if you do not know the Fife area. Please see below a list of the commuting distances of the towns and villages close to St Andrews:
| Town / village | Miles | |
|---|---|---|
|
Kingsbarns (village) |
6.78 |
Bus times can be limited but are fairly frequent throughout the day |
|
Anstruther (coastal village) |
9.37 |
|
|
Crail (coastal village) |
9.90 |
|
|
Cupar (town in central Fife) |
9.91 |
Accessible by regular bus route |
|
Guardbridge (village) |
4.72 |
Easily accessible by a regular bus route throughout the day |
|
Leuchars (village with train station) |
5.91 |
|
|
Dundee (city with two other Universities) |
13.02 |
It is not recommended to simply choose the closest place to St Andrews as they are not always the easiest to access by public transport. Even if your son/daughter has a car and plans to drive into St Andrews, the parking in the town must also be considered. There is a free car park on the North Haugh but parking in town is chargeable.
What to Consider When Looking at a Property
As housing within St Andrews is limited, students can often feel pressurized into accepting the first property that they find and can end up living somewhere that isn’t best suited to them. As a parent living at a distance from St Andrews, you probably won’t be able to view the property. Please be assured that all properties are bound to strict health and safety regulations. Nevertheless, it is important to ensure that your son/daughter considers his/her accommodation carefully.
On a viewing appointment at a potential property to rent, your son/daughter should consider such things as the state of the furnishings, whether there are enough bathrooms/WCs for the house and if the bedrooms are equally sized or not. It is also worthwhile to suggest that he/she speak to the current tenant (if available) as they will be able to provide an accurate picture of what it is like to live there i.e. is it cheap to heat, what the neighbours are like etc. Additionally, your son/daughter should be asking the following questions:
- What are the dates for the tenancy agreement?
- Does it cover the academic year only or is the property for a whole calendar year. This can affect the suitability of the property as rent may be required for a period of time when it is unoccupied.
- What is the rent per month and how is to be paid?
- Is the rent affordable and are you aware of the rent per month? Rents can be payable either monthly or as 2 or 3 lump sums throughout the year. The method of payment should also be considered such as debit/credit card (transactions fees). It is worth considering this as a guarantor as you are liable for the rent should your son/daughter not have the available funds. Rents are generally cheaper the further away you live from the town centre, so if your son/daughter is willing to walk a little bit further to class, it is definitely worth considering.
- What is the deposit?
- How much is the deposit? It should not be more than the value of two months’ rent.
- What utilities (if any) are included within the rent?
- Utilities such as gas, electric, phone and broadband are not usually included as part of the rent. As guarantor, therefore, you should make sure that your son/daughter is aware that he/she must have the appropriate funds to pay for these every month. If not, you may have to help out with these. It is also worth considering as even if your son/daughter can afford the rent themselves, he/she may not have considered the utilities and other living costs.
A useful resource for any student viewing a potential property to rent is the helpful checklist that has been created by the Eleanor Feltham, Student Advocate for Accommodation at the Student’s Union. Eleanor can offer advice to students if they are unsure about their leases or need help with any private landlord issues. You can contact her by email on ef41@st-andrews.ac.uk or by phone on 01334 462 700.
What Else to Consider as a Parent
- You will most likely be asked to be the guarantor for your son/daughter so it is worthwhile trying to have a look at the Terms & Conditions of the lease before he/she signs it and especially before you sign the guarantor form. Being a guarantor means that you will pay the landlord for your son/daughter’s rent should he/she be unable to pay for it himself/herself.
- Make sure you read the guarantor form thoroughly and that you are aware exactly what you are guaranteeing (i.e. is it just your son/daughter’s share of the rent or the whole house and will you be covering any damages). Initial every page of any document to show you have read and understood them.
- As of 2 July 2012, all deposits must be paid into the Tenancy Deposit Scheme within 30 days of handing it over. Any deposits paid before this date, must be paid into this Scheme by 13 November 2012. This allows for a fairer, more transparent system of getting the deposit back.
- If your son/daughter opts for the ‘live-in landlord’ option, make sure he/she sign an Occupancy Agreement.
- Get your son/daughter to thoroughly check the inventory and the condition of anything that is included in the property. Any inconsistencies should be marked clearly on the inventory that he/she hand back into the estate agent or landlord. Additionally, he/she should photograph any and all damage or imperfections to any fixtures or furnishings. These should then be printed off, signed and dated on the back by a non-tenant. This can be sent to the student union at srcaccommodation@st-andrews.ac.uk who will store these. Even the smallest mark should be photographed in case it is picked up on after the end of the tenancy, and your son/daughter is charged for damage which wasn’t his/her fault.