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- Accommodation
- Council tax
- Types of accommodation
| Contact LondonSAM before you search elsewhere |
We appreciate that where you live is a very important part of your life at London and we recognise that meeting your needs as far as possible will help you make the most of this new and exciting period in your life.
As you may be aware, it is not always possible to meet your first choice of residence but we are sure that you will find something in our range of accommodation to meet your requirements.
The following pages are designed to give you the information you will need to complete the application form and to give you some idea of the procedures that are involved in applying for, and being allocated, accommodation.
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| Affordable accommodation |
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Looking for accommodation in such a big city as London can seem a daunting task. LondonSAM can give you helpful advice on finding somewhere to live and make you aware of some of the usual procedures of renting. Generally speaking, accommodation and property North and West of the River Thames is more expensive and sought after than that South of "the River". This is partially explained by the fact that the City, Government, the West End and the University are all on the North side. Places like Putney, Dulwich, Wimbledon, Richmond and Kingston, however, are expensive even though they are in the South. |
| Other areas such as Mayfair, Chelsea, South Kensington, the West End, Hampstead and St. Johns Wood are expensive, having more permanent residents. Tooting, Streatham and Earls Court, however, are cheaper, and the population more transient. East London / Stratford are the cheapest part of London by far. You will soon discover the variations in price by seeing the newspaper advertisements and estate agents windows. |
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| Deposit & inventory |
| Check the inventory carefully before you sign the tenancy agreement. Make a list of anything that is damaged (for example, note any scratches, cracks or stains) and give a copy of this to your landlord. You may want to take photographs as soon as you move into the room, to prove that any damage was not caused by you. If anything is missing or damaged when you leave, your landlord may try to keep part of your deposit to pay for these. |
| What is council tax? |
| Council tax is a property-based tax payable on most domestic properties. A domestic property is usually a house or a flat but it can also include other types of property where people live such as a 'granny annexe' or a caravan. The section on Council Tax is useful if you are a student, you live with a student or you are a landlord who lets out property to students. You are deemed resident where you live during term-time. |
| Some important points |
| Students are not exempt from being liable to council tax. For example, you will be named on the bill (liable) if you hold a joint tenancy agreement with your friend or relative who is not a student. However, students are 'not counted' (i.e. disregarded) in calculating the council tax bill, so a discount or full exemption may be due, depending on how many non-students also live with you. If you are liable for the council tax bill, you are still responsible for ensuring any 'reduced' bill is paid. |
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| What council tax reduction will I receive? |
| If you live in a property occupied only by students then the property is exempt from council tax. You will receive a council tax bill showing the period of exemption awarded. Apprentices and youth trainees do not qualify as students for this exemption. Non-British spouses of students (and dependants) are also classed as students for this exemption. If you are liable for the council tax bill, you are still responsible for ensuring the bill is paid for any non-exempt periods. Empty dwellings owned by a student are also exempt provided the last persons to be resident were students. |
| A discount |
| The full council tax is based on two adults living in a property. If you qualify as a student you are not counted in this calculation. Therefore if the number of people left, after the students are not counted, is less than two then the council tax may be reduced. |
| For example, a property occupied by two adults, one of whom is a student, will receive a 25% discount. A property occupied by three adults, one of who is a student will attract no discount. Remember even if you are disregarded from the calculation of the bill, you are still responsible for ensuring the bill is paid if you are liable. |
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What happens in the holidays?
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| Provided the same students remain resident and continue to study the same course, the discount / exemption will continue when they return to the property for the term-time. If the students change then you must inform your council straight away so that they can review the bill. |
How do I apply for my reduction?
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| To apply for your reduction, please contact your Council offices, details of which can be found on the internet or a telephone directory commonly called the “Yellow Pages”. |
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What proof do I need to send?
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| Contact your college/university for a student certificate. Most, if not all, Councils need a new certificate each academic year. This can be obtained from your college admin/reception. If you are claiming apprentice, youth trainee or foreign language assistant status then contact your Council for further information. |
Reviews
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| We normally write to all our student households each year to review who the residents are and their student status. Please do not wait for this review to advise us of changes. |
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| Where to stay? |
| Hostels |
| Often these are large impersonal places with an institutional atmosphere. You may have a single room, but be prepared to share a bathroom, toilet or kitchen with many other people. These places can provide a valuable stop-over until something else turns up and are also a good place to meet other people. |
| Bed-sits |
| The full council tax is based on two adults living in a property. If you qualify as a student you are not counted in this calculation. Therefore if the number of people left, after the students are not counted, is less than two then the council tax may be reduced. |
| Studio flats |
| Comprise a bed/sitting room, but unlike a bed-sit, have a separate kitchen and bathroom. These are often very cosy and are ideal for single people. |
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Flats |
| Can have one, two or more bedrooms. If not specified as a "studio", it should include a living/dining room and a bathroom. |
| Houses |
| Usually on at least two levels with a garden. Ideal for a group of people wanting to share. Houses are often leased out by owners as a business or simply for a year whilst they are abroad (for example). Each October produces a flood of 40,000 students, who, while having the lowest buying power receive special help from accommodation offices. There are many halls of residence solely for students and the best place to start your search may well be the LondonSAM. If you want a private place, shared accommodation, hostel etc, our accommodations personnel will try to find the ideal place to match your budget. |
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Agencies
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| Accommodation Agencies act as go-betweens for landlords and those searching for accommodation and have lists of available properties to rent in particular areas. Agencies and Estate Agents are listed in the relevant sections of Yellow Pages. Some agencies will charge you a fee, but others receive part of your rent from the landlord as commission. |
Shop window
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This can be a valuable way of looking for accommodation. In areas with a permanent population there is likely to be little offered, but in more transient areas advertisements may be common. Ask the shopkeeper how long the advertisement has been on display, and whether the accommodation has been taken, to save a wasted journey. |
| Tourist board |
| If you need a bed for a night or two, then visit the London Tourist Board web site, which has a large database of available accommodation, including a section specifically aimed at students. |
| B&B (" bed and breakfast "), Guest house |
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| A room, usually part of someone's home, which the owners are renting out to make some money. Breakfast is provided, but no evening meal. The bathroom is probably shared with other guests. |
| Money/Contract |
| If you are with a host family, what is their main reason for wanting to accept a student into their home? If the main reason is to make money, in some cases the family may not speak to you often, may provide very cheap meals, or may argue about small matters such as the amount of toilet paper that is being used. Problems are more likely to occur in popular student locations at time when there are many students in the town (for example, in a town on the south coast of England in the summer) - there may be a lot of demand, and too little supply of quality host families. |
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| Tenancy agreement |
It is risky to rent somewhere without a legal agreement between you and the landlord (or accommodation agency). The most common type of agreement is known as an assured short hold tenancy (AST).
As long as you pay the rent and do not break the conditions in the tenancy agreement, you have the right to stay for 6 months. After 6 months, if your landlord wants you to leave, he/she should give you details (in a written letter) at least 2 months before the date on which you are expected to leave.
If you have a licence agreement (you are living in the same place as the landlord), the notice period may be shorter than for a tenancy agreement, for example one month. You should read the agreement carefully before you sign it. If you do not understand something, ask for someone to explain it to you. If necessary, you can ask for advice at a Citizens' Advice Bureau. |
| Extra cost estimates |
Approximate cost of weekly expenses in London is as follows:
Rent: £80.00 per week (for a bedroom with shared facilities such as kitchen & bathroom)
Food: £25.00 per week
Travelling: £15.00 per week
Other miscellaneous expenses: £10.00 per week
Council Tax £5.00 per week
Total weekly expenses: £140.00 |
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