Accommodation Guide 2018/19 - Student Advice Service (SAS) - Central School of Speech and Drama
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Student Advice Service (SAS)
Accommodation
Guide 2018/19
1
Contents
Welcome to Central! 4
SECTION ONE: WHAT ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS DO I HAVE?
My Accommodation Options 6
Private Rentals 7-8
Student Halls 9-10
Homestay 11-12
SECTION TWO: HOW DO I FIND FLATMATES?
Finding my Flatmates 14
SECTION THREE: HOW DO I BUDGET FOR MY
ACCOMMODATION?
The Rent Formula! 16
Other Housing related Expenses 17-19
My Weekly Spending 20
2SECTION FOUR: WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR WHEN VIEWING A
PROPERTY?
Inspecting a Property 22
SECTION FIVE: WHAT SHOULD I LOOK OUT FOR IN THE
CONTRACT?
My Contract 24-25
Contract Checking Services 26
My Deposit 27
Right to Rent Check 28
SECTION SIX: WHAT IF I HAVE A DISABILITY?
Advice for Students with a Disability 30
SECTION SEVEN: CAN I HAVE A LIST OF CONTACTS?
Useful Contacts and Links 32-34
3Welcome to the Royal Central
School of Speech and Drama!
This guide’s main aim is to inform you of what accommodation
options are available during your studies at Central.
Whether you are looking to live in halls, a house with other
students or on your own, it is important that you find a living
arrangement which you are comfortable with.
By providing you with a brief outline of what housing options you
can choose from, you will hopefully feel more confident in making
a decision about where you want to live.
The Student Advice Service (SAS) Accommodation Guide contains:
What type of accommodation options are available
An overview of expenses you will have as a student
What to remember when signing a contract
A list of useful contacts and websites
We hope you find this guide useful and we welcome any comments
and feedback you may have.
For an online version of this guide, please visit:
https://www.cssd.ac.uk/content/accommodation-support
Whilst Central aims to work with as many providers as
possible, we do not endorse any individual organisation. This
guide is for information only.
4SECTION ONE:
WHAT ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
DO I HAVE?
5My Accommodation Options
As a student at Central, you can choose from the following
accommodation options:
Private Rentals (p7-8)
Many Central students decide to rent out a flat for themselves or
live in a house with other students. Each student would have their
own room and share communal spaces such as the kitchen,
bathroom and living room.
Student Halls (p.9-10)
University of London Intercollegiate Halls
(p.9)
As a college of the University of London, Central receives allocated
rooms from the institute each year. Halls are located in Central
London (Euston Square/ Paddington / Marble Arch area) and can
offer catering services and communal areas.
Private Halls (p.10)
Private halls are student residences operated by private companies
or housing associations. Prices for rent are generally always all
inclusive with rooms varying from studios, single en- suite and
twin. Some have communal areas.
Homestay (Host family) (p.11-12)
Students often opt for this type of accommodation as there is a
more flexible approach to renting. A student would usually get
their own room (sometimes bathroom) and share the rest of the
facilities with the Landlord.
6Private Rentals
A majority of students at Central choose to live in private rented
accommodation as this allows them to live with friends and have
their own space.
Outlined below are a few pointers which will help you in your
search.
Join the SAS Accommodation Facebook Pages
These platforms are used by students searching for properties
and/or roommates. Properties which become available are posted
here usually from students moving out of their property.
RCSSD SAS Accommodation:
www.facebook.com/RCSSD.Accommodation
RCSSD Accommodation Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/296002547214739/
Attend the Sharers’ Days
This event will allow students to meet other potential housemates.
The SAS, the Student Union and University of London Housing
Services will be there to provide advice and guidance. Local letting
agents are also invited to present any suitable properties.
Sharers’ Days for 2018 will be held on:
Friday 20th July and Friday 17th August
To book a place, email sas@cssd.ac.uk stating your full name,
course and the date you wish to attend.
7Contact a Letting Agent
A letting agent acts as a channel of communication between a
landlord and the tenant for the rental property. A large percentage
of private accommodation in London is advertised via a letting
agent. Using a letting agent has its advantages as they have access
to a large number of properties. However, do keep in mind that
there is no government licensing of agents which means standards
of service differ. Letting agents can in turn join associations
whose aim is to promote a high standard of service and code
of conduct.
When choosing a Letting Agent, make sure they are a member of
the of the following body:
ARLA (Association of Registered Letting Agents)
NALS (National Approved Letting Scheme)
NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents)
Below is a list of local letting agencies to Central:
Abbey Properties (t): 020 7722 4333, Alan Goldin Estates (t): 020
8209 0101, Cedar Estates (t): 020 7431 1100, Edmund Cude (t):
020 7354 3283, Empire Estates (t): 020 8459 2600, Parkinson Farr
(t): 020 8459 4555, Richard Gaby & Co (t): 020 8209 1116, Rose &
Co Estates (t): 020 7372 8488.
Letting Agencies over London - For a list of Letting Agents over
London visit: www.housing.london.ac.uk/find-accommodation/our-
landlords-and-letting-agents/registered-letting-agents
Average Rent- Search the average rent in London by Postcode
www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/housing-and-
land/renting/london-rents-map
8Student Halls
As a Central student, you have the option of choosing between the
University of London Intercollegiate Halls and Private Halls.
University of London Intercollegiate Halls
The University of London owns and maintains eight
Intercollegiate Halls. To be eligible for these halls you
have to be a full time student. Students who seek to
mix with other students from other universities will
find this opportunity invaluable. All the halls offer
catering throughout the week. To make an application
for Intercollegiate Halls, please email sas@cssd.ac.uk.
Intercollegiate Halls Allocation for 2018/19
Nutford House
6 x Single Shared Bathroom Rooms
2 x Small Single Shared Bathroom
2 x Mini Single Shared Bathroom
£148.40- £188.30 per week, £500 deposit, 40 week contract
For more information visit: www.halls.london.ac.uk/nutford-house
Lillian Penson Hall
3 x Small Single En Suite Catered Rooms
£172.90 per week, £500 deposit, 40 week contract
9Halls are catered (two meals per day are provided and included in
the rent) and you are not permitted to cook your own food. Meals
are served at the following times:
Breakfast: 8am-9:30am (Monday-Friday)
Brunch: 11am-12:30pm (Saturday-Sunday)
Dinner: 6pm-7:30pm (Monday-Sunday)
If students are going to miss dinner in order to attend evening
rehearsals, they can request a Packed Dinner.
For more information visit: www.halls.london.ac.uk/lillian-penson-
hall
For information and advice concerning the Intercollegiate Halls
contact: Intercollegiate Halls Reservation Office on
(t): 020 7862 8881
(e): info.halls@london.ac.uk
Private Halls of Residence
Private halls vary widely from traditional halls
with long corridors of study bedrooms and
shared bathrooms to self- contained studio
apartments with sports and entertainment
facilities.
Many also have shared flats where you can
have a bedroom and share the kitchen and
bathroom with four or five other students.
Please note that if you wish to make an application for the private
halls, you will need to contact them directly.
10Private Halls near Central:
IQ Student Accommodation Netherhall House (Men only)
www.iqstudentaccommodation.com/ www.nh.netherhall.org.uk/
Goodenough College (PG only) Host Wembley
www.goodenough.ac.uk/ www.hostwembley.london/
The Nido Collection AXO Student Living
www.thenidocollection.com/student- www.axostudent.co.uk/
accommodation-west-hampstead/
Osbourne House
Unite Students www.axostudent.co.uk/osbourne-
Beaumont Court: house/
www.unitestudents.com/london/beau
mont-court The Stay Club
St Pancras Way: Camden: www.thestayclub.com/
www.unitestudents.com/london/st-
pancras-way Homes for Students
Bloomsbury Janet Poole House:
Chapter https://wearehomesforstudents.com
www.chapter-living.com/ /index
Urbanest Student Accommodation Scape Wembley
uk.urbanest.com/ https://www.scape.com/en-
uk/student-
accommodation/wembley
For a list of private halls all over London, please visit:
www.housing.london.ac.uk/find-accommodation/registered-independent-
halls-residence
11Homestay
Students often opt for this type of
accommodation as there is a
more flexible approach to renting,
i.e. there is space to negotiate a
contract length that suits you. A
student would usually get their own
room (sometimes bathroom) and share the rest of
the facilities with the Landlord. There may be limitations to this
which would be explained in advance.
Homestay is a popular accommodation option for overseas
students. This is also a perfect accommodation choice for those
looking to live in a home setting or for those in London for the first
time.
Families/ individuals offering homestay are generally extremely
helpful to the student and are happy to give advice on living in
London. Homestay also does not require you to commit to a long
stay if the arrangement is not working for you.
It is very common for Central students to post details of their room
and host family on the SAS Accommodation Facebook platforms
listed below.
RCSSD SAS Accommodation:
www.facebook.com/RCSSD.Accommodation
RCSSD Accommodation Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/296002547214739/
12Please note that the SAS does not have a database of
Homestay Families. The next page provides you with a list of
organisations with homestay options.
If you would like more information on homestay or would like to
find families offering homestay, the University of London work
alongside the organisations listed below:
Britannia Student Services
http://britanniastudents.com/
HFS London
http://www.hfslondon.com/
Hosts International
http://www.hosts-international.com/
Perfect Homestay Ltd
http://www.perfecthomestay.co.uk/
UK Guests Ltd
http://www.ukguests.co.uk/
13SECTION TWO:
HOW DO I FIND FLATMATES?
14Finding my Flatmates
A significant amount of accommodation queries are often
flatmate related. It is therefore extremely important that
you choose to live with people you are comfortable
sharing a home with.
Students looking for flatmates often:
1. Join the RCSSD Accommodation Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/296002547214739/ and post details of the
flatmate they are looking for
2. Attend the Sharers’ Days (more information can be found on p.7)
3. Use online search engines dedicated to finding flatmates such as:
Accommodation for Students
Be cautious!
www.accommodationforstudents.com/
If you’re meeting people
EasyRoommate
you’ve communicated
uk.easyroommate.com/
with online, arrange to
SpareRoom
meet in a public place
www.spareroom.co.uk/
or even bring someone
RoomBuddies
along with you.
www.roombuddies.com
Remember to ask questions!
Be prepared to ask and answer all kinds of questions in relation to living
habits. For example:
What music do you like?
What time do you go to bed?
Do you mind friends coming to the house?
Do you cook?
(It is not about judging one another, it is about compatibility). For more
questions visit: www.thestudentpocketguide.com/2011/05/student-
life/accommodation/house-sharing-tips/
15SECTION THREE:
HOW DO I BUDGET FOR MY
ACCOMMODATION?
16THE RENT FORMULA!!!
Many letting agencies charge rent on a weekly basis, however, if you
wanted to work out how much you are paying per calendar month
(pcm), this would be your calculation:
Weekly
rent Monthly
52 12
charged rent for
(weeks (months =
for the X
in a
÷ the entire
whole in a year)
year) property
property
Then calculate…
Monthly rent YOUR
Number of people
for the entire RENT
÷ in the house =
property PCM
For overseas students that want to work this out in their home
currency, visit: www.xe.com
17Other Housing related
It is no secret that London isExpenses
an expensive
place to live in. We therefore encourage
Central students to choose a living
arrangement which they feel financially confident
with. Before you choose your accommodation, it is
important to plan a realistic budget. This should include all your
income (i.e. student maintenance loan, bursaries etc.) and all of
your costs. Do ensure that you work out a budget before you
choose where to live. This could be the factor which determines
the type of accommodation you will eventually choose.
Below is a table which indicates what expenses you might have
as a student renting:
Telephone
Type of Council Utility TV Insurance
and
Accommodation Tax Bills Licence (contents)
Broadband
University of
London
X X
Intercollegiate
Halls
Private Rentals X X X X
Private Halls X X
Homestay X X X X
18Council Tax
As a student you are exempt from council tax. However, if you live
with somebody who is not a full time student, you may have to pay
part of it. Seek advice from your local council to be sure. Visit
www.gov.uk/find-your-local-council.
Utility Bills
If you are living in a private rental, you may need to set up
accounts with the services company. The landlord should be able
to tell you which companies supply your address. Utilities such as
gas, electricity, heating and hot water should be switched on. All
you would need to do is transfer the account to your name.
TV Licence
You will need a TV License even if you live in halls or watching TV
on your laptop. Full guidance can be found on the following site:
www.tvlicensing.co.uk.
Telephone and Broadband
If you are living in a private rental, ask your landlord if there is a
working phone line in the house. If not, there are some suppliers
that offer special student deals, including shorter contracts. If you
opt for homestay, it is rare not to find a telephone line in the
house. Generally, hosts would allow you to use their wireless
internet at no extra cost. However, there are some cases where
you would pay them to use their landline.
Insurance
It is a good idea to first check with your chosen accommodation if
there is insurance to cover your possessions. If you are in halls,
there is a high possibility that possessions are automatically
insured. There may be an extra cost for higher value possessions
such as laptops so do ask before signing a contract with them.
19You may also wish to check with your family and see what type of
household insurance they have. There are cases where your
possessions are insured under household insurance even if you live
away from home.
If you are renting on your own, please double check with the
landlord to see if your possessions are automatically insured (it
should be stated in your housing contract). The landlord usually has
insurance for the property which may not cover your possessions.
Endsleigh are well- known for providing
student friendly insurance. Their website is:
www.endsleigh.co.uk/Pages/Home.aspx
20My Weekly Spending
As prices for accommodation in London vary greatly, it is difficult to
provide students with a concise figure. A student should expect to
pay approximately £185 - £250 per week in rent. This of course
depends on the facilities offered in the property, the size of the
room and the area.
Below is a rough guide of what a Student should expect to pay
per week in London:
£185 - £250 for accommodation
£50 for food
£10 for gas/ electricity
£10 for contents insurance
£3 for a TV License
£20 - £60 for entertainment
£10 - £30 for travel
£15 for books/ equipment
£25 Home internet/ Phone bill
£25 other costs such as toiletries, clothes,
laundry, photocopying, printing
Total weekly expenditure of £353 - £478
This varies and could be less/ more.
21SECTION FOUR:
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR WHEN
VIEWING A PROPERTY?
22Inspecting a Property
When viewing a property it is easy to get carried away
and ‘fall in love’- especially when it has big
rooms, a garden and if you are seeing it on a hot
summer’s day, it will definitely seem more appealing.
What you have to do is imagine it during the winter when
it is a cold blustery day. Remember to ask yourself:
Is it within your budget to heat all the large rooms?
Do you want to spend your time gardening?
Do you feel safe walking home at night in the area when it
gets dark early?
Please have a look at the SAS’ Housing Checklist (this will be
handed to you with this booklet). It gives you an outline of what to
look out for when viewing a property. If you do not have one,
request one from sas@cssd.ac.uk.
For your SAFETY make sure:
There is no evidence of damp, mould or condensation
Windows are double glazed
Locks on windows and doors are secure
The heating in the house works- find out if the property is
centrally heated or are there electric fires?
All furniture, décor and rooms are in good condition
The bathroom has an extractor fan if it has no windows
There is a smoke alarm and a fire extinguisher
There is a carbon monoxide detector
Your landlord must give you an up to date
Gas Safe Certificate for ALL gas appliances.
23SECTION FIVE:
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK OUT FOR
IN A CONTRACT?
24My Contract
On the Contract, also known as a tenancy agreement, always
remember to check for the:
Start date of tenancy
Date rent is due
Length of the fixed term (if there is one)
How rent is paid
Promises, promises…
If the landlord/ managing agent promises to carry
out repairs, decorating or even provide additional
furniture, make sure you receive a written and signed
pledge. You may be able to negotiate some form of
compensation if the written agreement is not carried out.
Inventory
Make sure the landlord provides you with an
inventory so you and the landlord know
exactly what is in the property and what state
it is in when you move in. If you do not have
an inventory, the University of London
Housing Services have drafted one that can
be used here:
www.studenthousing.lon.ac.uk/uploads/media/Inventory.pdf .If
any of the property/ furniture is damaged, do take photographs as
evidence.
More information on contracts can be found on the next page:
25As a student, you are likely to get an Assured Shorthold Tenancy
(AST). The AST comes in two forms: Joint and Individual Tenancy
The AST
Entitles the landlord to regain possession of the property at
the end of the fixed term tenancy
The AST is usually for a period of 6 months or 12 months
The tenant is bound to this contract for the whole of the
fixed period and liable for the rent- whether in occupation
or not
The usual period of leaving notice is 2 months – this can
only be done after the first 6 months
Joint AST
If you have a joint AST it means you and your flatmates
rent a property together and are jointly liable for the full
rent of the whole property
If one of the tenants move out, the remaining tenants will
be responsible for the full rent of the property
Individual AST
An individual AST means that you are liable for the rent of
only YOUR room, but have access to all the joint facilities of
the property
With this contract, you have no say in who moves into the
property and if you have a TV, you will need your own
licence
Always ensure your room has a lockable door with this
agreement
This type of tenancy can only be given if the landlord is
not a resident in the property
26Contract Checking
Services
NEVER SIGN A CONTRACT YOU DO NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND.
Remember that you have every right to take a copy of the tenancy
agreement and seek advice from:
The University of London Housing Service
www.housing.london.ac.uk/cms/housing-advice/
Law Centre Federation
www.lawcentres.org.uk/i-am-looking-for-advice
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice.htm
Shelter
england.shelter.org.uk/home
27My Deposit
When you choose to rent a property, by law, a landlord can charge
no more than one sixth (2 months) of the annual property for a
deposit. However, there are cases where some international
students are asked for 6 months’ rent in advance (if they do not
have a UK guarantor).
A landlord MUST protect your deposit by choosing
to register with one of the following schemes:
Deposit Protection Service (DPS)
www.depositprotection.com
My Deposits
www.mydeposits.co.uk
Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) – does not cover holding
deposits*
www.tds.gb.com
The schemes encourage landlords and tenants to draw up clear
tenancy agreements and provide a free service to resolve disputes.
In any other scheme, the deposit is not protected by the law.
If your landlord fails to protect your deposit, you can take them to
court. The landlord will also be unable to seek possession of the
property.
*Landlords and Agents are not required to protect a holding
deposit with a scheme before you become their tenant,
however, once you have signed the tenancy agreement the
holding deposit becomes a deposit which must be protected
with a scheme.
28Right to Rent Check
This information is important for UK and International
Students.
From 1st February 2016, landlords and letting agencies are
required to carry out checks relating to the immigration status of
the tenants. This applies to UK students as well.
The landlord or the letting agent will ask you to provide original
copies of certain documents to prove that you have the right to
rent in the UK. This could include:
- Passport
- BRP (Biometric Residence Permit)
REMEMBER!
- You should not be charged for a Right to Rent Check
- Do not send any original documents via post or email
to the landlord or the letting agent – these checks need to
be done in person
- It is illegal for a landlord or letting agent to
discriminate against you on the basis of your nationality
or race
If you have any questions, please email sas@cssd.ac.uk or if you
require more information, visit: www.gov.uk/righttorentchecks
Please note: Students that sub-let will also need to do the
Right to Rent Check on the tenant taking their room or
property.
29SECTION SIX:
WHAT IF I HAVE A DISABILTY?
30Advice for Students with a
Disability
For support and advice on adaptations you might need if you have
a disability, contact the Learning Centre at dds@cssd.ac.uk
Below are a list of organisations that offer advice, support and
guidance regarding housing and disability.
Ability Housing
www.ability-housing.co.uk/
Habinteg
www.habinteg.org.uk/main.cfm
Thomas Pocklington Trust: for people with Sight loss,
blindness and partial-sight
www.pocklington-trust.org.uk/guide-finding-home-visually-
impaired-people
www.pocklington-trust.org.uk/i-will-be-student
Disability Rights UK
www.disabilityrightsuk.org/getting-advice
Disability Rights Commission
www.odi.gov.uk
Information on disability rights
Rethink
https://www.rethink.org/about-us/commissioning-us/housing
Private Halls and University of London Intercollegiate Halls
Please note that if you are living in halls, it is illegal for them to
charge you higher rent or an additional fee to accommodate any
form of disability.
31SECTION SEVEN:
CAN I HAVE A LIST OF CONTACTS?
32Useful Contacts and
Links
Student Housing Advice
The Student Advice Service
(t): 020 7559 3900 (e): sas@cssd.ac.uk
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm
Facebook:
RCSSD SAS Accommodation:
www.facebook.com/RCSSD.Accommodation
RCSSD Accommodation Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/296002547214739/
University of London Housing Services:
www.housing.london.ac.uk
(t): 020 7862 8881
(e): info.halls@london.ac.uk
Disability Rights Commission – information on disability rights
and accommodation: www.odi.gov.uk
Independent Advice Bodies
Citizens Advice Bureau: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Shelter: www.shelter.org.uk
Legal Advice
Civil Legal Advice: www.gov.uk/civil-legal-advice
Law Centres Network: www.lawcentres.org.uk/
Law Works: www.lawworks.org.uk/
University of London Housing Services:
www.housing.london.ac.uk
(t): 020 7862 8881
(e): info.halls@london.ac.uk
33Letting Agency Associations
ARLA (Association of Registered Letting Agents): www.arla.co.uk
NALS (National Approved Letting Scheme): www.nalscheme.co.uk
NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents): www.naea.co.uk
RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors): www.rics.org
TPOS (The Property Ombudsman Service): www.tpos.co.uk
LLAS (Landon Landlords Accreditation Scheme):
www.londonlandlords.org.uk
Property Search Engines
www.rightmove.co.uk
www.findaproperty.co.uk
www.propertyfinder.co.uk
www.loot.com
www.student.spareroom.co.uk/
www.accommodationforstudents.com
Find your Local Authority
www.local.direct.gov.uk/LDGRedirect/Start.do?mode=1
Safety
www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk/Students
www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice/for-students/
Deposit
General Information: www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection
Deposit Protection Service (DPS): www.depositprotection.com/
My Deposits: www.mydeposits.co.uk/
Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS): www.tds.gb.com/
Currency Converter
XE Services: www.xe.com/
34Travel
Transport for London: www.tfl.gov.uk/
Local Letting Agencies
Abbey Properties
www.abbeyproperties.co.uk (t): 020 7722 4333
Alan Goldin Estates
www.alangoldinestates.co.uk (t): 020 8209 0101
Cedar Estates
www.cedarestates.com (t): 020 7431 1100
Edmund Cude (Portico)
www.edmundcude.com (t): 020 7354 3283
Empire Estates
www.empire-estates.com (t): 020 8459 2600
Parkinson Farr
www.parkinsonfarr.co.uk (t): 020 8459 4555
Richard Gaby & Co
www.richardgabyandco.co.uk (t): 020 8209 1116
Rose & Co Estates
www.roseandcoestates.co.uk (t): 020 7372 8488
Useful Numbers:
Police Emergency 999
Police non- emergency 101
NHS Direct 0845 46 47
Crime Stoppers 0800 555 111
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