Accommodation Guide 2020/21 - Student Advice Service (SAS) - Central School of Speech ...
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Student Advice Service (SAS)
Accommodation
Guide 2020/21
1
Contents
Welcome to Central! 4
SECTION ONE: WHAT ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS DO I HAVE?
My Accommodation Options 6
Private Rentals 7-8
Student Halls 9-11
Living with a Resident Landlord / Homestay 12-13
SECTION TWO: HOW DO I FIND FLATMATES?
Finding my Flatmates 15
SECTION THREE: HOW DO I BUDGET FOR MY
ACCOMMODATION?
The Rent Formula! 17
Other Housing related Expenses 18-20
My Weekly Spending 21
SECTION FOUR: WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR WHEN VIEWING A
PROPERTY?
2Inspecting a Property 23
SECTION FIVE: WHAT SHOULD I LOOK OUT FOR IN THE
CONTRACT?
My Contract 25-26
Contract Checking Services 27
Tennant Fees 28-29
My Deposit 30
Guarantors 31
Right to Rent Check 32
SECTION SIX: WHAT IF I HAVE A DISABILITY?
Advice for Students with a Disability 34
SECTION SEVEN: CAN I HAVE A LIST OF CONTACTS?
Useful Contacts and Links 36-38
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 a house with other students, live in
halls or live on your own, it is important for your wellbeing that you
find a living arrangement that you are comfortable with and a
property that works for your budget.
By providing you with a brief outline of what housing options you
can choose from, our aim is make you 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 Rented Accommodation (p7-8)
Many Central students decide to rent out a flat or house with other
students or professional people working in London. Each student
would usually have their own room and share communal spaces
such as the kitchen, bathroom and living room and share the cost
of bills. Some students live on their own, but this can be an
expensive.
Student Halls (p.9-11)
University of London’s Intercollegiate Halls
(p.9)
As a college of the University of London, Central receives allocated
rooms each year. Halls are located in Central London (near
Paddington, Kings Cross St Pancras and Euston) and both catered
and non-catered rooms are offered.
Private Halls of Residence (p.10-11)
Private halls are student residences operated by private
companies. Rent generally includes all bills and rooms are self-
catered, varying from studios, single en-suite and twin. Most have
communal areas & include additional facilities like an onsite gym.
Living with a Resident Landlord / Homestay (Host
family) (p.12-13)
Students sometimes opt for this type of accommodation as a more
flexible and cost effective approach to renting. A student would
usually get their own room and share the rest of the facilities with
the Landlord/host family.
6Private Rented Accommodation
The 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 too. It is usually more cost-effective than halls.
Outlined below are a few pointers to help you in your search.
Join Accommodation/Flatmate Finder Facebook Pages
These groups are used by students searching for properties and/or
roommates. Students post properties on this page if they are
looking for flatmates or looking to move out and need to find a
replacement tenant. You can also like our SAS Accommodation
Page.
RCSSD Accommodation Private Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/296002547214739/
University of London’s Housing Services: Facebook Flatmate Finder:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlatmateFinder/
RCSSD SAS Accommodation Page:
www.facebook.com/RCSSD.Accommodation
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 2019 will be held on:
Friday 17th July and Friday 21st August 2020*
To book a place or learn more, please email sas@cssd.ac.uk
stating your full name, course and the date you wish to attend.
*Please note that following the Coronavirus outbreak, these dates may be subject
to change. Please email SAS@cssd.ac.uk for confirmation and updates.
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 letting
agents. 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 join associations
whose aim is to promote a high standard of service and codes
of conduct.
When choosing a Letting Agent, make sure they are a member of
the following body:
ARLA (Association of Registered Letting Agents)
NALS (National Approved Letting Scheme)
Below is a list letting agencies near to Central:
Black Katz Managemnt and Lettings (t): 020 7328 5000 Alan
Goldin Estates (t): 020 8209 0101, Cedar Estates (t): 020 7431
1100, Empire Estates (t): 020 8459 2600, Parkinson Farr (t): 020
8459 4555, Rose & Co Estates (t): 020 7372 8488, Dreamview
Estates (t): 020 8455 0055
Letting Agencies across London - For a list of Letting Agents
across London visit: www.housing.london.ac.uk/find-
accommodation/our-landlords-and-letting-agents/registered-
letting-agents
Property Search Engines - A full list can be found on page 36.
University of London’s Student Homes
https://studenthomes.london.ac.uk/ (2nd and 3rd Year
Undergraduate and all Postgraduate students only)
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 are
interested in living with students from other
universities should consider this type of
accommodation. To make an application for
Intercollegiate Halls, please email sas@cssd.ac.uk.
Intercollegiate Halls Allocation for 2020/21
Lillian Penson Hall
4 x Small Single En Suite Catered Rooms
11 x Single En Suite Catered Rooms
£179.83 – £206.78 per week, £500 deposit, 40 week contract
Halls 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 Catering FAQs visit: https://halls.london.ac.uk/catering
9The Garden Halls
5 x Standard Superior Self Catered rooms*
£216.23 per week, 4 weeks rent deposit (£864.92), 40 week
contract
* each bedroom has its own toilet and washbasin with shared
shower facilities. Every floor has shared showers with an average
of one shower between 2 residents, there are also shared kitchen
and dining facilities on each floor as well as access to the central
kitchen and diner facilities within the development.
For more information visit: https://halls.london.ac.uk/the-gardens
For information about applying for a place at Lillian Penson Hall or
The Garden Halls please visit our Intercollegiate Halls webpage
https://www.cssd.ac.uk/content/university-londons-intercollegiate-
halls or contact the SAS Office directly
(t): +44 (0) 20 7559 3900 (e): sas@cssd.ac.uk
Private Halls of Residence
Private halls (sometimes called Purpose-built
Student Accommodation or PBSAs) vary from
traditional halls with long corridors of study
bedrooms with en suite or 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 with four or five other students.
Halls can be found near Central and there is a hub of PBSAs near
to Wembley Park tube station. Private Halls are one of the
expensive ways of organising your accommodation, so students
should budget carefully!
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/ AXO Camden
Unite Students axostudent.co.uk/properties/axo-
Beaumont Court: camden/
www.unitestudents.com/london/beau
The Stay Club
mont-court
St Pancras Way: Camden: www.thestayclub.com/
www.unitestudents.com/london/st-
Homes for Students
pancras-way
Bloomsbury Janet Poole House:
Chapter wearehomesforstudents.com/index
www.chapter-living.com/
Scape Wembley
www.scape.com/en-uk/student-
Urbanest Student Accommodation
accommodation/wembley
uk.urbanest.com/
For a list of private halls all over London, please visit:
www.housing.london.ac.uk/find-accommodation/registered-independent-
halls-residence
www.cssd.ac.uk/content/private-halls-residence
11Living with a
Resident landlord /
Homestay
Some students 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/host family. There might be particular
‘house rules’ that might restrict your freedom and independence
which would need to be explained in advance by the landlord/host
family.
Homestay is an accommodation option sometimes explored
overseas students looking to improve English as their second
language, who would like to live in a home setting or for those
moving to London for the first time. Families/individuals offering
homestay are generally very 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.
Central students sometimes post details of their room and host
family on the SAS Accommodation Facebook platforms listed
below.
RCSSD Accommodation Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/296002547214739/
RCSSD SAS Accommodation:
www.facebook.com/RCSSD.Accommodation
12Please note that the SAS does not have a database of
Homestay Families.
If you would like more information on homestay or would like to
find families offering homestay, the University of London’s Housing
Service provide more information on the organisations listed
below: https://housing.london.ac.uk/find-accommodation/short-
term-housing/homestay-host-family-accommodation
Britannia Student Services
http://britanniastudents.com/
HFS London
http://www.hfslondon.com/
Home from Home -
London Homestays
http://londonhomestays.com/
Hosts International
http://www.hosts-international.com/
Live-In Carers
In recent years, some Central students have chosen to become
residential carer assistants or personal assistants. This can be a paid
position that also includes accommodation. However any student
entering into a resident carer position, needs to carefully consider
whether they have the time to undertake the duties of caring for the
property owner and balancing this with their studies.
13SECTION TWO:
HOW DO I FIND FLATMATES?
14Finding my Flatmates
It is very important that you think carefully and talk
about what you and your flatmates are looking in your
house-share. This begins by choosing people you are
comfortable sharing a home with.
Students looking for flatmates often:
Attend one of our Sharers’ Days events (find out more on p.7 or visit
www.cssd.ac.uk/content/accommodation-support)
Join the RCSSD Accommodation Private Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/296002547214739/
Join the University of London’s Housing Services: Facebook Flatmate
Finder: www.facebook.com/groups/FlatmateFinder/
Use an online search engine like
o SpareRoom
www.spareroom.co.uk/
Be cautious!
If you’re meeting people you’ve communicated with online, arrange to meet
in a public place or even think about bringing someone along with you.
Remember to ask questions!
Be prepared to ask and answer all kinds of questions in relation to living
habits. For example:
Do you mind friends coming to the house?
What time do you go to bed?
What music do you like?
Do you cook? / How we will arrange a cleaning rota?
These questions are not about judging one another, they are about working
out how compatible you and your potential housemates will be. For further
advice, please email SAS@cssd.ac.uk and more resources will be sent to you.
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 Expenses
It is no secret that London is an expensive
place to live. We therefore encourage
Central students to choose a living
arrangement that you (and your flatmates) 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,
family contributions, bursaries, work salary etc.) and all of your
costs. Do ensure that you work out a budget before you choose
where to live. This could determine the type of accommodation
you will eventually choose.
Below is a table which indicates what expenses you will have
on top of your rent in accommodation: X = Not included in rent
Type of Utility TV Insurance
Broadband
Accommodation Bills Licence (contents)
University of
London
X X
Intercollegiate
Halls
Private Rentals X X X X
Private Halls X X
Homestay X
18Council Tax
If you are a full time student you are exempt from council tax. You
will have to prove your student status by requesting a letter from
the SAS. However, if you live with other people who are not full
time students, they will still be eligible but may receive a discount.
For further advice on this, please email SAS@cssd.ac.uk or get in
touch with your local council: www.gov.uk/find-your-local-council.
Utility Bills
If you are living in a privately rented property, you may need to set
up accounts with utility companies (e.g. water, gas, electric). The
landlord should be able to tell you which companies supply your
address. Utilities such as gas, electricity, water should already be
connected when you move in. You should note down and
photograph all utility meter readings for future reference. All you
would need to do is open an account in your name or, ideally, the
names of everyone in the property.
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 rented accommodation, ask your
landlord if there is a working phone line/broadband or fibre optic
internet connection in the house. If not, there are some suppliers
that offer special student deals, including shorter contracts. You
can compare student broadband deals at
https://www.moneysupermarket.com/broadband/student-
broadband/
If you opt for homestay, hosts generally allow you to use their
wireless internet at no extra cost. However, this should be
discussed when you enquire about the property.
19Insurance
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 possibility that some of your 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.
You 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 and are the only
insurance company recommended by the
National Union of Students. 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 an exact figure. A student should expect to
pay approximately £150 - £210 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:
£150 for accommodation*
£10 for gas/electricity/water*
£35 for food
£2.50 for contents insurance*
£1 for a TV License*
£30 for entertainment
£30 for travel
£5 for books/equipment/printing/photocopying
£10 Home Broadband*/ Phone bill
£15 other costs such as toiletries, clothes,
laundry
Approximately: £288.50 per week
*based on three people sharing
It’s worth noting that the type of accommodation can
change this guide. For example, Halls of Residence
may cost approximately £200 per week (depending on
location and room type, it can be more than this)
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? How close is it to transport links?
Please have a look at the SAS’ Housing Checklist
(https://www.cssd.ac.uk/content/accommodation-how-it-works). 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 heaters?
All furniture, décor and rooms are in good condition
The bathroom has an extractor fan if it has no windows
There is smoke alarms 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 and ensure that the electrical installation is safe when
tenants move in and maintained in a safe condition throughout its duration
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 monthly
Length of the fixed term (if there is one) and the end date
How rent is paid
Promises, promises…
If the landlord/ managing agent promises to carry
out repairs, decorating or provide or remove 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
condition it is in when you move in. If the
landlord does not provide you with an
inventory, you insist on one being created or
write one yourself and send it to your landlord or letting agent.
If any of the property/ furniture is damaged, do take photographs
as evidence.
For more information about inventories please get in touch with
the SAS at SAS@cssd.ac.uk or visit Shelter’s Inventories page:
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/how_
to_check_and_agree_an_inventory
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
The tenant has exclusive possession of the property, so the
landlord cannot enter without permission.
The landlord needs to protect the tenant’s deposit and
undertake certain repairs within a reasonable timeframe.
Entitles the landlord to regain possession of the property at
the end of the fixed term tenancy.
The tenant is bound to this contract for the whole of the
fixed period and liable for the rent- whether in occupation
or not
Your landlord needs to give you two months’ written notice
on a standard form in order to end the tenancy.
Joint AST
If you have a joint AST it means you & your flatmates rent a
property together, all named on the same contract & are
jointly liable for the full rent of the whole property, all bills
and the jointly responsible for the condition of the
property.
If one of the tenants wants to move out, there is joint
responsibility for finding a new tenant and all 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
YOUR room only, but have access to all the joint facilities of
the property. Each tenant has a separate contract: you
have no say in who moves into the property. Check the
contract for liability for the bills.
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
NEVER SIGN A CONTRACTServices
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
https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help
27Tennant Fees
As of 1st June 2019, landlords and letting agents can no longer
charge many of the fees that were often associated with renting.
The Tennant Fees Act 2019 places strict laws on what a tenant can,
and cannot be charged.
What can I be charged for?
Rent: You still need to pay rent, but you can’t be charged a higher
amount for the first month to make up for the fees.
Holding Deposit: A landlord or agent can still ask for a holding
deposit to take the property off the market, but it cannot be more
than the value of one week of rent.
Security Deposit: Cannot be more than the value of 5 weeks of
rent.
Lost keys: You can be charge a reasonable cost to replace keys.
The landlord or agent should be able to evidence this cost with
invoices or receipts.
Tenancy Changes: If you need to change the tenancy agreement
(such as adding a replacement tenant) you can be charged
reasonable costs (around £50).
Early termination: Should not exceed the loss the landlord/agent
has incurred (evidence should be provided to demonstrate losses).
The landlord/agent can still take reasonable costs for damages,
unpaid rent and bills from your security deposit.
28What fees are prohibited by law?
There are some examples of things that a landlord or agent can no
longer charge for…
- Fees for viewing a property
- Tenancy setup fees
- Admin fees
- Inventory fees
- Check in / Check out fees
- Professional cleaning (although you are responsible to
return the property in the condition you found it: aside
from fair wear and tear)
- Gardening services
If you are unsure about any fees you have been charged, please
reach out to the Student Advice Service: sas@cssd.ac.uk
Does this apply to my contract?
From the 1st June 2020 all contracts must comply with the Tennant
Fees Act.
What happens if I’m charged a prohibited fees?
It should be refunded to you within 28 days of paying the fee. If still
not returned, the landlord/agent is breaking the law and you can
report them to your local council’s trading standards. The financial
penalty for breaching the law is up to £5000 fir a first offence, and
up to £30,000 for further offences.
29My Deposit
From the 1st June 2019, a deposit can be no more than the
equivalent of 5 weeks rent (if the annual rent is £50,000 or
less). Holding deposits are capped at one week’s rent.
A landlord MUST protect your deposit by choosing to register with
one of the following schemes within 30 days of receipt:
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 or issue you with
‘Prescribed Information’ detailing how your deposit has been
protected, how you get it back at the end of your tenancy and how
to resolve disputes (please see more here), 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.
30Guarantors
Most landlords or agents insist on a guarantor. A guarantor is
someone who agrees to pay your rent and reimburse the landlord
for any damage caused at the property if you, as the tenant, fail to
do so. A guarantor is usually required to:
- Be resident in the UK
- Complete a reference check.
Guarantor agreements are legally binding. For many students,
their guarantor might be a family member of family friend. If you
are an entering into a joint tenancy, your guarantor will most likely
be guaranteeing the rent for the whole property and not just
your share of the rent.
Where possible, it is better for your guarantor if the guarantor
agreement:
- Limits their liability to just your share of the rent.
- Limits the guarantee to the set period of time, i.e. the fixed
term of the contract.
- Limits the guarantee to only the rent and does not include
the costs of damage or disrepair.
What if I don’t have a guarantor?
International students who do not have a UK-based guarantor may
be asked to pay rent in advance, e.g. 3-6 months. Students should
try to negotiate to limit the amount of rent in advance that you
need to pay. Six months’ rent in advance should be the maximum
upfront payment.
Students without a guarantor can ask their letting
agent/landlord/hall of residence if they would accept the student
using the services of a Guarantor company (e.g.
https://www.housinghand.co.uk/) in lieu of a guarantor.
Please note that Central does not operate a Guarantor scheme.
31Right to Rent Check
This information is important for UK and International
Students.
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 as international students.
The landlord or the letting agent will ask you to provide original ID
documents to prove that you have the right to rent in the UK and
will take photocopies. This could include:
- Passport
- BRP (Biometric Residence Permit)
If you don't have a passport, you have to provide 2 alternative
documents instead. For example, a UK birth certificate and driving
licence. Find a full list of acceptable documents on GOV.UK: Right
to rent user guide
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
32SECTION SIX:
WHAT IF I HAVE A DISABILTY?
33Advice for Students with a
Disability
For support and advice on adaptations you might need if you have
a disability, contact dds@cssd.ac.uk
Below are a list of organisations that offer advice, support and
guidance regarding housing and disability.
Habinteg
www.habinteg.org.uk/main.cfm
Ability Housing (requires a referral from your social worker)
www.ability-housing.co.uk/
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
https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/how-we-can-help/benefits-
information/factsheets/education-factsheets
Disability Rights Commission
www.odi.gov.uk (Information on disability rights)
Rethink
https://www.rethink.org/living-with-mental-illness/housing
Private Halls of Residence
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.
34SECTION SEVEN:
CAN I HAVE A LIST OF CONTACTS?
35Useful 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 – 6pm (Term Time)
Facebook:
RCSSD Accommodation Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/296002547214739/
University of London’s Housing Services: Facebook Flatmate
Finder:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlatmateFinder/
SAS Accommodation:
www.facebook.com/RCSSD.Accommodation
University of London Housing Services:
www.housing.london.ac.uk
(t): 020 7862 8880
(e): housing@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
36Letting 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 (London Landlords Accreditation Scheme):
www.londonlandlords.org.uk
Property Search Engines
https://housing.london.ac.uk/find-accommodation/housing-database
https://studenthomes.london.ac.uk/ (2nd and 3rd Year
Undergraduate and all Postgraduate students only)
www.rightmove.co.uk
https://www.zoopla.co.uk/
https://www.openrent.co.uk/
https://www.spareroom.co.uk/
https://www.accommodationforstudents.com/in/london
Find your Local Council
https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
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/
37Currency Converter
XE Services: www.xe.com/
Travel
Transport for London: www.tfl.gov.uk/
Local Letting Agencies
Black Katz Managemnt and Lettings (t): 020 7328 5000
Alan Goldin Estates (t): 020 8209 0101
Cedar Estates (t): 020 7431 1100
Empire Estates (t): 020 8459 2600
Parkinson Farr (t): 020 8459 4555
Rose & Co Estates (t): 020 7372 8488
Dreamview Estates (t): 020 8455 0055
Useful Numbers:
Police Emergency 999
Police non- emergency 101
NHS Direct 111 111
Crime Stoppers 0800 555 111
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