Student Accommodation

Guide 2014/15
2
Contents
G
uide to Renting

Pg 3
College H
alls of Residence Pg 8
Private H
alls of Residence Pg 8
Private Letting


Pg 10
U
seful Contacts

Pg 11





This guide is designed to help
you fnd accommodation.
Whether you are staying away
from home for the frst time or
you are a seasoned fat hunter,
this guide should help.
IMPORTANT Please note that
private accommodation is not
vetted by the College.
It is advisable (where possible)
to view any property before
committing to a tenancy.
While we cannot take
responsibility for your landlord or
problems that may occur while
living in accommodation found
using this guide, we can offer you
support if such problems arise.
3
Guide to Renting: The Basics
Lease
Whether you decide to live in halls of residence, rent on your
own or share a fat, you should always sign a contract; this
contract is normally called a tenancy agreement or a lease.
The agreement which sets out the terms of your lease should
be signed by you and the landlord.
A standard tenancy agreement normally includes the following
information:
Your name, your landlords name and the address of
the property
The date the tenancy began
The duration of the tenancy
The amount of rent payable and the dates on which it is due
Details of who is responsible for payment of the utilities and
Council Tax
Whether your landlord will provide any services e.g.: laundry,
maintenance of common parts
The length of notice required by both parties to terminate the
contract
Deposits / Rent in advance
Before you move into your accommodation it is likely you will
have to provide the landlord with certain payments. A deposit (up
to two months rent) is paid by you to cover any unpaid rent and
bills or damage to the property before you move out. Provided
you have not breached your tenancy, your deposit will normally
be returned to you in full once you move out, although this
can be a source of contention for many who rent privately. By
law, to ensure that your deposit is retained and returned to
you fairly, landlords and letting agents should be adhering
to the rent deposit scheme which is run by independent
companies that are approved by the Scottish Government. Your
landlord or letting agent should leave your deposit with one of the companies and
at the end of your tenancy they apply to the company for the repayment of your deposit. Their
application will include details of deductions and the amount of the deposit to be returned. You will then be
contacted by the independent company to see if you agree with the amount of deposit that is to be returned to
you. You can either agree or disagree letting the independent company know. If your landlord is not within a
rent deposit scheme you are within your rights to have them charged which could result in them paying you up
to three times your deposit. For more information please visit: www.mydepositsscotland.co.uk
When you sign your tenancy agreement always check the details to see what your deposit will cover and
how it will be returned. You should also ask for an inventory of contents of the property. If there are any items
missing or damaged, let the landlord know immediately.
As well as a deposit, most landlords will ask for a rent payment upfront. This is commonly referred to as rent
in advance. Generally, but not exclusively, landlords ask for one months rent in advance, together with the
deposit.
4
Health & Safety
Your landlord is responsible for providing fre detection
equipment for your home. There should be at least one smoke
detector on each foor of the property, and if the alarms are
installed after September 2007, they should be mains powered
rather than battery powered.
If you live in accommodation that is classed as House of
Multiple Occupancy (HMO) the rules for fre safety are slightly
different. See below for further details.
If your landlord buys new equipment for the property such as a
microwave, kettle, toaster etc, make sure they provide you with the
instructions.
HMO Licences
An HMO (House of Multiple Occupancy) property is accommodation
that is shared by three or more tenants who arent members of the
same family. HMO landlords must have a licence from the council
for every HMO. This ensures that the property is managed properly
and meets certain safety standards. This is done by the landlord
providing each tenant with a clear statement. You should keep
this for reference as it explains what is expected of you and what
you can expect from your landlord. This includes details of rent
(as stated above) and the responsibilities of the landlord and the
tenant when dealing with any cleaning, maintaining and repairing
of the property.
Standards that an HMO property should meet include:
Bedrooms should be able to accommodate a bed, a
wardrobe and a chest of drawers.
Kitchens should include one sink for every six tenants,
adequate food storage for the number of tenants,
adequate work surface, and one cooker for every six
tenants.
There should be one WC for every fve tenants and one bath or
shower for every six tenants.
Each bedroom and living room should have a fxed heating appliance.
Each bedroom and living room should have adequate natural lighting and ventilation from a window.
Kitchens, bathrooms and toilets should have either natural ventilation or adequate mechanical ventilation.
There should be at least one electric lighting point in every room space which measures an area of two
square metres or more.
The property must have adequate fre precautions, including provision for detection, escape from the
building, and fghting fre.
The property should have secure locks on all access doors and on the doors of residents rooms where
appropriate.
Guide to Renting: The Basics
5
Gas Appliances
Your landlord has a duty to ensure that any gas
appliances are maintained and are in good working
order. Gas boilers should receive an annual safety
check by someone who is registered with the Gas Safe
Register (this replaced the Corgi Register). Your landlord
must also keep a record of any such checks and be
willing to share these with you if you request them.
Repairs
It is the responsibility of the tenant to look after the
property and inform the landlord of any repairs that
need to be carried out. As a tenant you must keep the
property clean and make sure the fxtures and fttings are
kept in good working order (allowing for normal wear and
tear). If there is any damage to the property, you should
inform the landlord immediately. If the landlord fails to
carry out reported repairs you can contact:
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Guide to Renting: The Basics
6
Council Tax
Housing Beneft
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Council Tax is a charge on residential properties that you pay to your local Council. Only those over 18 are liable,
although most full time students are exempt from Council Tax charges. You will, however, still have to claim the
exemption. To do this, you will have to complete an exemption form and get this stamped by the College.
If you live in the Glasgow City Council area, you can pick up an exemption form from Student Services. For other
Local Authorities, you should be able to download an application form from their website.
If you share a fat with someone who is not a student and that person is liable to pay the Council Tax, they are
able to claim the 25% rebate.
Housing Beneft is a beneft that helps people meet the cost of rent; it is administered by local Councils.
Most fulltime students are not eligible for Housing Beneft, although there are some exceptions.
If you are studying a course of further education (e.g. Access, NQ, Intermediates, Foundation), you can claim
Housing Beneft if you:
are aged under 19 OR
are aged under 22 but you were under 21 when you started the course. (Your entitlement will stop when you
reach 22 unless you are eligible under different rules) OR
are in receipt of Income related ESA, Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (income based) OR
are a lone parent with a child under 16 (or under 20 if you still receive Child Beneft for your child) OR
are disabled (i.e. if you get DLA or long term Incapacity Beneft), Personal Independence Payment OR
have been incapable of work for the past 28 weeks OR
have a partner who is also a student and you have a dependent child OR
are aged 60 or over or have a partner who is over 60
Where to apply
Glasgow Residents should apply to:
Housing Beneft Revenue Centre,
45 John Street, Glasgow, G1 1JE.
If you live in another Council area you should visit your local
Council offce or download a Housing Beneft application from
their website.
If you are unsure of your entitlement or if you would like further
information, please come in to see a Student Advisor in
Student Services at:
Student Services at City Campus North Hanover Street
Student Services at Riverside Campus
Room 300 at Rogart Street
Alternatively you can phone us or email us: 0141 566 4281/ 4217
studentadvisors@cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk
Glasgow City Councils Statutory Homelessness Duty
Glasgow City Councils statutory homelessness duties are managed by Homelessness Services. They can
provide support to anyone who is homeless, threatened with homelessness, or is in need of advice about
homelessness issues through their Community Casework Services. If you think you are homeless, or at risk
of becoming homeless, they will support you to secure an interview at your local Community Casework Team,
or outwith normal offce hours at the Hamish Allan Centre. Homelessness Services also provide a key link to
preventing homelessness and providing advice and assistance.
Homelessness
Area Address Telephone
North East Community Casework
Service
33 Burnmouth Road, Glasgow G33 4ST 0141 276 6153 &
0141 276 6160
North West Community Casework
Service
30 Mansion Street, Glasgow G22 5SZ 0141 276 6169 &
0141 287 3158
South Community Casework Service 1st Floor, TwoMax Building, 187 Old
Rutherglen Road, Glasgow G5 0RE
0141 276 8201 &
0141 276 6180
Out of Hours Service The Hamish Allan Centre, 180 Centre
Street, Glasgow G5 8EE
Free phone: 0800 838 502
The centre is open from
4.00pm to 9.00am on
Monday to Friday. Open 24
hours on Saturday, Sunday
and public holidays.
If you become homeless but do not live within the Glasgow City Council local authority, your local council will
have similar services available. The Student Advisors will be able to offer guidance and support on your options.
7
8
Student Halls of Residence
City of Glasgow College Student Residences
Self-catered accommodation is situated directly across from the Riverside Campus offering high quality en-suite
accommodation for students in single rooms and a small number of shared rooms. The accommodation consists
of fats which have up to 6 single rooms with residents sharing the kitchen and dining/living area. The fats are
fully equipped with cookers, fridge freezers, cooking equipment, utensils, crockery and cutlery. Each bedroom is
equipped with attractive furnishings and all bed linen is provided, however students are required to provide their
own towels. All bedrooms have an internet access point. Please enquire when booking as terms and conditions
apply. Fees include the cost of accommodation, heating, lighting and a cleaning service for common areas in the
fats and a weekly service of bedrooms within the fats. This student residence combines high quality living at an
affordable price, representing excellent value for money. Some ground foor fats are specially designed to help
those with mobility problems. This residence is offered on a 40 week contract basis.
Name Location Cost Deposit
St. Lukes
0141 565 2884
Email
hall.of.residence@
cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk
Opposite Riverside
Campus
108 per week
300 should be paid
towards rent at time
of booking. This
advance payment
of 300 is non
refundable should the
accommodation be
cancelled.
Collegelands
0141 565 2884
Email
hall.of.residence@
cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk
Havannah Street
Glasgow
G4
112 per week
Private Companies
In addition to the Colleges Halls of Residence there are privately run halls close to the College. This type of
accommodation is specifcally aimed at students and the prices can vary, so it is important that you look at all
options. You can choose to live in single en-suite room and share kitchen facilities, or you can rent a fat on your
own; generally it is cheaper to share accommodation. Rent is usually inclusive of utilities but is important that
you check this before committing to a tenancy. Opposite are some of the privately run student residencies that
are close to the City Campus.
Please note all of the rooms shown opposite are the cheapest available. Prices vary.
Private Halls of Residence
Company Location Cost Deposit
Unite
0800 783 4213
www.unite-students.com
Blackfriars
Blackfriars Road
Glasgow G1 1QL
From 106 per week -
includes bills and internet
250
Buchanan View
35 Calgary Street
Glasgow G4 0XG
From 99 per week -
includes bills and internet
250
Gibson Street
Glasgow G12 8SY
From 131 per week -
includes bills and internet
250
Kelvin Court
30 Yorkhill Street
Glasgow G3 8RY
From 133 per week -
includes bills and internet
250
Thurso Street
1-3 Thurso Street
Glasgow G11 6PE
From 131 per week -
includes bills and internet
250
Victoria Halls
0141 354 4100
www.victoriahall.com
171 Kyle Street
Bells Pottery
Glasgow G4 0JQ
From 95 per week 200 Initial rent
payment
Fresh Student Living
0141 552 1915
www.freshstudentliving.
co.uk
Collegelands
10 Havannah Street
Glasgow G4 0VB
From 105 per week -
includes bills and internet
250 plus booking fee
Tramworks
107 Kelvinhaugh Street
Glasgow G3 8PX
From 125 per week
includes bills and internet
100
Liberty House
0141 248 9949
www.libertyliving.co.uk
59 Miller Street
Glasgow G1 1EB
From 111 per week -
includes bills and internet
access
200
Mansion Firhill Flats
0141 530 1429
www.mansionstudent.co.uk
150 Firhill Road
Glasgow G20 7BB
From 96.50 per week Instalment fee: 100
Connection Fee: 100
Utility Fee: 195
Prime Student Living
0141 332 5915
www.primestudentliving.com
Prime Student Living
1st Floor
359 Sauchiehall St
Glasgow G2 3HU
From 88 per week
includes bills and internet
250
Gallery Apartments
0844 3715668
www.crm-students.com
Claremont House
Glasgow G3 7LE
From 125 per week
includes bills and internet
Enquire
The Ballet School
261 West Princes St
Glasgow G4 9EE
From 155 per week
includes bills and internet
250
Gallery Apartments
2 Port Dundas Place
Glasgow G2 3LD
From 158 per week
includes bills and internet
350
9
10
Private Letting
There are a number of ways to fnd property with a private landlord. Some landlords manage the letting process
themselves, whilst others use letting agents who help them rent and maintain their property. Newspapers and
magazines also have regular adverts for fats/bedists for rent, including The Herald, Daily Record and Evening
Times.
The internet is also a good place to start with any accommodation search. Many students use Gum Tree to look
for fatshares. If you are responding to any advert from a private landlord or fatshare and you arrange a viewing,
it is always advisable to take a friend with you.
Letting Agents in Glasgow
Fineholm
Union Chambers
114 Union Street
Glasgow
G1 3QQ
0141 221 7993
www.fneholm.co.uk
Harvey & Co
5 St Vincent Place
Glasgow
G1 2DH
0141 204 1100
www.harveylet.com
Let-It
123 Stockwell Street
Glasgow
G1 4LT
0141 552 7728
www.let-it.co.uk
Merchant Lettings
26 Springfeld Court
2nd foor
Glasgow
G1 3DQ
0141 221 2998
www.merchantlettings.com
Primesite
637-639 Pollokshaws Road
Glasgow
G41 2QG
0141 423 5522
www.primesiteproperty.co.uk
1-2-Let
104 Bellgrove Street
Glasgow
G40 2QR
0141 550 8888
www.1-2-let.co.uk
Websites
www.rightmove.co.uk
www.s1rental.com
http://glasgow.spareroom.co.uk/
http://www.fatshare.com/glasgow-fat-share/
http://www.roombuddies.com/preview/rooms/strathclyde/glasgow
http://glasgow.gumtree.com
http://www.citylets.co.uk/glasgow-property/
11
Useful Contacts
City of Glasgow College Student Advisors
City Campus: 0141 566 4274/4281
Riverside Campus: 0141 566 4217
studentadvisors@cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk
City of Glasgow College Halls of Residence
0141 565 2884
hall.of.residence@cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk
Rent Deposit Scheme
www.mydepositsscotland.co.uk
Glasgow Housing Association
www.gha.org.uk
Shelter Scotland
www.shelterscotland.org.uk
0808 800 4444
Mon-Fri: 09:00-17:00
Homelessness
Glasgow Social Work Services for Homelessness Support
0141 287 0555
www.yoursupportglasgow.org
www.cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk
Scottish Charity No SC036198