Accommodation
Last edited by Antony Chung (2007-09-21 23:54:19)
(The information on this page is currently being updated)
- On-campus
- Off-campus
- TV License
- Council Tax and voting
- Deposits & repairs
- Household safety
On-campus
A range of rooms of varying quality, luxury and price are available on the Graduate College site. All rooms are arranged into flats with 6-12 students sharing a common kitchen and where rooms are not en-suite, a shared bathroom.
Graduate College accomodation information
The standard non-en-suite rooms (which always fill very quickly due to the lower price) containing basic furnishings and, in most rooms, a wash basin. These can vary in size. The en-suite room is more modern often of the same dimensions but with your own small bathroom containing a shower, toilet and wash basin).
The studio-apartments or bed-sits, consist of one room containing a kitchen area, a small bathroom, plus the usual desk, bed etc. These studios are about 15m2 compared to 11m2 for a standard room, with a small number of double studios which are slightly larger and available for a couple to share at £106 a week. There are also various-sized family flats dotted around campus and near to the Graduate College site, priced between £350-530 per month.
Campus rooms are pricey for what you get, however they do include all bills, and are a conveniently short walk or cycle ride away from lectures or your office. Since Graduate College is composed of 60% International students (and a further 20% from other EU countries) it is also a good way to meet and make friends with lots of new people from around the world in the highly social atmosphere of the college.
If you would like to live on campus, first contact the Grad College accommodation office. Even if you're not currently living on campus and they can't help immediately, some rooms usually become available as some students will always not turn up at the beginning of term, or change their minds and drop out of a course early on, or simply decide to live off campus.
Beware: if you sign a contract to live in a room on campus then subsequently change your mind and want to live off-campus, the contract obliges you to continue to pay rent for your campus room unless/until a replacement person is found to take over your room. Hence many adverts can be seen posted around campus by people wishing to move onto, or off, campus and looking for a room or someone to take over their contract. Also, over the summer most undergraduate students go home, leaving a lot of empty houses – they therefore try to make some money out of them by renting rooms out very cheaply over the summer period, for example at £20-30 per week. So if you are unsure as to whether you want to continue living on-campus over the summer (when there is often no teaching taking place) we advise against committing yourself to staying in Grad College accommodation at too early a stage, since you can potentially save yourself a lot of money by moving off campus.
Off Campus
Most people who live off-campus do so because it is cheaper, and gives them somewhere larger (usually a room in a house, with a shared bathroom, kitchen, living room and back yard/garden) mentally and physically away from their work. Many prefer to be closer to town, where apart from the College bars, all the entertainment action is. Others live off-campus because they prefer to live in smaller groups than is possible in campus accommodation. Rooms are almost always furnished, with a bed, desk, wardrobe and other storage space provided. Rents in Lancaster can vary: anything from £35 to £65 per week for a room. As a guide, allow £5 extra per week for bills, which are not normally included (though there are exceptions). Flats and whole houses for families are also available.
The first point of contact for off-campus housing advice is the housing office located in the square below the LUSU shop. The Housing Office can find you a room off-campus even if you can’t visit Lancaster to arrange it yourself – phone or email them with your requirements using the contact details on their website. They hold a list of Student Union owned or managed “head-lease” houses for 3 – 6 postgraduate students sharing. They also have a list of properties owned by private landlords who advertise with them, who you can contact to arrange housing yourself. If you are already in Lancaster, also try visiting estate agents in town, since many manage properties for rent, however these are not usually set up for students so many are unfurnished. You definitely don’t need to form a group looking for a house as many student houses will be trying to take in a further person via the Housing Office.
As many staff and private landlords don’t advertise via the Housing Office another major option is to look out for posters and adverts around campus, listen out in your department (emailing the Departmental Secretary before you arrive), or ask for a University staff member to forward you the LU News electronic newsletter, published weekly, often including properties for rental. Do take care with such houses though – houses managed and advertised via the LUSU Housing Office have to meet strict safety standards for fire alarms, gas safety checks etc. See their website for advice on various housing issues.
If you plan to rent from a private landlord do check that there are fire/smoke alarms in or just outside the kitchen, and one on the upstairs landing at a minimum, and ask to see an up-to-date certificate showing that gas appliances have been safety checked. Also bear in mind when you’re looking for accommodation, that houses which use gas for heating, water heating and cooking will have lower bills since gas is around 1/3 the price of electricity in the UK. Also, well-insulated houses with double glazing will waste less heat energy and therefore cost you less to keep warm in winter.
Never feel pressured into signing a contract – once you do, you are bound by its conditions, so always ask for a copy to read fully (several times) to make sure it agrees with what the landlord has said (which bills are included, what is the length of the agreement etc.). If you are unsure about any contract you are asked to sign, you can bring it to the LUSU Advice Centre (in Slaidburn House, underneath the Spar and LUSU shop) for them to look over – most landlords will allow you a day to consider before signing. If for any reason you have to leave before the end of your contract, consult your landlord. Many will be happy to advertise your accommodation, or failing that, for you to advertise the accommodation and find a replacement tenant.
Deposits
All landlords, including the university, will ask you to pay a deposit, usually at least a month’s rent, to cover the costs of any damage you might do to the house or furnishings. This is not to cover general wear-and-tear costs, i.e. wear or breakages through normal use, which the landlord must pay for him/herself, so if you are asked to pay for something which was damaged/broke through general wear-and-tear then consult the LUSU Advice Centre for information and advice. Your deposit (or any part of it) should only be retained if you have left your accommodation “not as it was found” i.e. if you left it dirty then you may be required to pay for cleaning costs. Again, if some or any of your deposit is retained when you left your accommodation in good condition and as you found it, then contact the Advice Centre.
Utilities
Unless stated in your contract, you are responsible for paying for all electricity, gas, water and telephone costs for your accommodation. Read the meters when you arrive, and when you leave to make sure you are billed correctly. Electricity and gas suppliers are privatised so multiple companies offer different deals. It’s usually cheaper to get both from the same supplier, and pay by direct debit, but it’s worth finding out about the suppliers in the area on the internet to see which gives the best deal. Try www.guardian.co.uk/money/compareandbuy. Telecoms companies are also privatised – only a limited number of companies offer line rental (the actual telephone connection): BT, NTL and OneTel, but many others exist which offer call prices much cheaper than those offered by the line rental providers, particularly for international calls, so remember you can use two different companies: one for the connection and another for the cost of the calls you make. Look around and find the best deal for you. Always give suppliers at least 7 days’ notice of leaving or they may charge you for the remainder of this notice period.
TV License
In the UK, if you have a TV in your house or your university room, you have to have a TV license. This costs £126.50 per year for a colour television, and can be bought from any Post Office or online from www.tvlicensing.co.uk. If you are caught without a license then fines of over a thousand pounds may be imposed.
Council Tax and voting
Full-time students, and part-time students who spend more than 21 hours a week on their studies are exempt from paying council tax. Part-time students who spend fewer hours than this on their studies are liable for council tax, but if you are the only council tax-payer in a shared house, you may be eligible for a reduction in the rate – contact the LUSU Advice Centre for more information. The university provides a list of names and addresses of all registered full-time students to the council in Oct/Nov every year, so if you are full-time and the council requests payment or more information, contact them and refer them to this list. If you are a part time student who spends more than 21 hours on your studies per week (on average), then you will need to get written confirmation of this from your supervisor, and take it to the Postgraduate Office in University House. They will then provide you with a council tax exemption certificate, which you should photocopy (you’re only allowed one per year, so it’s best to keep a copy) then send to the council. If you have any problems with this process, contact the GSA or the LUSU Advice Centre.
It’s also a legal requirement to be on the Electoral Register compiled by the City Council, allowing you to vote. Students from all EU and Commonwealth countries can vote in British local and European elections, but only UK, Commonwealth and Irish students can vote in national elections. You can find the registration form at www.lancaster.gov.uk/Category.asp?cat=739
Deposits & repairs
All landlords, including the university, will ask you to pay a deposit, usually at least a month’s rent, to cover the costs of any damage you might do to the house or furnishings. This is not to cover general wear-and-tear costs, i.e. wear or breakages through normal use, which the landlord must pay for him/herself, so if you are asked to pay for something which was damaged/broken through general wear-and-tear then consult the LUSU Advice Centre for information and advice. Your deposit (or any part of it) should only be retained if you have left your accommodation “not as it was found” i.e. if you left it dirty then you may be required to pay for cleaning costs. Again, if some or any of your deposit is retained when you left your accommodation in good condition and as you found it, then contact the Advice Centre.
Your rent gives you the right to live in good conditions, with the same standard of facilities as when you first viewed/moved in to the accommodation - your landlord is acting illegally if he/she fails to fulfil his/her commitment to maintain the property. Landlords are normally expected to repair (or have repaired) essential facilities such as heating, water and lighting within 1-2 days, and all other repairs or replacements necessary should be done as soon as possible, certainly within 21 days. If your landlord uses delaying tactics or simply does not do repairs (to an acceptable standard) within a reasonable time then try telephoning him/her with increasing frequency until they get it done, or if that doesn’t work go to the Advice Centre, and they will help you take further action.
Household safety
Always ask your landlord where the main electricity fuse, and mains water stopcock are located. If you have any problems with these utilities such as a malfunction or a water leak, turn them off at this central location, and contact the utility supplier. If you smell gas, check all gas appliances are off, open doors and windows leaving the house as quickly as you can, and call Transco – the gas pipes supplier that also deals with leaks on 0800 111 999. If one of these, or any other situation develops into an emergency requiring the fire, ambulance or police services, the telephone number for all these emergency services in this country is 999. Another useful safety tip for gas appliances, particularly room heaters, is to fit carbon monoxide testers. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous but odourless gas which can kill you: symptoms include sleepiness/ lethargy and headaches. Testers contain a patch of test material, which changed colour if this gas is detected at dangerous levels – these can be bought from hardware shops – either ask your landlord or buy them yourselves (they only cost about £1.50). If any appliance looks faulty or poorly maintained, don’t use it until it has been checked.
The incidence of burglaries and break-ins in Lancaster is fortunately low, however it is always advisable to make sure your possessions are adequately insured. You may be covered by your parents’ home insurance, but if not, there are various companies which offer student insurance such as Endsleigh (on campus) and Saxon Student Shield. Always check that the type of cover is what you need. When you’re out of your home, always close and lock all doors and windows that could be accessible with a ladder to prevent opportunist burglaries (and your insurance wouldn’t cover you if you’d left your house open), and do not keep spare keys in the lock, or within arms’ reach of a door with a window in (someone could break the glass, turn/get the key and open the door!). Due to the low incidence of break-ins, most student houses do not have burglar alarms, but if your house has one fitted, you should use it as an extra protection. When you’re in your home, always check the credentials of any workmen you let in: they should all have an ID card to show who they are and which company they’re working for, even a telephone number for you to phone and check if you’re suspicious – every so often there is a spate of burglaries here committed by people pretending to be workmen.