Property Matters
Finding Accommodation
Finding somewhere to live in the UK is obviously of vital importance. We have found that most of our overseas teachers like to finalise accommodation when they are actually in the country and can have a look around at what is available and make some decisions based on their budget. The UK has a well developed rental market and finding somewhere to stay can be done quite quickly.
In essence it will involve going to local estate agents (who typically deal with rental properties) and asking for a list of properties in a given budget and against your requirements. There will usually be something that is suitable available immediately. Please visit www.yell.com to locate estate agents in your desired location. Other useful sites for finding rented accommodation are:
To locate shared accommodation:
When checking out rooms/flats:
- Check how secure the building is;
- Check the water pressure in the kitchen and bathroom;
- Check storage space;
- Check lights and light switches work;
- Check what appliances/utensils are in the flat;
- Ask about the heating;
- Ask what bills (if any) are included in the price, and if not how much they usually are;
- Check if your mobile phone gets service in the area;
- Check the general state of the walls, floors, carpets, tiles;
- Check how far the flat/house is from transport, shops and conveniences.
To explore the area in which you will be living and working before you arrive, we recommend that you go to: www.upmystreet.com
When renting in the UK it is standard to pay one month rent as a security deposit and one month rental in advance. The other costs you will have are as follows:
Utilities - Gas & Electricity (Shop around you can get some great deals)
Telephone (Shop around you can get some great deals)
Council Tax - Payable Monthly (dependant on location)
Water Rates (or a Metered Water bill)
TV Licence (Approx £120-150 per annum)
Landlords will ask for references, so if you have tenancy references from your home country it may be worth while to bring these with you to the UK.
It is also useful to talk to someone at your new school. They are living in the local community and will be able to provide first hand experience on areas to make a beeline for or those to avoid. We have also found that sometimes a teacher at your new school has a house and is looking for a tenant. This might be particularly of interest if you are relocating alone.
Your rights as a tenant
Once you have entered into a contract, you have a number of rights under several statutes (The Housing Act 1988; The Family Law Act 1996, the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and The Protection From Eviction Act 1977).
Under these laws, you're landlord cannot:
- Turn up uninvited. Reasonable notice is required.
- Neglect the place you rent.
- Threaten you to leave, or offer money to vacate the premises.
- Shut down utility supplies like gas, water or electricity.
- Allow other tenants to threaten you.
- Prevent your friends from visiting.
If you find yourself in a situation where you-re having serious problems with your landlord, your local council has the power to prosecute them under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
Housing officers from your council may also be able to help you if your utilities are cut off because of your landlord, or if you are being subjected to harassment or unlawful eviction.
As a tenant, you have the right to adequate living facilities such as hot and cold water, heating, electricity, ventilation, toilet facilities and a drainage system. If the house you are in does not meet health and safety standards you may be able to take legal action.
At the same time, your landlord has these grounds for eviction:
Mandatory eviction:
The owner of the house wishes to come back and live in the property. The owner has gone bankrupt and the house is being repossessed. You are more than two months in arrears with your rent. You refuse or delay vital maintenance work to the building.
Discretionary eviction
A landlord can ask the court to decide if eviction is necessary if: you've broken the terms of your contract (i.e. trashed the place); you're consistently late in paying the rent; you lied about yourself to get the place; you're unemployed (in cases where having a job was a condition of the contract).
(Source: www.thesite.org/homelawandmoney/home/tenancyrights/yourrightsasatenant)
