Student Advice Service (SAS)

Accommodation
Guide 2016/17

Contents
Welcome to Central!

SECTION ONE: WHAT ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS DO I HAVE?

My Accommodation Options
Private Rentals
Student Halls
Homestay

6
7-8
9-10
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!
Other Housing related Expenses
My Weekly Spending

16
17-19
20

SECTION FOUR: WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR WHEN VIEWING A

PROPERTY?
Inspecting a Property

22
2

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

Welcome to the Royal Central

School of Speech and Drama!
This guides 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 the Student Advice
Services mahara page: portfolio.cssd.ac.uk/view/view.php?id=8167
Whilst Central aims to work with as many providers as possible,
we do not endorse any individual organisation. This guide is for
information only.

SECTION ONE:
WHAT ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
DO I HAVE?

My 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.
6

Private 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 2016 will be held on:
Friday 15th July and Friday 19th August
To book a place, email sas@cssd.ac.uk stating your full name, course
and the date you wish to attend.

Contact 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/ourlandlords-and-letting-agents/registered-letting-agents
Online Search Engines - For a list of online accommodation search
engines, visit: http://portfolio.cssd.ac.uk/view/view.php?id=11250
Average Rent- Search the average rent in London by Postcode
www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/housing-and-land/renting/londonrents-map
8

Student 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.
Below are the allocated rooms for 2016/17:
Lillian Penson Hall (x5 rooms in total)
x5 Small Single En- suite, 177.45 per week
For more information visit: www.halls.london.ac.uk/lillian-penson-hall
Nutford House (x10 rooms in total)
x10 Single Shared Bathroom, 175.33 per week
For more information visit: www.halls.london.ac.uk/nutford-house
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
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.

Private Halls near Central:

Prodigy- Living
www.prodigyliving.co.uk/cities/london/raffles-house
Goodenough College (PG only)
www.goodenough.ac.uk/

Netherhall House (Men only)

www.nh.netherhall.org.uk/
Victoria Hall
www.victoriahall.com/

The Nido Collection

www.thenidocollection.com/studentaccommodation-west-hampstead/
To find out more about living at Nido, contact Ed Butler, RCSSD
Student and Nido resident on BrandAmbassadors@The
NidoCollection.com

For a list of private halls all over London, please visit:

www.housing.london.ac.uk/find-accommodation/registeredindependent-halls-residence
10

Homestay
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/
Please 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.

11

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/

12

SECTION TWO:
HOW DO I FIND FLATMATES?

13

Finding 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
www.accommodationforstudents.com/
EasyRoommate
uk.easyroommate.com/
SpareRoom
www.spareroom.co.uk/
RoomBuddies
www.roombuddies.com

Be cautious!
If youre meeting people
youve communicated
with online, arrange to
meet in a public place
or even bring 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:

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/studentlife/accommodation/house-sharing-tips/
14

SECTION THREE:
HOW DO I BUDGET FOR MY
ACCOMMODATION?

15

THE 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
charged
for the
whole
property

52
(weeks
in a
year)

12
(months
in a year)

Monthly
rent for
the entire
property

Then calculate

Monthly rent
for the entire
property

Number of people
in the house

YOUR
RENT
PCM

For overseas students that want to work this out in their home
currency, visit: www.xe.com

16

Other Housing related Expenses

It is no secret that London is 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:

Type of
Accommodation

Council
Tax

Utility
Bills

University of
London
Intercollegiate
Halls

Private Rentals

Telephone
and
Broadband

Private Halls
Homestay

TV
Licence

X
X

Insurance
(contents)

X
X

17

Council 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/findyour-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.

18

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. Their website is:
www.endsleigh.co.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

19

My 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 110 - 200 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:

100 - 200 for accommodation

35 - 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
30 other costs such as toiletries and
clothes and phone bill
Total weekly expenditure of 233 - 348
This varies and could be less/ more.

20

SECTION FOUR:
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR WHEN
VIEWING A PROPERTY?

21

Inspecting 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
summers 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, dcor 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.
22

SECTION FIVE:
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK OUT FOR
IN A CONTRACT?

23

My 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:

24

As 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
25

Contract 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
26

My 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.

27

Right 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.

28

SECTION SIX:
WHAT IF I HAVE A DISABILTY?

29

Advice 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 are dedicated to housing and
disability.
Ability Housing
www.ability-housing.co.uk/
Habinteg
www.habinteg.org.uk/main.cfm
SelfHelp UK Blind, Partially- Sighted and other disabilities
www.self-help.org.uk/directory/blindpartially-sighted/
Disability Rights UK
www.disabilityrightsuk.org/getting-advice
Disability Rights Commission
www.odi.gov.uk
Information on disability rights
Rethink
www.rethink.org/living-with-mental-illness/housing/supportedhousing/organisations
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.

30

SECTION SEVEN:
CAN I HAVE A LIST OF CONTACTS?

31

Useful 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/
SAS Mahara:
www.portfolio.cssd.ac.uk/view/view.php?id=8167
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
32

Letting 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/

33

Travel
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
Police non- emergency
NHS Direct
Crime Stoppers

999
101
0845 46 47
0800 555 111

34