Accommodation

What accommodation can I get from the University?

All first year students are guaranteed a room on campus as long as they apply before the 31st July. In your second year you can apply for off campus accommodation through Warwick Accommodation. See the accommodation website: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/accommodation

You can also find off campus accommodation through a private agency.

In your third or final year you can apply for campus accommodation. More information from:

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/accommodation/studentaccommodation/apply/allocation08

What accommodation can I get from the University as an international student?

All international students are guaranteed a room on campus for their first and their final year. All international postgraduate students are guaranteed a campus room for their first year. Apply before 31st July. International students who are bringing their families to the UK should get advice about accommodation before coming.

Is it better to get 2nd Year Accommodation through Warwick Accommodation or privately?

This depends on what you are looking for. With Warwick Accommodation‘s properties there are fewer complaints made about the condition of the houses. There are private agencies and landlords who are used to letting to students and you can acquire a property that way. Warwick Accommodation does not have enough properties in Leamington Spa to meet the demand so many students who want to live in Leamington Spa will go for privately rented accommodation.

How can I contact Warwick Accommodation?

Look at their website http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/accommodation

Their office is situated on the ground floor of the Rootes Social Building. Telephone 024 7652 3772 or email accommodation@warwick.ac.uk

How can I get information about private landlords and agents?

Contact The Student Advice Centre or look at the list in the Students’ Union Housing Guide which is produced annually.

When should I start looking for a house for next year?

The important thing is not to panic and not to start looking too early. Term 2 is early enough.

We’ve signed a contract for a house for next year but one person has dropped out. What should we do?

Your best solution is to try and find a replacement housemate. When you sign a contract you will normally have signed up for a set period of, for example, six, ten or twelve months. If you break that contract you may be liable for the rent for that whole period. If your entire group has signed one contract you will have formed a “joint tenancy”. This means that you are all liable for the rent – jointly and separately. If one person leaves and you do not find a replacement, then the landlord can expect the remaining tenants to make up the missing part of the rent.

Contact The Student Advice Centre for advice if this happens to you.

I haven’t got anyone to live with for next year. What shall I do?

Don’t panic; there are still options open to you. Contact Warwick Accommodation who may have single person accommodation in large houses or halls off campus. They may also be able to match you with others who have no group so that you can find a house together. In the private sector, there are also large student residences such as Liberty Park in Coventry. If you wish to live with other students in a house, you will find that there are many students advertising a spare room since one of their number has dropped out. You can look for these online or you can advertise yourself. Contact The Student Advice Centre for more information on how to do this.

Can I get my housing contract checked?

Yes. Make an appointment with The Student Advice Centre and bring the contract in together with as many of your housemates as you can get together.

Do I have to pay council tax?

Generally speaking, you are not liable for council tax if you are a full time student. This may not apply if you are a house owner. If you are a part time student you may be liable for council tax. If you live with a non student or part time student, it is likely that they will have to pay council tax and you will not. If you are an international student living with your spouse who is not a student, you may not have to pay council tax. Get advice from The Student Advice Centre.

Our landlord won’t do necessary repairs. What can we do?

The landlord is responsible for repairs to the exterior and structure of the property and also for keeping in working order the installations for the supply of water, gas, electricity, sanitation, and space and water heating. You are responsible for informing your landlord if something in the house is not functioning. Repairs should be done in a reasonable time.

If your landlord won’t do repairs, contact The Student Advice Centre for advice.

Our landlord won’t return our deposit. What can we do?

From 6 April 2007 all deposits have had to be registered in a deposit protection scheme. At the end of your tenancy if you have not caused any damage or loss you should have your deposit returned. If there is a disagreement between you and the landlord about the return of all or part of your deposit there is a free dispute resolving service you can apply to.  

Our landlord has not registered our deposit with a Deposit Protection Scheme. What can we do?

If the deposit was taken after 6 April 2007, you can apply to the county court and if the court finds the landlord has failed to register your deposit properly, the court can order the landlord to protect the deposit in one of the tenancy deposit protection schemes or repay the deposit to you. In addition the court will order the landlord to pay you a sum equivalent to three times the amount of your deposit.

More advice about deposits is available from The Student Advice Centre.

Do I need a TV Licence?

If you use a television set, digital box, DVD, video recorder, PC, laptop, or mobile phone to watch or record television programmes as they are being shown on TV, then you need a licence. Students living in a shared house on a joint tenancy may only need one licence per house. However, students in a hall of residence or similar accommodation may need to buy one for their individual room.

For more information see http://www.tv-l.co.uk/index.jsp

Who pays the gas and electricity bills?

The person who makes the contract with the electricity or gas company. Their name is usually on the bill. In a shared house it is a good idea to put everyone’s name on each bill. Alternatively, you could make one person responsible for the electricity bill, another for the gas bill and so on. It is important to arrange a bill paying system early in the tenancy.