How to make sure your deposit is returned when you rent a room in the UK　

When renting a private home in the UK, a deposit of 4-6 weeks’ rent is required at the time of signing the contract. The landlord must place the deposit with Tenancy Deposit Protection within 30 days of receiving the deposit, which is guaranteed by the UK government. The Deposit Protection Service MyDeposits, Tenancy Deposit Scheme and Capita Tenancy Deposit Protection are currently accredited to protect the rights of tenants. If a tenant’s tenancy has expired, the landlord or housing agent must return the deposit in full, within 10 days of the end of the contract, provided that no damage has been done to the landlord’s property and the rent and bills are paid on time. This deposit will always be protected by the TDP if you have a conflict with your landlord over the deposit.

Do your homework before you go to live in the UK

Information about services on university websites and advice from fellow students will often be more practical than housing agents, and if older students have lived in a particular student house, they can also give you a first-hand, most realistic experience of living there. Rents and housing conditions vary from area to area, so you can ask your classmates for the most affordable rental housing based on your own psychological price point. In this regard, advice from older students can save you a lot of money, and some school student unions will have free brochures and counseling services available. If the original tenant is living in the room when you look at it, you can also ask him how he feels about living there; he is surely the one who knows the most about the advantages and disadvantages of the room.

Don’t miss every little detail of the contract in renting a room in the UK

Most contracts state that the tenant needs to give at least one month’s notice to the landlord (Notice) if the contract is terminated, however, in some cases, the notice may take 2 months or 15 days, all these information will be clearly marked in the contract, and you need to check carefully before signing the contract, otherwise, don’t cry about the landlord’s cunning in black and white.　If some houses are in poor condition, it is recommended to take good photos before moving in. Scratches on the wall, stains on the carpet, broken furniture, etc. should be photographed and recorded well and communicated well by both parties, otherwise it may become a dispute when checking out.

The energy-saving condition of the house determines the monthly bill

Many Chinese landlords or second landlords will pay the monthly bill for the tenant in the rental, and some shared tenants share the monthly water and electricity consumption, the UK housing agents prefer the latter. Don’t forget to take the monthly bill into account when you are calculating how much you can afford to pay for your home. Students do not have to pay Council Tax, but they do have to pay for Gas, Electricity, Broadband, Water and, if you have a TV and watch live TV, a TV License of £145.50 per year. When looking for a Manchester student accommodation, remember to check the energy efficiency score (EPC), the higher the score means the lower the monthly bill; the orientation of the house also determines whether there is enough light in winter, which affects the indoor temperature; if the house windows are installed with double glazing (Double Glazing), the warming effect is better.

Lock the doors and windows to prevent fire and theft　

As international students in the UK have a rich life, it is common to go out late at night. When renting an apartment, try to choose a good security area. Roommates should also look out for each other, and don’t neglect to close the windows in the living room or kitchen after going to bed. If you are worried about property theft, you can also buy property insurance, and you can insure your laptop, cell phone, iPad, etc.

Many Manchester student apartments have smoke and fire alarms in the kitchen. If the smoke is too thick or the water vapor is too strong, it may trigger an alarm. In some student dormitories and apartments, once the alarm is activated, everyone must go downstairs and gather in the courtyard and wait for the residence manager to check the danger before returning.