What do you need to pay? There are no fees chargeable to tenants for renting a property in London as long as the tenancy is in an individual’s name and not a company or the rent exceeds £100k per annum. All that is required is the agreed sum of rent (i.e. 1, 3, 6, 9 or 12 calendar months in advance and the security deposit which will equal to 5 weeks rent if the rent is below £50k and 6 weeks if it exceeds £50k per annum)

Right to rent documentation? Look at this in the eyes of immigration when you arrive at the airport. We need to verify that you’re permitted to be in the UK through a Visa (work, student or holiday). We understand that a student’s Visa may only be granted at the very last hour and when knowing this in advance, it’s our job at the very beginning to have that conversation with our client about the possible risk. This is a point that we would speak to each individual on a case by case basis. In short, it would be a valid passport and supporting Visa or UK entry clearance that we would need to verify in person before keys/possession can be granted.

Is there a penalty for any delay? A contract can only be legally binding if all parties have signed, all monies have been paid and references have been approved. That said, not having the Right to Rent status is out of our control and legally would be difficult to enforce or pursue as the said tenant simply will not be in the UK. To assist us educate our clients on this point, I would ask for you to summarise the process for your students, which we covered i.e. from the point of their application for funding, campus and then Visa being granted, what is the typical timeline you generally experience.

The rental market moves quickly and there will always be suitable accommodation available, however, the understanding of “compromise” is essential. This will either be location, size or price. Short stay accommodation may need to be considered if it’s an emergency and whilst the general rule of thumb is the rent is higher by 40-60% as it includes all bills and services (i.e. internet), this is usually a quick solution for anyone who may find themselves stranded. On this point, we are looking to partner with a serviced accommodation team who happen to have a presence in Canary Wharf and I wonder if there is a conversation around a partnership whereby a “student rate” could be applied to their short stays. There is angle with this to simplify the Right to Rent risk above, do we agree a week’s stay at one of our partners to allow the said tenant to arrive into the UK and fulfil the right to rent status allowing them to then enter into the tenancy aligned with Chestertons. This needs a little more thought but there is a solution here.

Ties in with question no.2 above. Yes and no, the budget, size and location will all play part. This will be down to Martin to educate each and every individual based on their search requirements. The message here is, don’t solely rely on walking to campus in less than 5 minutes, be open to a longer walk or a short DLR journey, as every is exceptionally well connected in Canary Wharf. The average rents schedule Martin put together will help.

Absolutely, however, our challenges will be finding properties with HMO (Housing in Multiple Occupation) licences. This is enforceable by the local authority and consist of Additional Licencing (up to 4 occupants) and Mandatory Licencing (5 or more, but less likely to find). Sharing as a duo will always solve this problem as the demand for HMO properties across London is always at an all-time high for obvious reason.

There will be areas that may offer better value for money but one needs to consider travel costs. Recommending an area will need to be done on a case by case basis as we will need to understand the needs and wants of the tenant so we can steer them in the right direction. One thing no agent can do is suggest an area, building or apartment is “safe”, as we would be held accountable if something had to happen.

This has been covered in my earlier comments under no.2 and will share some pricing guides on the “norm” for short term stays, however, if we can get a “student rate” agreed for stays from 1 week to 6 months that would be great for all of us.

In the UK the one thing to remember is “unless you ask for it, it’s not included”. Fully furnished apartments will usually come with the core furniture for day to day living in some cases all the small kitchen appliances (kettle, toaster microwave) and perhaps crockery, cutlery, pots, plans etc. Washing machines, fridges and dishwashers (where applicable) are inclusive. Bedding, linen, towels etc. due to hygiene reasons and since COVID, we’ve not seen these being included, unless it’s a short term stay.

We would always recommend students as for a copy of the “inventory” should there be one available. This will confirm exactly what is included within the property.

Household items such as cleaning product, mops, brooms, vacuum cleaners are not generally included but again, best to ask or to grab your own from IKEA, which is just over the river in Greenwich.

Absolutely! In an area such as Canary Wharf, the majority of new buildings will have the necessary facilities in place. When it comes to the specific apartment, it is our duty to ensure we’re showing the right apartment and reasonable adjustments can be requested and adhered to ensure the tenant has a home. There is legislation around this point that agents and landlords must adhere to.

Generally not unless stated in the property advertisement and of course if it’s a short term stay. Some buildings might have communal heating and hot water, which is covered by the landlord under their building service charges. This would need to be stated in the agreement if any services are communal. The term “utilities” is generally used and this covers Gas (where applicable), Electricity, Water and Council Tax. Students are exempt from Council Tax, as long as they submit their application to the local authority and all occupants living in the apartment MUST be a student. Luxuries i.e. Internet and TV licence is separate and covered by the tenants. It is the responsibility of the tenant to ensure their utilities have been set up correctly and direct debits are in place to pay their monthly, quarterly, half yearly bills etc. however they wish to pay. When the agent manages the property on behalf of the landlord, they will generally notify the supplies of the new tenants details but that’s it, no follow up, as it’s the tenants responsibility. We can also steer them in the direction of help with certain firms who assist with this.

Maintenance is the landlords responsibility so long as it’s not down to the tenants own negligence. Honesty is the best policy to avoid souring the relationship and having continued battles over their deposit at the end of the tenancy. If something doesn’t look, feel or sound right, report it to the managing agent or landlord immediately in writing and with photos.

All tenants are allowed to have visitors, generally this may be a few days or 1-2 weeks at any given time. Due to insurance and perhaps building rules, if they’re expected to have a visitor for a period that exceeds 2 weeks, we would always recommend notifying the landlord or their agent in advance to avoid any complaints or issues later down the line. A visitor must treat the property in the same manner as the tenant as the tenant is ultimately responsible so it will always fall back on them.

Using a reputable agent is key. All contracts should be standard with the only change being the order or use of wording/jargon. Landlord and Tenants obligations seem fairly consistent across the board but as a tenant, you are within your rights to ask the question if you don’t understand. Put it in writing and always request the response is in the same format, if it’s not in writing, you can’t guarantee anything. We are property experts and expected to be able to advise our client and the tenant in a professional manner.