Accommodation
HOUSE HUNTING & HOUSING ROADSHOWS
Each year in the Autumn Term the Student Adcice Centre and the University Accommodation Office run a week of Housing Road Shows based both on campus and in University Residences. These events endeavour to give students who are currently in residences, information, and advice BEFORE they start looking and signing contracts for accommodation for the following year. Each year many students form groups of friends in the first few weeks of arriving at University and often sign accommodation contracts with these groups. However almost a year on when students are due to move into the properties they have signed for, they have either changed their minds about where they want to live, who they want to live with, or even where they want to study etc,. Extracting yourself from a legally binding contract is very difficult and therfore we run the Housing Roadshows to try and show that there is no rush to sign a contract, and that the accommodation in Newcastle will not run out.
If you attended one of the roadshows and found it helpful/unhelpful we would appreciate your feedback on our Housing evaluation form. In addition if you feel you would like us to run other events then please use the same form to make any suggestions.
Housing Clinic - Monday 12 noon - 3pm
The Housing Clinic which runs from the Student Advice Centre every Monday during term time will continue after the end of the Summer term until the end of June. Therefore there will be two adidtional clinics on 16th & 23rd June 2008 to assist students with any Housing matters. Alternatively students can make come to the Student Advice Centre normal drop in 11am - 3pm during vacation or access Live Chat
Jes'Space
Jes'Space is a new student room at Jesmond Methodist Church which is available to students living in the Jesmond Area every Tuesday evening between 7pm - 9pm. It is a a free lounge space to relax, chill out and de-stress in.
For information on other uses for the Jes'Space you can contact Will Hopkins, Student Development Worker on Tel: 0191 2818400 or Mobile: 07790929779. Alternatively you can contact him by sending an email to Will Hopkins
New from 6 April 2007 TENANCY DEPOSIT SCHEME PROTECTION
The 2004 Housing Act introduced a number of measures to improve the private rented sector. One of these measures was the introduction of mandatory tenancy deposit protection schemes for all Assured Shorthold Tenancies (AST) in England and Wales. These schemes are effective from 6 April 2007. This protection does not apply to anyone who paid a deposit before this date.
Whilst the legislation will affect anyone in the private rented sector on an Assured Shorthold Tenancies, a large percentage of these tenants will be students. Therefore this legislation may well affect you. To find out more either come to the event above or alternatively select the links below for more information.
The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS)
www.depositprotection.com
Tenancy Deposit Solutions Ltd (TDSL)
www.mydeposits.co.uk
The Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS)
www.tds.gb.com
Department of Communities and Local Government
www.communities.co.uk
The choices and decisions you make about your accommodation will play a significant part in your University experience. It is important that you are as informed as possible when choosing your accommodation. It is also useful to know where to come for help should you encounter difficulties or have any concerns once you have moved into your place of residence.
It is important to seek advice. The Student Advice Centre and the University Accommodation Office can assist you on a large variety of areas in regard to accommodation.
We have listed below some of the types of situations you may come across which we will be able to assist you with:
University Accommodation
University Property Management Scheme
Private Rented Accommodation
Private Rented Letting Agencies
Tenancy Agreements
House Hunting/Finding a House
How to compile an Inventory
Moving into a Property
Moving Out of a Property
Landlord and Tenant Disputes
Probelms with Deposits
Repair Issues
Eviction Worries
Please note this is an exhaustive list and you are welcome to approach the Student Advice Centre with any other type of Accommodation issue. To contact us please see the main Student Advice Centre web page.
If you are interested in looking at relevant and useful links for Accommodation please see our Accommodation - Useful Links subpage.
