FAQs: Student

We do ask that all items are returned to the rooms they were in at the start of the tenancy to avoid any confusion on the check-out report. We will look at the check-out report when we visit the property to work out if any of the missing items have been left in a different room. Please note any large items (e.g. wardrobes etc.) that have been moved MUST be returned to the correct rooms as we may have to charge for a contractor to move these if they are too large for us to move (if it took four of you, it’s probably going to take that many of us!).

Yes, of course. We only require one spokesperson for each property. It is best if you nominate a person and all speak together before coming back to us with any points you do not agree with in one go. It does not need to be the lead tenant that is nominated for this.

Not necessarily. As the report is conducted by a third party company, they will not have been involved in your tenancy and therefore, will not be aware of certain changes. For example, they may list a blind as missing, however this could have been removed by the landlord mid-tenancy. Or they may list a washing machine as having been changed by the tenants, but this could have been replaced by the landlord mid-tenancy as the machine had broken. It is then our job to go through each check-out report and address these issues on a case-by-case basis and work out what has been legitimately changed and what has not. We will also look out for any items listed as missing that have actually been moved to other rooms. Please do not panic if there are lots of items that are listed that you feel you are not responsible for, we will look at these and work out if any of it is your responsibility. We do keep a log of changes like this on our management system (as long as we’ve been notified of them throughout your tenancy), so whilst it’s often a time-consuming tasks it’s usually very straightforward for us to work out what’s what.

Please do contact us and let us know if there is anything you have left in the property that you need back. There is a very short period of time where items can be returned and we will try our best to keep anything for you. However, we would recommend that you double check every room, cupboard etc. before you leave. It’s important that all of your belongings have been removed as we are unable to guarantee they can be returned to you after works have begun or the new tenants have moved in.

Once you have left the property and your check-out has been completed, you are not able to re-enter the property to carry out any cleaning etc. We will give you lots of notice and information in the months and weeks leading up to your check out, so you will know exactly what you need to do and when, before moving out. Unfortunately, due to the tight schedules in turning the property around for the new tenancy, we are unable to allow permission for you to go back to the property. We use tried and tested contractors to remedy any missed areas/items.

You don’t need to contact us about your deposit – we have a process in place to ensure we contact everyone after they have moved out. Once you have moved out we will send you an email confirming what happens next. If there are any deductions from your deposit these will be broken down clearly for you and sent to you, along with a copy of the check-out report, within one month of your check out date. As you can imagine, we have a lot of student tenants that move out at a similar time. We work through them in order of each property moving out and will send them across as quickly as possible.

Fair wear and tear is taken into account by the third party inventory company. They have undertaken thorough training to be able to decide what is fair wear and tear. It is dependent on many factors, for example the length of the tenancy, the type of tenancy and where in the property the affected area is. For example, if the tenancy was over 6 years it is expected that there will be more marks to walls than a tenancy of 6 months. The walls on a staircase or hallway are likely to become slightly marked as opposed to walls to a bedroom, due to heavier traffic.

There are items that will never be considered fair wear and tear. For example, but not limited to: Dirt and dust, burn marks or staining on floors and carpets, lost keys, broken windows, burnt on food to ovens / grills, grease build up on walls, hair, limescale, water marks, heavy scratching, pet hair / damage, avoidable damage to an item or area, staining to mattresses, allowing water damage to a property, misuse or abuse of an item, replacing an item with a similar one, but of poor quality,excessive usage causing damage, broken items disposed of, impact marks and blu tac.

No, you do not need to be at the property for your check-out. If you are present you will be asked to wait outside while our independent inventory company compiles the report. This is for two reasons; firstly because they want to be able to complete the report independently without distraction and need peace and quiet in order to record it, and secondly to make sure there is no bias affecting the report. The same rules apply to your landlord, so we feel like it’s pretty fair.

No, subletting is not permitted as part of your tenancy agreement. We know circumstances can change, so it is possible to exit your tenancy early. However, to do so you will need to find a suitable replacement and pay an exit fee. Please refer to your contract or contact us for more information.

Yes, small reasonable repairs that happen during your tenancy are your responsibility as tenants. We don’t expect you to be DIY SOS, but changing lightbulbs, replacing fuses, unblocking drains, tightening loose handles and bleeding radiators all fall under this category. If you are unsure of what to do, just call us and we’ll be happy to help guide you.

We generally conduct inspections twice a year. We do this to make sure the property is being looked after and to ensure it is safe and secure for you and your housemates. It’s also a good opportunity for you to let us know of any issues you’re having with your home or ask us any questions you might have. We will give you plenty of notice and we ask that at least one tenant is present. We do take photos to send to your landlord so please make sure the property is clean, tidy and free from rubbish. If we attend your property and we are unable to conduct the inspection because the property is in a poor condition or because there is no tenant present, please be aware there is a £30 re-inspection charge.

 

Please don’t panic! Instead, just contact the supplier and let them know you are not the tenants in question. They may ask to see a copy of your tenancy agreement to prove this. Please also take a picture of the bill and email it to us, or pop it into the office when you are next passing and we’ll provide the supplier with the forwarding address for the person responsible.

Don’t worry, these are not your responsibility. Phew! Please take a picture of the bill, email it to Fused and they’ll deal with it for you.

It is the tenants responsibility to maintain the garden throughout the duration of your tenancy unless it has been stipulated separately in your tenancy agreement under the ‘extra clauses’ section.

Meet your neighbours, find a home for your stuff and celebrate with your housemates. We hope you enjoy your new home and we’re really happy you’ve found where you belong. To help you settle in smoothly we’ve compiled a quick checklist below.

• Take meter readings and contact your utility providers (no need if you are bills-included!) Don’t know your supplier? Call 0870 6081524 for gas, 0845 6015467 for electricity and 0330 303 1263 for water.

 

• Contact Brighton & Hove City Council Full-time students are exempt from Council Tax during term time, in order to claim your discount you must register online. Or call the Council on 01273 291291 for further advice.

 

• Get a TV licence You need a TV licence if you watch or record live TV programmes on any channel, or if you watch or download programmes on BBC iPlayer http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk

 

• Set up Broadband, TV and Phone. If you haven’t opted to have these services included in a bills package, there are various suppliers available. Search the market for the best price, you’ll often find introductory offers available. Make sure you select a broadband speed suitable for the amount of tenants and devices online at any one time, the last thing you want is slow internet in the middle of conducting research for your dissertation because your housemates are playing FIFA!

 

• Check your refuse and recycling collection days. Missing a refuse bin or recycling box? You can order one online and find out the collection days for your street by calling 01273 292929 or by visiting www.brighton-hove.gov.uk.

 

• Get contents insurance (no need if you have it included!) We strongly advise you to invest in your own contents insurance as the landlords insurance does not cover your personal belongings in the event of a fire, burglary or leak. It may seem like an extra cost when living on a tight budget, but ask yourself if you could really afford to replace your things in the event they were damaged or stolen.
  If it’s included in your rent, please make sure you confirm you cover.

 

• Contact your neighbours. We recommend you introduce yourselves to your neighbours and exchange telephone numbers. After all, you may need them when you’ve run out of milk! Please always be respectful of your local community and keep noise to a minimum. We love turning the volume up and dancing in our rooms as much as the next person, but be considerate – your neighbours may work nights, have young children napping, or be older people who feel vulnerable.

 

• Keep on top of your garden. Gardens grow surprisingly quickly, particularly in the summer months! We would advise you to keep on top of it now and maintain it throughout the year to avoid complaints and a large gardening charge at the end! If you need any advice about what you need to do to maintain your garden just get in touch. If you’re a lucky tenant with a gardener included keep an eye on your emails for your the dates the garden will attend.

 

 

Please let us know as soon as you can if you are going to miss your appointment slot. We will try our best to be accommodating, please note we often have back to back appointments, so it may mean you might have to wait for the next available welcome rep. You can’t move in until you’ve completed your check-in appointment, so it’s super important you allow for traffic or delays and get to us in plenty of time.

If no one can make it, please respond to the email called ‘Moving in appointment’ and select a new date and time as early as possible so we can re-arrange. Please note, we may have limited availability of alternative appointments so it is important you let as know as soon as possible as we may not be able to move you in the same day.

If you’ve already confirmed your appointment and things have gone wrong last minute – never fear, just call us on 01273 645 797 and we can help.

We ask that you all attend together, however we understand that’s not always possible, especially with so many festivals and holidays falling over the summer months! Please organise so the majority of you come together. Anyone that can’t attend the original appointment can come to our office at a later date to provide their ID and collect their keys.

Please remember we cannot issue any keys if any housemate has any paperwork or money outstanding.

 

If either you or any of your housemates have any outstanding paperwork or payments, unfortunately we are unable to issue keys to any tenant.

Please make sure you read all paperwork thoroughly and complete everything required, this includes, referencing, guarantors, IDs, signing your contract and standing order. Payments must be fully cleared into our account before we can issue keys, so please make sure you paid any due payments and have sufficient funds for your standing order to avoid payments bouncing.

We know it’s frustrating if you can’t collect your keys if you’ve done everything but your housemate hasn’t, unfortunately, because you are on a joint tenancy agreement, all housemates must have completed all paperwork and paid all funds due before you move in.

The inventory company we use are normally very accurate, however if you feel there is something not right, it’s important you let us know! If there is something missing on the inventory you have 7 days to make any amendments or comments. The inventory will be emailed to you and it will contain instructions on how to do this.

An inventory is a document compiled the day before your tenancy starts. It is an itemised and photographic list of contents and conditions. It includes everything from, walls, flooring, fixtures and fittings to furniture and appliances.

Of course! Once the guarantor agreement has been counter signed by ourselves you will receive a copy via email.

Don’t worry, you are almost there! If you get stuck please call us on 01273 645 797 and one of our friendly admin team will be happy to help.

We pride ourselves in being a paperless office, we have invested in software to ensure we are efficient and our paperwork is stored in line with GDPR so we are unable to accept printed documents via post. Our tenancy platform is compatible with smartphones, laptops, tablets & PCs (tip: the best browser for our website is Google Chrome).