UEA freshers (2019 starters) part 2

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread and hope you don't mind that I set up the next thread @juicy0. Just did it to ensure that we carry on chatting seamlessly

On the su Facebook page it says not to look until after Christmas. I think they have a site approved by the UEA with student accommodation. Ds must be looking at properties using an agent.
The su page says to decide over Christmas who to share with and a budget etc. I guess they are starting to worry if properties are already gone. There probably is no rush though.

DS1 is in his third Norwich private rental so I can share his experience. Lots of properties come on through the year as the current occupants make decisions on what that they are doing for the following year. There is plenty of property around but the thing to do now is settle on your prospective flat mates and your budget.

DS2 is in a group of 8 but they have decided that 2 houses for 4 will give them more choice.
DO encourage your students to talk to the current tenants, some of the houses are not great.

@sluj thanks for that advice. I think ds is worrying unnecessarily. But if several have already gone I can see why they are worried. There is a link for students on the su page to the home run site. They recommend going through them.
I think I'll tell ds not to worry about viewing until after Christmas. He could research what is available and prices, then decide what is the best size group to share with. He's no idea who to share with. He has a group on his course he's friendly with, but also gets on with his flatmates. It's a big decision quite early on in the year.

Thanks for your additional insights @sluj. Yes, I've had a couple of looks now (back in September and just t'other day). It does look as if there are lots available, including some that are rentable from August and September rather than July.

It's a big decision quite early on in the year

I think that is a really important aspect. I've not heard anything from DS2 with regard to next year and tbh have not pressed on it at all. It does seem though, from friends of DS1 who went to UEA that there is a reasonable supply anyway.

Sadly DS2 did confirm earlier this week that one of his flatmates is leaving, which is a real shame as they all seemed to get on really well. Apparently a final flat night out a couple of days ago.

He seems to be quite impacted by the strike although again whether all lectures and seminars are cancelled is not quite clear.

DS says he thinks the strikes are being led by his Stats lecturer so he expects to miss some lessons.
He’s just paid the deposit on the house for 8, it looked nice in the photo he sent with a really big kitchen dining space.
The current students were there but I don’t think DS spoke to them, the landlord showed them around, he’s a UEA approved landlord and owns quite a lot of property in Norwich.
The tenancy starts in September. They said they realise it’s early but the house seems good and is close to campus. I hope he’s made the right decision 🤔

That is interesting the tenancy can start in sept. Ds had a summer job here from July to just before he started at UEA. So if he started tenancy Sept that would mean he could work at the same place again and not be paying rent for somewhere he's not living. A friends daughter at another university was moving into her accommodation for this year back at the beginning of July.

@icanbewhatiwant I think it depends on what he landlord wants, the last house DS looked at was a July start date, but I think September start is a better fit with our family plans.
My other DS has already got his house sorted in Bournemouth and he has a September tenancy start as well.

I wouldn't worry too much about the start date of the tenancy you will either pay for accommodation they dont need in Summer 2020 or 2021 so it doesn't matter too much. There is an advantage in having overlapping tenancies between years 2 and 3 if they are moving as you can move their stuff between houses instead of bringing it all home. Ideally they will keep the same house for years 2 and 3 but that doesn't seem to be a given.
Only a few weeks till they are back

I would have thought it's swings and roundabouts with when to start the tenancy.

Wonder how much their seminars and lectures will be impacted by the strike action.

Yes, only three weeks until they're potentially home.

I've just FaceTimed with DS. He has almost lost his voice after the hockey Christmas dinner at Dunston Hall last night, sounds like it was a good night. The 6 girls in his flat have now confirmed they are getting a place together next year, and I think have found somewhere. DS has now got together with 4 other lads, mainly from his block, and they are going to start looking this week I think. They've been talking to 2nd and 3rd years on which landlords are good/who to avoid. I just hope someone in the group makes sure they get their tenancy agreement checked over by the people at the uni who look at them, as I don't suppose any of them really know whether the terms are fair.

That sounds like a good night *goldenruby.
Avoid Abbot Fox if you can, very disinterested when there are problems. Also make sure they are not signing a tenancy which makes them (or you as the guarantor) liable for the whole of the rent if any of the others default. They need to look for the phrase "jointly and severely liable", and avoid it if it says that.
DS will wait till after Christmas with his group, I think.
Good luck to all the DCs with the house hunting

@sluj now I’m wondering what my DS might have signed up to 😳

@sluj thanks for the tips, I will pass them on to DS. He's been invited to a 3rd year's house party next weekend so will I think he checking out their house as an option, but no idea which agency manages it.

By the way, that should be "jointly and severally liable", blooming auto correct!

Thanks for the tips @sluj
Ds thinks they've found a place today. 6 lads sharing. 6 double rooms with 6 en suites. About 10 mins walk from UEA. Ds excitedly told me there's room to park several cars. Dh says no way is he having the car there. Dh did buy the car so I guess it's up to him.
Ds isn't sure what happens next with the property, he phoned dh to ask, dh told him to get back on to the agent I'm sure they'll explain what happens next. It's all new to us too. But the agent will be used to students. I know one of us needs to be a guarantor and pay his deposit. I don't know whether it's a UEA approved letting agency though.

That sounds very positive @icanbewhatiwant. Like the idea of all the rooms having en suite bathrooms. If you don't mind me asking, how much is the rent per week?

I have to say I really don't like the idea of being a guarantor but I guess there's no way around it.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18
It's £2,560 per month. Shared between 6. I think roughly £100 a week. That is including all bills apart from tv licence. Some properties have a weekly price per person. That is easier to work out.

So pretty much what your DS is likely to have been paying for his halls accommodation?

DS says he's only had two lectures cancelled because of strike action which doesn't seem too bad. What about other DC?

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 ds is paying £152 weekly at the moment. So quite a bit less. But I'm not sure how long the tenancy agreement is for. UEA is only 38 weeks. The tenancy will be longer.

as far as the strike goes sounds like everything - lectures and seminar groups - for History.

Oh no @boys3. Clearly it's just random as to who is striking though.

DS thinks they have found a house today, near Aldi. It looks ok - small kitchen but ok lounge. 5 doubles, one en-suite and one family bath. Need to see the contract to check the 'joint and severally liable' point. Works out (if split equally, which it may not be because of the en-suite) at about £4200 for the full year before bills, so probably about the same as halls all in.

How long are the tenancies usually? I'm assuming they can stay the 2 years if they want to? Or do they have to leave for a few weeks?