Student flat viewing - what do we need to know and ask?

[Houseplantmad]

DS's uni is not offering accommodation for first year students so we are looking at flats next week. He is due to start uni on 12th October.
They're being rented by the room, not whole flat, so what do we need to ask please as we've never done this before.

Which bills are included?

Does each room have a lock?

How many people will be sharing the bathroom(s) and kitchen?

Does the property have decent internet (needed these days if multiple students are at zoom lectures)?

Is there any parking/space to store a bike if he wants to?

What’s provided - furniture, bedding, saucepans?

How much notice would he have to give if unhappy?

What’s the deposit?

Thanks @RemyHadley. That's really helpful.

Check the deposit is held in one of the deposit schemes. Make sure it's officially registered as an HMO. Check for smoke alarms, CO alarms. Obviously ask questions about the others - party house/quiet house/vegan/meat eating/up early/on night shifts etc.

Double-check the tenancy agreement to make sure you/he is only ever responsible for his % share of the rent/bills/ deposit and what happens if another student defaults/leaves (i.e. the total 'loss' isn't shared between the others).

Check ratings on review sites for the letting agents, but be aware that they are mostly always awful, as only unhappy people bother posting .

Thanks @titchy and @Divoc2020 - I hadn't thought of those points. Really helpful.

Given the rent is per room check all the residents are actually students as this provides immunity from paying council tax

Given he will not necessarily know the other residents check the rooms can be locked (and maybe kitchen cupboards). Also make absolutely sure the rent liability is just for his room and not joint and several liability for the rent for the whole building (which is more common when a group enter into a share arrangement for the whole house as opposed to separate rooms)

Length of contract - annual or to match the university term

Do not use a landlord who doesn’t use the agent for day to day issues such as maintenance but only to secure tenants. You have no back up if the landlord is poor at fixing or replacing things. Said with great feeling after dd had a nightmare landlady.

Look out for private halls which might be an alternative to uni halls.