Exeter Student guide to renting 

Step one

Call Northwood to arrange to view the property with one of our representatives. Tell us what is on your wish list, what’s important to you and we will aim to please.

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Step Two

Once you have viewed and decided on the property you would like to rent, all tenants will need to come to the office and we provide you with information outlining our fee structure, terms and conditions of the tenancy application and tenancy itself. You will be asked to pay a reference fee of £150 per applicant in order to secure the property and take it off the market. This fee will be non-refundable should you change your mind or withdraw from the application.

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Step Three

All the students will be provided with a reference application form which needs to be completed and submitted with photographic I.D and a student card. We will need to see proof of address and a copy of your current AST.  We also require the guarantor’s details so a guarantor form can be sent and completed.

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Step Four

Northwood requires all application forms to be completed and returned within 48 hours. All tenants will have 14 days of initial meeting to sign the contract and pay the deposit.  ALL STUDENTS MUST ATTEND & SIGN THE AGREEMENT AS THIS IS A LEGALLY BINDING DOCUMENT.

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Step Five

The tenancy will begin on the date agreed by you and the agent and we will require cleared funds in our account 5 days prior to this date.  If for whatever reason we do not have cleared funds prior to move in, no one will be permitted to move into the property.

A full inventory will be completed on the property prior to move-in and it will be the first person(s) responsibility to check the condition of the property. This will need to be signed by all tenants and you have 7 days to check the inventory with the property. If we do not get this back within the timeframe then the original inventory will be taken as acceptance in full and will be used as reference on the check-out. The lead tenant will collect all keys.

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Step Six

Move in and enjoy your student home!

Rent Payments
It is important to note that the rent will need to be paid in one lump sum on a monthly basis on your rent due date. It is advisable to create a joint account to pay the rent, which will need to be paid as a standing order on a monthly basis.

Please remember, you are joint and severally liable for the rent. This means that you are equally responsible for the full rent and all terms within your contract. You are not renting rooms and therefore do not have the ability to pay individually.

Deposit

It is mandatory that we ask for a deposit from each tenant. This is taken upon signing the tenancy agreement and is held for the duration of the tenancy as security against any damages beyond any fair wear and tear. There are a number of deposit schemes you can use. Northwood Exeter uses the DPS (Deposit Protection Scheme).

Just before the end of the tenancy, a check out letter will be sent to the tenants confirming when they need vacate the property by. A copy of the inventory will be sent to the lead tenant and will be his/her responsibility to check this with their fellow housemates. Unfortunately, due to confusion arising from multiple lines of communication and to aid the swift settlement of your deposit return, we can only liaise with the lead tenant with regards to the deposit return.

Click through to read the parent’s guide to student accommodation

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