A Guide To House Hunting

Help with Property Owners | Viewing Property | Where to Live | When to Look | How Much to Pay |
After Moving in, What Next? | Council Tax |Housing Benefit | TV Licences

The process of finding a house can be very stressful, but it need not be, depending on how organised and thoughtful you are. The right way to go about house hunting is to:

1. Allow yourself plenty of time to look around. This way you will not panic and take the first house you see.
2. Be well prepared (take paper and a pen with you).
3. Know what you want, what you can afford and which area you would like to live before you start looking for a house.
4. Get advice from the accommodation team before you start looking and be prepared to ask the property owner questions about your contract.
5. Be patient don't let your fellow househunters rush you just because they don't want to look anymore.

What Help Can I Get in Dealing With Property Owners?

There is no typical property owner. You will find that some are more helpful to students than others. Edge Hill accommodation team will help you as much as possible, but you have to make the decision whether a house is right for you, if you can afford it and if it is in the area you want to live in. Make sure that you are certain you want the house before you sign the contract. When you have made your mind up GET THE CONTRACT CHECKED BY THE ACCOMMODATION TEAM OR OTHER ADVICE CENTRE BEFORE YOU SIGN IT Remember, Edge Hill carries out only a minimal vetting of properties,and cannot be held responsible for the condition of any properties advertised on our accommodation lists. Your relationship with your property owner, and the responsibility to make a decision about your home, are entirely down to you.

Viewing The Property

Please check the house thoroughly, avoid taking the house on face value. Go in the day so you can have a good look around the area. Is it likely to be noisy? near a main road? are there enough street lights in the area? Check the exterior of the house. Is it in need of repair? Are the window frames rotten? the gutters leaking? When looking inside the house, check that the exterior doors are secure, that there is enough furniture, that the electrics and plumbing are in working order and that there are no signs of damp. It can get very cold in the winter so check what heating is provided, if it will be warm enough and if you can afford to run it. You should make sure that the facilities provided are sufficient for the number of people living in the house. It may cause arguments later when six students are queueing for the bathroom and there is no hot water. If you can, speak to the existing tenants and get their honest opinion of the house. When viewing a house take the checklist provided here to make sure you cover everything

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Where Do Most Students Want To Live?

The majority of student housing is located in the Ormskirk area and a minority choose to live in the Southport area. It is up to individual students to decide which area suits them best. Both have their own attractions. Ormskirk is convenient for the campus and its facilities but is quieter. If you don't mind a bus ride then Southport is further from Edge Hill but has more nightclubs, pubs and shops and the rents tend to be slightly lower than those in the Ormskirk area

When To Look For Housing

Many students rush out to look at housing as soon as the accommodation list is published by the Accommodation Team in February. They think that all the houses will be taken if they don't act fast. DON'T PANIC we have plenty of accommodation to offer. Don't take the first house you look at and NEVER take a house without viewing it first. Many students want to get their house sorted by the end of Spring term so that they don't have any stress around exam times. You may be asked to pay a summer retainer . This is a reduced rent that you pay for June-September to reserve the house, this does not mean that you can live in the house over the summer. Ask your property owner to put everything s/he is offering in writing, it will save any misunderstanding later on. Make sure you get a comprehensive inventory of the house contents, check these in the presence of the property owner and both parties sign and date it if they agree.

How Much Should I Pay?

Only you know how much you can afford. You need to decide this before you start looking. The price range for properties advertised in the Edge Hill accommodation list ranges from approximately £50 to £60 per week. This reflects the variety and standard of choice available. These figures generally exclude electricity and gas bills but may include water rates. Please check with the the Accommodation Team to clarify what is or is not included in the weekly charge.

You Have Moved In, What Next?

When you have moved in make yourself familiar with your house, find out where and how you can turn off the water gas and electricity in case of an emergency. Check all the meters and take a reading. If bills are not included in your rent contact the following informing them that the tenancy has changed hands, and give them the meter readings.

• Manweb Electricity contact 0345 112211
• British Gas contact 0151 922 6311
• North West Water contact 0151 245 1900
• British Telecom contact 150

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Council Tax

Properties occupied solely by students are completely exempt but make sure you fill in and return the forms that are sent to you. You will need to send your certificate, proving your student status, to the Council Tax office. A property occupied by one non-student is liable for 75% of the tax. If you are living with more than one non-student the property is liable for the full tax. It is your responsibility to provide the evidence of your status to your local authority.

Housing Benefit

This is paid by local authorities to people who need help with their accommodation costs. Most students in full time education are not eligible for Housing Benefit during their course of studies, including vacations. The following may be eligible for Housing Benefit and should contact their local authority for further advice;

• Part time students
• Lone Parents
• Lone foster parent with a child formally placed with you
• If you are in receipt of Income Support
• A couple both full time students with dependent children
• Student with disabilities

Please note that Social Security (students and income-related benefits) Amendment Regulations 2004 (Statutory Instrument No 1780) will come into force in August/September 2004. The amended regulations include a measure to amend the Housing Benefit (HB) Regulations to enable HB payments to be made to students for accommodation owned by educational establishments if students meet other eligibility criteria (eg. lone parents eligible for disability premium). Previously, accommodation owned by an educational establishment was excluded from HB regulations.

TV Licences

Anyone with a TV set in their home needs to have a TV licence. They can be purchased from any post office.

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Last updated: 01-Jun-2006