Information for new tenants
When you have found somewhere to live, come and see a Housing Adviser in Room E297 for legal advice on your contract or terms and conditions. If you are in a hurry to take a property take note of the following points.
- Ideally you should pay nothing until the start of the tenancy (when you get the keys). If you are asked to pay money in advance try to keep it to a minimum, anything over £200 is in our view excessive for a holding deposit.
- If you do pay a holding deposit to secure a room or flat in advance, ensure that you get a written receipt which clarifies in what circumstances the deposit is kept or returned. It should normally only be kept by the landlord if you do not take up the offer of accommodation. If your landlord is vague about a moving in date, perhaps because he intends to decorate first, it is a good idea to agree a date by which the flat must be ready or your holding deposit must be returned.
- Rent and damage deposit should not be paid ideally until the day you move in. Rent is not technically due until you move in. It is unlikely that a landlord will accept a cheque at that stage so be prepared to be asked for cash.
- Advance rent is normally one month; a deposit is usually equivalent to one months or 6 weeks rent. Get receipts that clearly account for the two amounts separately.
- We strongly advise against paying more than one month's rent in advance. If your landlord wants more rent in advance, try offering financial references instead.
- Get everything in writing!
- Even if you have already signed your contract, the Housing Advisers can still check it through for you.
[Students' Union Advice and Counselling Centre|/main/support/advicecentre]
Opening hours: 10.30am to 4pm, Room E297
Telephone: 020 7955 7145
Email: SU.Advice-Centre@lse.ac.uk
