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Law Helps When Renting Student Accommodation in Nottingham

Nottingham is a bustling student city with two top-ranked universities, a busy culture and a nightlife that can put London to shame. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, you’ll find a wide range of Nottingham student accommodation in this cosmopolitan, affordable and fun-loving Midlands town.

Students deciding to study in the city typically choose purpose-built student halls or shared houses in the areas of Lenton, Radford or the city centre. While some of these modern buildings have all the latest in student living, others are more traditional and offer a home-from-home for you and your new flatmates.

When choosing Nottingham student accommodation, it is important to understand your rights as a tenant. Unlike buying a property, renting a house or room is a legally binding contract that makes you liable for the financial obligations detailed in it until you move out at the end of the fixed-term period or when the landlord has a right to regain possession. You should always read a tenancy agreement before signing and take it away with you to discuss.

Most student tenancy agreements in Nottingham are Assured Shorthold Tenancies and have a fixed term that can be up to seven years long. These types of tenancies also give you the right to quiet enjoyment of the property for the duration of the tenancy unless you are subject to a breach of tenancy terms or damage. A tenancy can be ended by either the landlord or you at any time but you will need to provide written notice of your intention to leave. The landlord may then serve you with a Section 21 notice to obtain vacant possession.

Understanding Law Helps When Renting Student Accommodation in Nottingham

Landlords can ask you to vacate your accommodation if they believe the building is unsafe or not fit for people to live in. Landlords can also recover possession if the property is sold or becomes unfit for habitation but you are entitled to a minimum of six months’ rent as compensation for being asked to leave. You should make sure the tenancy agreement exempts you from paying rent if the property is deemed unfit to live in as a result of a fire or flood.

Proximity to campus also enables students to easily access academic resources such as libraries, laboratories, and study groups. Moreover, living nearby fosters a greater sense of belonging to the academic community, as students can actively participate in extracurricular activities, attend seminars, and make use of other educational facilities outside of regular class hours.

You should make sure the tenancy agreement includes clauses that say who is responsible for damage in communal areas such as hallways, toilets and bathrooms. If you are sharing a property with other students, check that you and your flatmates are liable equally for any damage to the shared areas. One of you will likely be a lead tenant and should sign a form agreeing to act on behalf of your flatmates, although you still have joint liability for all the damage.

If you are a first-year student, it is a good idea to start looking for student housing in Nottingham as soon as you accept your university’s offer. This will give you the best chance of getting the type of student accommodation that you want. You should try to attend any open days that your university is holding and visit the area of the city where you would like to live before booking your tenancy agreement.