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This relates to late rent payment or failure to pay rent on the specified date agreed in your tenancy agreement.

ASTs are one of the most common tenancy types in the private rented sector. ASTs apply to a property for which you pay rent, have exclusive possession to all common areas in the house, such as the kitchen, and the landlord does not reside in the property.

This relates to a term often used in tenancy agreements, which allows both parties to end a tenancy before its due date. Although this is beneficial to the tenant, it must be agreed by the landlord. But they are uncommon in student contracts.

Properties occupied by full time students are council tax exempt. If you're a part time student, you'll be liable for paying Council Tax but on a reduced rate. If you're in a house where most of you are students and one person is either part time or not studying at all, you'll all become liable for paying council tax due to this person living in the house. Further information can be found from .

This can be defined as ‘the condition of being in need of repair’. As a tenant, you have the right to have your accommodation kept in a reasonable state of repair. You also have an obligation to look after the accommodation. The tenancy agreement may give details of both your and your landlord’s responsibilities in carrying out repairs, so you should check this.

This is a complex area relating to housing law where a landlord must request through the courts to have an order directing a tenant to leave the landlord’s premises. There are specific procedures that a landlord must follow before a tenant can be evicted. Trying to illegally evict someone is protected by law under the . For further advice if you feel you are under the threat of eviction, please come into the office and speak to one of the Student Housing Officers straight away.

This clause is often in place in most tenancy agreements to protect the tenant and make allowances for the original age, quality and condition of any item at the start of the tenancy, the average lifespan of the item, the number and type of occupants in the property and the length of the tenants’ occupancy. A good example would be faded paintwork, slight markings from furniture or a well-used oven. A good inventory will note the condition of fixtures and furnishings before a tenant moves into a property.

The majority of student agreements will be for a fixed term, from a (legal) minimum of six months up to 12 months. Once you've signed a fixed term agreement, you're obliged to pay rent to the landlord for the duration of the tenancy. Likewise, the landlord is bound by the fixed term on the contract. Some fixed term contracts will state a ‘minimum fixed term’. In such cases, it's advisable that you give your landlord at least one month’s written notice (or however much is stated in your agreement) prior to the end of the fixed term. Failure to give adequate notice can result in the landlord holding you responsible for a further month’s rent (or until sufficient notice has been received). If you're happy to stay at the property, there may be a clause in the contract which states that once the fixed term has passed you will then be on a ‘statutory periodic tenancy’ i.e. rolling the tenancy on a month by month basis until either the tenant or landlord gives notice to quit.

Quite literally, guarantees rent payments and other tenancy obligations on a rental property. It's standard practice for landlords to ask for a UK based guarantor for student tenants. It's normally a parent or a guardian of the tenant who takes on this responsibility. If you can't get a UK based guarantor, you may be asked to pay sets of rent in advance, for example, three to four months’ rent as a guarantee that the rent will be paid.

This is a classification of houses which have three or more bedrooms and all occupants are unrelated, i.e. student sharers. In August 2013, an additional licensing scheme was introduced within the PO1, PO4 and PO5 areas in Portsmouth, which means that smaller HMOs with three or more tenants belonging to two or more households also require a licence. These properties are required to be licensed by Portsmouth City Council and are subjected to checks by the council following the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) before a licence is granted.

This is a detailed list produced by the landlord that states the items in the property and their present condition. This includes furniture, fixtures and fittings in the property from doors and windows, to carpets and walls – ideally right down to the number of picture hooks on a wall.

When a group of tenants sign a joint contract (all tenants sign one contract rather than separate ones each), they (and their guarantors) are all equally responsible for the total amount of rent payable to the landlord (not just their share) and for the condition of the property. For example, all must contribute towards any repairs/ replacements required to items in the property once the tenancy ends and during the period of occupation.

A lodger is a person who rents a room in a private house from a landlord/lady who resides on the premises OR a family member of the property owner who resides there and shares the communal facilities. You generally will not sign a contract, maybe just a lodger’s agreement or a set of house rules. Lodgings agreements are generally very flexible, as you do not have a fixed term agreement, though please note, lodgers are not protected by the . Your deposit is also not protected in one of the protection schemes, as you will not have an Assured Shorthold Tenancy.

This is the amount of time that your landlord gives you OR that you give before ending a tenancy. Landlords normally have to give two months’ notice and tenants one month, but this can vary depending on what's in your contract.

A resident landlord is classed as the property owner or a relative of the property owner, who lives in the same property as the person they are renting to.

The tenancy agreement is a form of consumer contract and, as such, it must be in plain language, which is clear and easy to understand. It must not contain any terms which could be ‘unfair’, e.g. the tenancy agreement must not put you or your landlord in a disadvantageous position, enable one party to change terms permanently and bind you to terms that you have had no time to become familiar with. An unfair term is not valid in law and cannot be enforced.

Do you have the name of the landlord and their contact number?

• Do the windows shut properly? Do they lock (especially on the ground floor) and are there keys?
• Are the guttering and roof tiles in good condition?
• Is there a storage area for bikes?
• Are rubbish and recycling bins provided?
• Are the main doors secure and lockable and in good condition?

• Is there a communal area i.e. lounge or kitchen/diner?
• Is there enough furniture for the number of occupants in the house?
• Is the furniture in a good and usable condition i.e. not broken or in poor appearance?
• Is there any damp or mould?
• Is a washing machine provided?
• Is there somewhere appropriate to dry clothing e.g. tumble dryer/washing line?

• Do the white goods e.g. cooker, fridge/freezer appear to be in safe working order?
• Is there enough work and cupboard space for the number of occupants?
• Are there any fire extinguishers or fire blankets?

• Do the taps work?
• Does the toilet flush?
• Does the shower curtain/door stop the water leaking on to the floor?
• How is the water pressure on the shower? (Test it)
• Is there a fan or a window that can be opened to prevent condensation problems?

• Are there smoke detectors? Ask first, but make sure you press them to check
• Is there a carbon monoxide detector in place if there are gas-fired appliances present?
• Is there a heat detector in the kitchen?
• Are there any loose wires, sockets or dangerous looking electrical fittings?
• Does the furniture comply with fire regulations?
• Is there adequate escape from a fire?
• Is the flooring securely in place and not worn out? Is it secure on the stairs?
• Is the stair bannister secure?

• Does the house have central heating? If yes, does the thermostat work?
• If there is no central heating, what heating is provided?
• If gas or electric, do the heaters work?
• Is there running hot and cold water?
• Does the boiler (if gas-fired) have a current gas safety certificate on show in the house?

• Are there any bills to be paid by the tenants? If yes, which ones?
• How much are the bills likely to be and when are they paid?
• Are any of the bills included in the rent? If yes, which ones?
• Are there any card/key meters?
• How much is the rent? When and how is it to be paid? Can everyone afford it?
• Is the rent paid separately or as a group?
• How long is the contract for?
• How much is the deposit?
• Which scheme will your deposit be protected in?
• Is there a holding deposit or damage deposit that needs to be paid? If so, how much is this? Remember that landlords can no longer charge administration fees or more than the equivalent of 5 weeks' rent as a deposit amount under new laws

• Will any damaged items be repaired before you move in? Get confirmation in writing.
• Are there restrictions to having visitors/pets/posters?
• Have you asked the previous tenants what the property is like to live in?
• Can you take pictures of the house while you look around? Be sure to ask for permission first.
• Are the current tenants around? Ask them about life in the house and the area.
• You should have a minimum of 24 hours in which to make a decision on the property – is your landlord giving you the time to think about your decision? It's important not to feel pressured into a quick decision.