home > student rentals > frequently asked questions
PRE-TENANCY
Q. How long are the tenancy agreements for?
A. Normally 12 months but this depends on the property.
Q. Do you do credit checks?
A. We have the facility to do credit checks if necessary. We also require every tenant to have a Guarantor. This Guarantor needs to be a UK resident, a homeowner and fully employed.
Q. Are all properties furnished?
A. Yes, all properties come furnished including kitchen appliances.
Q. In 2 or more bedroom properties, can more than one person live in the same room?
A. No, the price is per person in relation to the number of bedrooms in the house.
Q. Are pets allowed?
A. Unfortunately not.
Q. Are there any administration fees?
A. Yes. It is a one off payment and very competitive. However, should you choose to re-sign with Parklane for the following year, you will not pay it again.
Q. Is there a bond?
A. Yes and this is returned to you at the end of the agreement. The amount will depend on the specific property and will not need to be paid again should you choose to re-sign the property for the following year.
Q. Are bills included in the rent?
A. This depends on the property. Where you let an individual room within a shared house the bills are always included; gas, water, electricity and council tax. Phone bills are not included, however in some cases internet can be provided.
Q. Do you have any houses where I can just rent one room?
A. Yes we have individual rooms to let within shared student houses. In these you will have your own room, but will share communal facilities.
Q. Do you have any "student halls" type of accommodation?
A. We have a large student complex called Parklane Triangle, which offers 5 and 6 bed luxury flats. Rooms can also be rented individually.
Q. Do you provide kitchen utensils or do we need to bring our own?
A. Our properties are fully furnished, but we do not provide items such as kitchen utensils and bedding, therefore you will need to bring these with you when you move in.
Q. Is the internet installed?
A. This varies from property to property. Please enquire about our Parklane Internet Package.
Q. Do you do viewings on Saturdays?
A. Yes we are open for viewings on Saturdays from 10am to 5pm.
Q. How long in advance do we need to book if we want to look at some houses?
A. We need 24 hours to inform current tenants of viewings on properties. To arrange a viewing just pop into the office, or call us on 0113 230 4949.
Q. Do we meet you at the property or do we need to come to the office?
A. You will need to come to the office prior to the viewing and we will take you from here.
Q. Do you offer a Summer discount?
A. Generally we don't, but certain properties may have summer discounts if maintenance works are planned.
Q. Do you offer properties with bills included?
A. Yes, sometimes! Please fill in the form on the shared accommodation page, letting us know what your requirements are and we'll get back to you.
Q. Can I use my own furniture?
A. Absolutely. However please make sure you arrange your own storage for Parklane's furniture and remove any personal items before you leave.
TENANCY
Q. How often do we have to pay rent?
A. If you are a student, the rent is paid in monthly or quarterly installments as per your tenancy agreement.
Q. How do I pay the rent?
A. Rent is paid either by Standing Order or Direct Debit. Your rent will be paid automatically once this has been set up.
Q. Can my parents pay my rent?
A. Anyone can pay your rent on your behalf, however the legal responsibility lies with you.
Q. Who holds my Deposit?
A. The Deposit is safeguarded by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, which is administered by: The Dispute Service Ltd, PO Box 541, Amersham, Bucks, HP6 6ZR. Phone: 0845 226 7837 Email: deposits@tds.gb.com Fax: 01494 431123
Q. What happens if I fall into arrears?
A. We appreciate that sometimes things can be tight however rental payments must be paid on time. If you fall in to arrears you will be charged and all guarantors and other tenants will be informed of the debt. Please refer to your tenancy agreement for details on charges that could be applied. The sooner you let us know of any extenuating circumstances the quicker we can try and work with you.
Q. Can I leave the contract earlier should I want to?
A. You can do, however you and the other tenants will need to find someone to assign over your tenancy. Once a suitable tenant is found they would need to fulfill all the necessary requirements and we would then need to add the new tenant to the contract. The cost of this procedure is £100 plus VAT and is payable by the outgoing tenant.
Q. What happens if I have a maintenance issue with my property?
A. Small repairs and the day to day running of the property are the tenant's responsibility, however in certain circumstances you may not be able to solve the problem and therefore Parklane has instructed Hive Property Services to assist with these issues. However you will be charged for any call outs made which fall under the tenant's responsibility or which are deemed unnecessary.
Q. How can i advertise my property/room if i cannot fulfill my tenancy agreement?
A. You can advertise your property for free by using websites such as Gumtree, Facebook and Myspace. If you would like Parklane to re-advertise your room on your behalf the cost is one months rent plus VAT.
Q. Can I decorate?
A. In properties owned by Parklane you are welcome to decorate, providing you obtain authorization from the office first.
Q. Can I put a lock on my bedroom door?
A. We understand the need for privacy however locks on doors can create a number of issues. They can be a potential fire hazard and if Parklane needs to do any maintenance work inside the room we would not have access. In some cases a call out charge will still be charged to the tenant and an additional charge may occur for removing the lock. Another issue is with TV licensing as a locked door creates a separate dwelling which means another TV licence may be required. This can also apply to the Council Tax banding. We may allow an internal lock to be attached (with prior approval from Parklane) which gives the tenant privacy once in the room.
POST TENANCY
Q. What do I need to do in order to get my bond back?
A. For Parklane to process your bond we need proof of payment of you final bills for Water, Gas, Electric and Council Tax. This proof can come in either the form of either a letter from your supplier explaining that your account is clear or your final bill and a stamp from the post office stating the amount that has been paid. If you are a student then we would need a Council Tax exemption form which can be obtained from Leeds City Council.
Q. How long does my bond take to process and what format does it come in?
A. Your bond can take up to 30 days to process once we have received proof of payment for your final bills. Once the bond has been processed it will be returned to you in the form of a cheque made payable to the tenant.
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