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Help & Advice for
FOREIGN STUDENTS
FOREIGN WORKERS
Cheap rents can often be an indication of the quality of the area where the accommodation is located.
So be careful. Do some research. Check out the neighbourhood.
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When you rent a bedsitter you will normally given a key for the main entrance to the building and a key for your own room (bedsit).
Check that this is the case.
Even though you are given a main entrance key, main entrance doors are often left permanently open by other occupants of the building.
This is bad for security as strangers can wander into the building and in some case mail theft can occur.
Is the building located on a noisy main road? If so it may be difficult to get a peaceful night's sleep.
On which floor is the bedsit located? Remember that the ground floor is the least secure as thieves can climb through your open window, or break the window if it is closed.
The ground floor may be potentially insecure, but a bedsit located on the second or third floor, or in the attic or roof of the building will involve a long and tiring climb up the stairs.
Unfortunately bedsits are usually located in old buildings and therefore are unlikely to be served by a lift (elevator).
Is the room big enough for you to live comfortably in? Remember, you will be sleeping, eating, maybe studying and relaxing in one room. Is there enough storage space?
Perhaps the room is too big or maybe the ceiling is very high. This could make it difficult and/or expensive to heat in the winter.
Single & Double Rooms - Single & Double Beds
Make sure that you understand the difference between a single and a double room. As a single person you may choose to rent a double room simply because there will be more space. If you intend to share, do you want one double bed or two single beds? Check that the landlord is able to comply with your requirements.
Are the windows single glazed or double glazed ? If the windows are single glazed you will lose heat in the winter, it may be too hot in the summer and noise insulation will be poor. Which way does the window face? If the window faces another room, either in the same building or in a neighbouring building, you may feel a loss of privacy. The only solution will be to keep the curtains permanently closed.
What type of heating is available? Various forms of heating are used in bedsits. Night storage electric heating is common. It is both difficult to control and is generally more expensive than other methods of heating. Central heating feeding one or more hot water radiators will be more economical, more easily controlled and most important, the cost will probably be included in the rent. It is very important that you clarify with the landlord exactly how the heating works and how much it is likely to cost.
Gas & Electricity - how is it paid for?
When you live in a bedsit, electricity, and maybe gas, will be consumed by room heating, cooking, lighting etc. It is very important that you clarify with the landlord, what is included and what is not included in the rent. It is very likely that electricity will not be included. A common system of payment is by inserting coins into a slot meter.
If you have a bicycle you will need to know where you can store it safely. The landlord will almost certainly not allow you to store it in the bedsit itself or in the communal hallway. Having said this, since the landlord probably does not live on the premises, these rules are frequently disobeyed.
Mailbox security is an important issue, particularly if you are expecting to receive valuable parcels or confidential mail. Unfortunately the most common system is for mail to be dropped through one common letterbox at the building entrance. If you are lucky, each bedsit may have a personal mailbox fixed to the wall in the hall, but it probably won't be lockable. It is highly unlikely that the postman will deliver mail individually to each bedsit. To sum up, mailbox security generally will be poor in a building divided up into bedsits.
How many bedsits in the building?
Ask the landlord how many bedsits there are in the same building. The more there are, the greater will be the problems. You should take into consideration noise disturbance, general security and possible difficulties getting access to bathrooms, shower rooms and toilets. And, if you have a car and there is a car park you may find that on occasions you can't find a vacant space, or you may get blocked in by another car.
You will not be able to conveniently wash and dry your clothes in a bedsit. The simple solution is to wash and dry your clothes in a public laundrette. Remember to take this into account when working out your living expenses.
Washing your clothes in the sink in your bedsit and drying them on a drying rack in front of the heater is not advisable as the air in your room will become moist. Condensation will occur and mould may start to grow on the walls and window frames. Hanging wet clothes out of the window is probably not allowed. Check the rules and regulations.
Ask the landlord if there are any rules and regulations which you should be aware of. There may be restrictions regarding guests and visitors. If you like to have friends staying overnight you should be clear where you stand. In many cases a written copy of the rules and regulations might be attached to the door or wall of the bedsit. Check it out.
Ask the landlord if there are any restrictions on the length of stay. For example, is there a minimum period of four weeks. Some bedsits, particularly in seaside towns, may be rented out as week by week holiday lets during the summer season. This would mean that your stay would be restricted to certain months of the year only, eg: October through May.
If you find you are not happy in the bedsit and want to leave after a short time, you need to know how much notice to leave is required. If you do not give the landlord adequate notice he is entitled to to keep some, or all, of your deposit. If the landlord wants you to leave, he too must give you adequate notice. Notice given from landlord to occupant is usually the same as notice given from occupant to landlord, but not always. Check it out.
If having viewed the bedsit you feel pleased with what you have seen so far,
learn more about arranging the move in.
KEYS & SECURITY
STREET NOISE
WHICH FLOOR?
ROOM SIZE
SINGLE & DOUBLE ROOMS
WINDOWS
HEATING
GAS & ELECTRICITY
How Is It Paid For?
BICYCLE STORAGE
MAILBOX SECURITY
HOW MANY BEDSITS IN THE BUILDING?
WASHING & DRYING CLOTHES
RULES & REGULATIONS
LONG TERM - SHORT TERM
NOTICE TO LEAVE
Help & Advice for
Foreign Students
International Students
Foreign Workers !!!
