How do we arrange a viewing of a Hughes Lettings Student House?

To arrange a viewing, please contact us and we can arrange a convenient time for a viewing. These are normally evenings or weekends.

Can we just turn up to one of your houses and ask to look round?

No, viewings are by appointment only, and are normally with the Landlord. This is for the safety of the current tenants, but also so that you can ask any questions and have a chance to meet your new landlord.

If we like a house, can we reserve it?

You can reserve a house by signing the contract and paying the deposit. At this point, the house is legally yours for the time stated on the contract.

Are the photos on your website real?

All photos you see on this website are of the actual houses. We think that pictures are better than pages of description, so we add as many photos as possible to give you a good picture of the house before you come round for a viewing.

How much rent do we pay?

The rent for each house differs, but is clearly advertised on this website.

When do we pay rent?

We normally collect rent quarterly on 1^st Oct, 1^st Jan, 1^st Apr & 1^st Jul.

However we do know that the student loans company can be a bit rubbish on getting loans to you on time, so we can be flexible if needs be.

How can we pay the rent?

Rent can be paid via cheque, bank transfer or cash.

Do you take a deposit?

We take £100 deposit per person (£200 for Ashleigh Drive). This is taken to ensure that no damage is done to the property. The deposit is protected with a Government Deposit Protection Scheme, currently MyDeposits.co.uk

Do you offer bills inclusive?

Yes, we will offer bills inclusive at £10 extra per person, per week. We are flexible about this – if you want to pay bills yourselves, that is no problem.

How do we get our deposit back?

Once everyone has moved out of the house, we will do a full inspection. We will let you have the report and if there are any problems you can rectify them. If there are no problems, then you will get your full deposit back.

Is there a limit to the bills?

Yes, you have an allowance for bills. If you go over the allowance then you will be required to pay the extra.

What bills are paid for if we go bills inclusive?

All your bills are paid – Gas, Electric, Water, Internet & TV License.

What internet do we get?

Internet is provided by Virgin Media. We choose the standard connection package which is normally the 10mb service. A modem and wireless router is provided.

Can we upgrade the internet?

Yes you can upgrade the internet speed or add a TV package if you like, but you have to pay the extra cost.

Do we have to pay council tax?

Students are classed as exempt from council tax, however you must provide us with an exemption certificate from the university – these can be collected from Admin 2. If you don’t provide these certificates, you will have to pay council tax.

How do we get our 1 month free rent?

The one month free rent is a part of your summer rent, as long as you don’t want to stay in the house. If you need to stay in the house over the summer, then you pay full rent.

How do we sign up?

If you want to rent a house from us, we need the following information:
Name, Email, Mobile Number, Address, Student ID Number, Parent(s) Names, Home Address, Home Telephone Number.
Then we will draw up the contract and arrange to meet you all to sign.
At this point you need to bring along your cheque for the deposit money.
As soon as all cheques have cleared and the contract is fully signed, the house is yours.

Can I get out of the contract?

Your contract/tenancy agreement is a legally binding document, and states the length of the tenancy. If you want to leave early, this is possible, but you must find a new tenant to take your contract on. Otherwise you must pay the outstanding rent before leaving.

Do we need a TV License?

If you choose a bills inclusive package then your TV License will be bought for you. Otherwise you need a TV License if you watch terrestrial TV or internet TV. For more details goto: http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk

What furniture is in each room?

Each bedroom has a good quality bed, desk, desk chair, wardrobe and chest of drawers. Furniture does vary between houses and some bigger rooms have more in them.
Please note, we don’t provide any soft furnishings – duvets, pillows, bedding etc.

Do we need to clean the house at the end of the tenancy?

At the end of the year, you are expected to deliver the house back to us in the same condition as when you move in. Our houses are always cleaned from top to toe over the summer and we expect them to be just as clean when you leave.

What if you have to fix something we’ve broken?

If we have to come into the house at the end of the tenancy and fix things, or do any cleaning, this will all be charged at £10 per hour, plus the cost of any replacement items.

What happens if something breaks in the house?

Things get broken, it happens. You just need to replace the broken item. Let us know and we can often tell you where the item came from so you can get an exact replacement.

What if I damage the paintwork in my room?

If you damage the paintwork, then we expect it to be touched up again. If you give us a call, we can bring round the paint used so that it matches.

What happens if there is a problem?

We can’t fix problems that we haven’t been told about, so please get in touch straight away. Depending on the severity of the issue we will have someone come to look at the problem and fix it for you.

Do we need to keep the house clean?

The house is yours throughout the tenancy and it’s your responsibility to keep it clean. If we notice that the house has become too dirty or a health hazard, we will ask you to clean it.

Do you come round all the time?

We generally leave you in peace whilst you’re in the house and we try to give you 24 hours notice of any viewings.

Are there any inspections?

We do a mid-tenancy inspection after exams in February. This gives us a chance to make sure you’re looking after the house properly and also to spot any maintenance that might need to be done.

Is the house insured?

We have insurance on the house itself, but not for your personal belongings. You should arrange a suitable insurance policy in case of burglary.

Do you have Gas Safety Certificates?

Yes, we have gas safety certificates for all of the houses, which are renewed every year. There is a copy in each of the houses.

Do we get hoovers and cleaning products?

All our houses have vacuum cleaners in them – most of them have a Henry! Some have an ironing board and iron, but you will need to provide your own cleaning products.

Do we have to mow the lawn and keep the garden tidy?

If we give you a lawn mower and tools, then we expect you to keep the garden tidy – otherwise we will do it for you.