Student Tenants

The market for undergraduate student lettings tends to run from November to February. Most properties are released in early November and many are let quickly. Forming a group and securing a property is not something to rush into, but it is good to do it before November and decide on the area you want to live in. You should be prepared to act fast when you find a property you like. The typical tenancy runs from early July for a 12-month period.

The market for post graduate properties tends to run from May to September and is usually aimed at letting individual rooms within a shared house. The same guide applies to post graduate lettings in that certain areas can let very quickly so act fast if you are specific about where you want to be. Typically, tenancies for post graduates run from September for a 12-month period.

Durham student properties are mostly located in five areas, all of different character.

Elvet – In the heart of the city and just a 10-minute walk from the library and science site. This area is equally convenient for access to the DSU, Durham’s nightlife and city centre amenities. Durham’s stunning riverside is also literally on your doorstep.

New Inn area (Church Street, Hallgarth Street etc) – The epicentre of Durham student living, always a hive of activity and within a few minutes’ walk from the DSU, library and science Site. As such, these properties usually go early so act fast if this is where you want to be.

The Viaduct (Party central) – Durham’s largest predominantly student area. Covers a large area of Durham and essentially like a student village within the city. The high density of student properties in this area gives it a vibrant friendly atmosphere. About 15-minute walk to the science site, DSU and the library.

Claypath – Great value considering you are in the City Centre on the doorstep of Durham’s best nightlife and restaurants in Millennium Square. Short walk through the City Centre to the library, science site and DSU.

Gilesgate – On the outskirts of the city centre and lower priced. The area has its own facilities including pubs, local shops and Durham Retail Park. Parking is less restricted in Gilesgate and access to the A1 is excellent so great if you have a car.

Once you've found your property, securing it with Rise is easy. Initially we take a £300 Holding Deposit from each prospective tenant. This is your financial commitment to the property and means that we will stop marketing the property pending your application. You can come in to our office on New Elvet to sign paperwork and fill in your details. We will require a guarantor, generally a parent or guardian, who will sign a legal agreement guaranteeing your share of rent and tenant responsibilities.

Our tenancy agreements and guarantor agreements are pre-vetted by the University accommodation office so you can sign your documents with confidence they are fair and written in plain English. We use an e signing system which makes the whole process seamless and convenient to use as you and your guarantor's can sign agreements on a PC, mobile phone or tablet.

In most cases we carry out a full inventory and statement of condition. By doing this we record the condition of the property immediately prior to the tenancy start date, as well as documenting the contents of the property. In nearly all cases, student properties are fully furnished and as a minimum include the following facilities/furniture:-

•  Washing machine
•  TV
•  Fridge freezer
•  Cooker
•  Carpets/curtains/lampshades
•  Beds
•  Wardrobes
•  Desk and chair for each room
•  Sofa
•  Vacuum cleaner
•  Lawn mower
•  Bins

Once all agreements are signed and the application is formalised into an agreed tenancy we use the £300 holding deposit as your security deposit which is held for the duration of the tenancy and protected under a government approved scheme. Once we have protected your deposit you will receive a deposit protection certificate. Knowing that your deposit is legally protected ensures you have peace of mind that any proposed deductions at the end of your tenancy need to be completely justified and you have the scheme to mediate. In the majority of tenancies there are no deductions. The most likely cause for deposit deductions is the cost of a house clean but fair wear and tear is always taken into consideration.

At Rise we have a dedicated student co-ordinator who ensures that all maintenance requests are dealt with fairly and efficiently. We have an online reporting facility including the ability to send pictures of the issue directly to us.

All Rise properties are kept up to date with landlord safety certificates. Student properties are categorised as Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs). As such they are legally required to adhere to more stringent safety checks. These safety checks include:-

•  Landlord’s gas safety certificate (carried out every 12 months)
•  Portable appliance testing (PAT) (carried out every 12 months
•  Electrical safety certificate (Carried out every 5 years or less)