Everything students and guarantors ask most often, grouped by stage. Anything not covered here — send it via the contact page and it'll get added.
Houses typically go live in November for the following September, and the earliest lets are usually signed by January. If you're viewing later than that, some houses may already be gone — check the portfolio page for live availability.
Either is fine. A lot of groups send one or two people first to shortlist, then bring the rest for a second look. If you're viewing on behalf of a group, be prepared for questions from the tenants who couldn't make it.
No — enquire whenever. Offers do need to come from a complete group, but plenty of enquiries come from students still finalising who they're living with. The best houses go early, so it's worth being on record even before your group is locked in.
Six-bed houses can occasionally be let to five, and five-beds to four, depending on timing. It's a conversation rather than a rule — enquire and it can be discussed.
Yes — every property in the portfolio is let with bills included. That covers gas, electricity, water, standard council tax exemption (available while every tenant is a full-time student), and high-speed fibre broadband. There's a fair-use cap on utilities to avoid unusual spikes, and it hasn't come into play in normal use.
Five weeks' rent per tenant, capped as required by the Tenant Fees Act 2019. It's collected before the tenancy start date and registered with mydeposits within five working days. Every tenant receives a confirmation from the scheme directly.
One week's rent per tenant, paid when the offer is accepted, which takes the property off the market for 48 hours while references are run. It's credited against the first month's rent when the tenancy is signed — or refunded in full within seven days if the deal doesn't go ahead.
Monthly by standing order, per tenant, into a nominated account. First month is due on move-in day. Reminders are sent a week before each due date, and any changes to the standard schedule (early graduation, funding delays) are worked out case by case.
Reported directly, not through an agency. Non-emergencies get a same-day acknowledgement and a fix scheduled within 3-5 working days. Emergencies (loss of heat, water leaks, security) are within 24 hours. Full contact numbers are given on move-in.
It's your home for the year — guests are fine, standard tenancy provisions apply. Big parties are usually a bad idea in period houses with neighbours; when in doubt, a heads-up in advance tends to smooth things over.
Not currently, as a general rule — HMOs and pets don't tend to be a good combination, and the group's shared responsibility for damage can get messy. Case by case for smaller animals if it comes up.
Command hooks, posters, and freestanding furniture — go for it. Painting or drilling into walls needs a quick check-in first. The reasonable stuff is almost always fine.
Tenancies typically end on 31 August. A checkout guide is sent two weeks before with a scheduled inventory check and the list of what's expected at handover.
Within ten working days of tenancy end, minus any agreed deductions. The vast majority of tenancies see the full deposit returned.
Reasonable wear and tear is not deductible. Deductions cover damage beyond that (broken items, holes in walls, stains that require replacement rather than cleaning), unpaid rent, and unpaid utility usage beyond the fair-use cap. Every deduction is itemised with photos.
mydeposits provides a free adjudication service. The disputed portion stays with the scheme until resolved — the rest is returned as normal.