Northgate Studios, Chester

How and when do I pay the deposit?

Your deposit is paid when you book your room. It needs to be paid using a credit* or debit card and the cardholder must authorise the payment. (*credit cards incur a surcharge).

How do I pay for the rent?

If you are a student with a permanent UK home address then you will usually have the option of paying in one or four instalments. If your permanent home address is outside the UK then you have the option of one payment or four instalments if you have a UK Guarantor. If you need a different payment option then please contact us to discuss this personally.

What are instalments?

An instalment is a part-payment of your total rent amount. If you choose to pay in four instalments, for example, your rent payment will be divided into four payments of 10%, 30%, 40% and 20% of the total cost. The first instalment can potentially be taken up to two weeks before your tenancy starts.

You will be told the dates on which the money will be collected during the booking process, these will depend on your property and tenancy.

What happens if I cant make a payment?

If youre already living with us then please speak to the reception team at your property. If you havent moved in yet, or you would like to speak to someone when your property reception is not open

What happens if I have a delay or a problem with student finance?

If youre already living with us please speak to the reception team at your property. If you havent moved in yet, or you would like to speak to someone when your property reception is not open, please call our Bookings Team 

What does a being a guarantor mean?

A guarantor will be responsible for putting right any breaches of tenancy, including non-payment of rent if the tenant fails in their responsibilities.

Who can be a guarantor?

The guarantor should be a parent, guardian, relative or family friend of the student. The guarantor should be in full-time employment, and/or in a stable financial position to cover relevant payments as required. We will not run a credit check as part of the process of assessing guarantors.

What does a guarantor need to provide?

The guarantor will need to sign a Guarantor Agreement, which will be sent to them by email. The guarantor will need to provide two of the following documents as proof of ID*:

* Valid passport

* Valid driving license

* Utility bill dated within last 3 months

*Where possible, the bill name and address should be written in English.

What do I need to do when booking?

You need to be ready to pay your deposit  this is a one off payment made at the time you book. Its protected during your stay with us and as long as your room and communal areas are left in good condition will be returned in full at the end of your stay.

Can I view your rooms?

Nearly all our properties have dedicated show flats that you can view and we can answer any questions you may have. The easiest way to book a viewing is online; you can do this by selecting the property you wish to view.

If I am doing an internship/placement year, am I allowed to live here?

You can live here if you are still registered as a full-time student and your placement is part of your degree/course.

What is a deposit protection scheme?

By law, if you pay a deposit to your landlord or letting agent then they must protect it in a government-authorised tenancy deposit protection scheme. This applies to all landlords and agents in England and Wales who have an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) agreement with their tenant. We use MyDeposits (England) and MyDeposits Scotland (Scotland) to protect your deposit.

What is the utility guarantee fee?

This is already included in the rent payment and is not an additional cost to you. It is simply an amount set aside to ensure that your rent wont increase if utility providers increase their charges.

How do I sign the contract?

We will email you and your guarantor a link that will show you the terms and conditions of your contract. Once youve accepted these your booking is complete and you have signed the contract. You will need to scroll through all the terms and conditions before the option to accept is made available to you.

What is a guarantor?

A guarantor is someone who takes joint financial responsibility for your tenancy. If, for any reason, you are unable to pay an amount owed to us it is your guarantors responsibility to do so. You will need to name a guarantor when you make your booking and this person will need to sign the tenancy paperwork. We have the right to recover any outstanding monies from your guarantor so it is important that your guarantor understands their liability.

Who can be a guarantor?

Anyone over the age of 25 who does not already live with us. Its important to choose someone who is able to take financial responsibility for your booking if you are unable to do so.

My university/another organisation has agreed to be my guarantor, what do I do?

A named person from your university or other organisation will need to be included in your guarantor information you can use the university or named organisations address and that person will need to accept the terms and conditions as guarantor.

Who needs a guarantor?

All students need a guarantor. However, your guarantor does not need to be based in the UK, but they will need to understand their liability and agree to this responsibility.

Im a mature student and paying my rent in full, do I still need a guarantor?

Yes, all tenants require a guarantor.

What is a witness?

A witness is a person who is present at the signing of a legal document. They sign the document to indicate that they personally saw the signing and the document is authentic. The date that the witness signs any document should be the same as the date that the tenant/guarantor signs the document.

A witness can be anyone over the age of 18. If you are booking a property in England this should not be a family member.

The witness must be a third party that is not the tenant or guarantor and should be over 18 years of age.

My booking has expired can I rebook?

You are more than welcome to rebook if your previous booking has expired, however we cannot guarantee that youll be booked into the same room as it may have been booked by someone else after your booking expired. If you choose not to rebook you will get your deposit back.

To rebook after an expiry get in touch with one of our team and well be happy to help!

I have special requirements for my living needs. Can you help with these?

We will always do what we can to find you suitable accommodation. Please get in touch with a member of the team if you need any help.

I want to book with my friends, how can this be organised?

You can organise a booking with your friends by completing the Group Booking Form online. This will let our team know that you and your friends are interested in a group booking and well get in touch to help you find a suitable flat.

Can I get a shorter tenancy?

Some of our properties offer short, flexible tenancies. Details of these options can be found here (subject to availability).

Can I move in early or check out late?

Our standard tenancies have fixed dates and cannot be changed. However, if you are looking to move in earlier or move out later it may be possible to book an additional short stay tenancy. Our website shows when each property may be available, so have a look and get in touch if you would like to book.

What is a council tax exemption form and why do I need it?

This is a document that proves that you are not liable to pay local council taxes. Your university can provide you with an exemption form once you have enrolled.

What documents do I need to bring to the property when I move in?

Please bring an official form of ID with you such as a passport or driving license.