Housing meeting

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Housing meeting
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Aims of this presentation

• To give everyone clear information regarding
  housing in Durham
• To give an update on the housing market
• To reduce the levels of panic buying in the first
  term
• To display the advantages/disadvantages to living
  in and out of college
• To give an accurate picture of prices

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Sources of information

• DSU accommodation office
• accommodation_at_dsu.org.uk
• 0191 334 1770 or 0191 334 1774
• Open all year purpose is to provide students
  with information of regulations, housing that
  meet the code of standards, and assistance in
  checking contracts.
• Kerrie Gordon
• Livers-out rep for Aidans - k.s.h.gordon_at_durham.a
  c.uk

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Guide to living in
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Costs

• Next years living in costs are projected to rise
  by 7 to around 4650 per year
• Roughly 1550 per term
• Equates to 89.42/140.90 per week during term
• This includes room charge, 20 meals per week,
  cleaning 3 days of the week, 24 hr porter system
• Does not include use of room during Easter holiday

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Accommodation type

• 84 single en-suite in the new houses
• 32 single ensuite with double beds and 6 single
  standards with double beds in the newly
  refurbished extensions
• This year 64 finalists living in
• Previous years on average 50 lived in (approx
  130)
• Therefore virtually guaranteed an ensuite

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Room allocation

• New housing point system
• Initial housing meeting in early December to gage
  interest
• Get together in groups of 5(ish) and collate
  housing points to ballot for area of college
• New housing point system allows more flexibility
• Do NOT need housing points to live in
• All allocated rooms are bigger than fresher rooms

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Changes in the past year

• Old

• New

• Pay for graduation week
• No Christmas storage
• Food in Aidans only
• No TV room
• Kitchen lounge area
• No fridges in finalist rooms

• Graduation week now free
• Christmas in standard let
• Plans to allow students in to eat lunch in any
  college
• New TV room with sky
• Kitchen with oven/grill/hobs and family sized
  fridge freezer, and lounge
• Fridges in all finalist rooms

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Benefits to living in

• Living in

• Living out

• No hassle accommodation
• One bill per term system
• Various amenities on your doorstep
• Living as part of a community
• No cooking/cleaning
• Close to science site
• Bar!
• Handy for college events

• Accommodation issues can be stressful
• Various bills to deal with
• Limited amenities
• Living with a few friends
• Washing up!
• Distances vary
• No bar ?
• Travel time to college!

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Drawbacks to living in

• Living in

• Living out

• Meal times
• Staying during vacation
• Termly bills
• Distance to Elvet
• Only JCR shop nearby
• Damages charge

• Cook when you want
• 52 week let as standard
• Payments usually per quarter
• Distances vary
• Shops usually fairly close
• Damages deposit

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Questions so far??
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Guide to living out
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Where to live?

• There are many places to live in Durham but the
  most popular for students are
• Viaduct
• Elvet
• Gilesgate
• Claypath
• Nevilles Cross
• Other areas include Framwellgate moor, Langley
  moor and Crossgate moor

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Elvet

• Elvet is the most central of locations for
  University
• The average rent price is 72.97 not including
  bills.
• 3794.44 per year

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Elvet

• Pros

• Cons

• Central location
• Convenience stores nearby
• Close to some departments
• 10 minute max walk to science site

• Most expensive area
• Can be noisy at night
• A lot of houses are sub-standard
• Lack of parking
• Some houses very small

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Viaduct

• Fairly close to town centre
• Average rent price is 69.38 per week
• 3607.76 per year not including bills.

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Viaduct

• Pros

• Cons

• Main student area
• Close to town
• Plenty of shops
• Close to train station
• Not as expensive as Elvet

• Far from science site
• Some houses substandard
• Far to Maiden Castle
• Some streets can be noisy
• Poor student/residents relationships

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Claypath

• Claypath is the area just up past loveshack,
  between market square and gilesgate.
• Average rent is 66.07 per week
• 3435.64 per year not including bills

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Claypath

• Pros

• Cons

• Becoming more popular
• Near to town
• Not far to Elvet
• Close to Walkergate complex
• Availability of houses with 7 bedrooms

• Can be a trek to anywhere
• Far from college/science site
• Some lack of parking
• Far from viaduct

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Gilesgate

• Gilesgate is up past Hild Bede, east of Claypath.
• Average rent is 51.68 per week
• 2687.36 per year not including bills

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Gilesgate

• Pros

• Cons

• Very cheap
• Close to supermarkets
• Close to A1(m)
• Spacious houses

• Far away from everything
• Considered to be more run down
• Low Aidans population

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Nevilles Cross

• Nevilles Cross is just behind Aidans though
  still quite a walk from town.
• Average rent is 57.07 per week
• 2967.64 per year not including bills

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Nevilles Cross

• Pros

• Cons

• Close to Aidans
• More suburban feeling
• Cheap
• Well sized houses

• Far from town
• Far from Elvet
• Lower numbers of general students
• Noisy main road through middle

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Bills

• Choose the right housemates!
• Around 310 each
• Around 305 for house
• Around 240 for house
• 140 for house
• 15-30/week each

• Varies massively
• Gas/electricity
• Water
• Internet/phone
• TV license
• Food

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But.

• Electricity and gas prices up by 35
• Food prices up by around 20
• Landlords passing on cost of upgrades to students
  this year
• Figures based on average student usage
• Therefore..

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Based on 6 people sharing next year......
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Average costs per area next year
Some houses are let without summer period
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Deposits

• Average of one months rent
• As of April 2007, deposits are required to be
  kept in a tenancy protection scheme
• Landlord must give you details of the scheme
  within 14 days
• At end of the year, if there is a dispute, the
  schemes help you resolve it
• Contracts must clearly state what the deposit can
  be used to pay for.
• Deposits must be returned within 10 days

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Top 5 reasons for deposit deductions

•  Failing to leave the property in a clean
  condition
•  Failing to pay the rent
•  Failure to repair/ replace damaged furniture/
  items
•  Failure to pay the bills
•  You have breached your contract in some way
• Make sure you see the bill for any deductions so
  you dont get ripped off!
•  

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HMOs houses of multiple occupancy (licenses)

• 5 or more people, on 3 stories or more HMO
• HMOs must be licensed, breaking of license
  !
• No box rooms 6.5m² or bigger
• Fire doors, alarms, and fire fighting equipment
• Regular gas and electrical checks
• Emergency lighting
• If 6 people at least 2 kitchen sinks, 2
  bathrooms etc
• More info at http//www.nihe.gov.uk/hmo_standards.
  pdf

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Contracts

• Can be individual or joint check first!
• Names and addresses
• Time period of contract
• Rent, deposit, how and when they are to be paid
• Who is responsible for energy bills
• No deductions for wear and tear
• Clauses for non payment of rent
• GET DSU TO CHECK IT!!!

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In Durham

• Many landlords get away with all sorts
• Check government legislation, or seek advice from
  the DSU accomodation office
• They check contracts, settle disputes and offer
  advice FREE
• 0192 334 1770 / 334 1774

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Find a housemate night

• Informal event
• DSU runs two this term
• Go if you havent found people to live with, but
  want to live out

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What to do!!

• Dos

• DONTs

• Have contract checked and get right type of
  contract
• Ask current residents about property/landlord
• Shop around
• Check DSU accommodation office
• Act fast if there is a problem
• Check household inventories

• PANIC BUY
• Pay to see accommodation lists
• Hand money over before signing contract
• Be afraid to negotiate!
• Withhold rent without major breech of contract
  you have the law on your side
• Wreck the place

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Ultimately..

• Lots of pros and cons to any area of
  Durham/college
• Check everything before you buy, inc college!
• Wherever you live obligated to act in the same
  manner
• Be vigilant of energy bills
• Dont be afraid to seek help college/DSU
• Dont go somewhere you dont want to be
• Be careful you get what youre paying for
• DONT PANIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Any questions?

• Kerrie Gordon - k.s.h.gordon_at_durham.ac.uk
• Simon Blackburn simon.blackburn_at_durham.ac.uk
• Susan Frenk s.f.frenk_at_durham.ac.uk
• Accommodation office - accommodation_at_dsu.org.uk
• Emma Carter - dsu.welfare_at_durham.ac.uk
• http//www.nihe.gov.uk/hmo_standards.pdf
• http//houses.dsu.org.uk/