“I. Fake landlords

Look out for advertisements for properties that are incredibly good but have low rents. Some fake ads put up some “”bait”” and then ask you to pay via the internet before you see the property.

Repeated credit check fees

Landlords often carry out credit checks on prospective tenants to avoid them defaulting on their landlord’s payments, but some agents charge high credit check fees.

Overall, a credit check report is around £100, but some agents make tenants pay a higher fee. Worse still, some agents will show you a number of properties and then ask you to do multiple credit checks, which is completely unnecessary as the credit check will only tell the landlord the tenant’s previous credit history.

Non-refundable administration charges

An international Leeds student accommodation once told us that she had been charged a £210 administration fee by her agent because she thought she already owned the house. Her agent then told her that the landlord had accepted another offer, but that her fees were non-refundable. Other worse cases have occurred where the tenant has even paid a fee of £540.

You should refuse to pay the fee until you are sure that the property is yours. You may not have to pay any fees if you are dealing with a private landlord. Some websites where you can find such landlords are Moveflat.com (London only), Gumtree.com, loot.com, spareroom.co.uk, or easyroommate.co.uk.

You can even find properties on social networking sites such as Facebook, Weibo and if you are a student accommodation in Leeds, you will have the contact details of a private landlord at the University. In Scotland, there is no tenant fee.

IV. Unprotected deposits (deposit)

Landlords are legally required to protect tenant deposits by placing them in one of three schemes: Deposit Protection Scheme, My Deposit and Tenancy Deposit Scheme, although some landlords do not do this.

It is very important to make sure that you know which scheme they use to protect your deposit before you sign the contract and make sure that they show evidence that your deposit is protected to avoid any future disputes.

Every deposit protection scheme has a free grievance service which you can use if your landlord deliberately fails to refund your deposit. Look for the website that will help you. To check if your deposit is protected, ask your agent for a reference number and call them yourself.

V. Expensive finder’s fees

Some companies charge you an expensive finder’s fee, which is unwarranted and you should not have to pay any finder’s fee.

Check in and check out bills

Please identify the fees you will be charged, such as these two fees, before you qualify your contract. You can use the complaint service of the Association of Residential Letting Agents, the National Association of Estate Agents or the National Approved Letting Scheme if the agent is a member of one of these bodies. There is also the Property Ombudsman or Ombudsman Service.

Safety and security are paramount considerations in student accommodation. Quality accommodations prioritize the well-being of their residents by implementing robust security measures, including secure entry systems, surveillance cameras, and on-site staff presence. Students can feel safe and secure in their living environment, enabling them to focus on their studies and personal development without unnecessary worries or distractions.

VII. Multiple documents

There may be a fee for this if you want more than one contract.

Change of tenancy

You may have to pay a fee for the change of tenancy and for changing the name of the tenant.

Rent increases

Real estate agents and landlords may increase your rent in some cases. Find out what rents are being charged for similar properties in the same area and use these to negotiate with your landlord.

Ten. Renewal fees

If you wish to renew your lease, please be aware that some agents will charge you a renewal fee.”