However, if you’re part of a couple, you will most likely be interested in a self-contained property where the bathroom, toilet, living room and kitchen are contained within the property.

This is generally a more expensive way of renting. Otherwise, you may like to lodge in a house, where the owner is resident on the premises.

Make sure you get the right place to live, study and relax in

If you are interested in this type of accommodation, talk to the owner first and find out whether their lifestyle fits yours.

When you sign a housing contract, you’ll be entering into a legally binding agreement - a commitment to paying at least your share of rent on the property for a fixed term.

So, you need to think carefully before you put pen to paper. Click on the topics below for details of the ins and outs of renting.

Rent - what will I be paying?
Rent levels vary considerably depending on the location of the property.

If your property is close to your university then it will probably be more expensive than those further away.

Get the most from your cash when you choose your accommodation

So, if you are looking for a place that offers value-for-money at a lower rent rate, you may want to think about living slightly further away from the university.

Once you’ve signed a housing contract which specifies your rent, your landlord can’t increase the rent during the fixed term, unless there is a clause in the contract - so check the contract first.

Housing Contracts
Don’t be intimidated by your housing contract - it’s simply a series of written agreements between you and your landlord.

Remember that it can be changed before it is signed by both parties. Some housing contracts contain clauses and responsibilities which may not be in your best interest.

Check your contract thoroughly before signing on the dotted line

For example, there may be a separate obligation for professional cleaning charges at the end of your rental period.

Once you’ve signed the contract, you will be bound by its terms. Never sign a contract if you do not fully understand it.

A standard contract is available for free from the Loughborough Students Advice or can be downloaded from their web site.

Bills
When you live in university halls of residence, charges for fuel and water are included in hall fees. But, when you rent a room or a house from a private landlord, you’ll be paying for bills.

Before you move into accommodation, inform utility companies - gas, electricity, water and telephone.

Let them know the date you plan to move in and then advise them of the relevant meter readings, otherwise you could be charged for a previous occupant’s usage.

You will probably be responsible for all bills if you rent privately

Remember to keep copies of correspondence in case of a dispute later. You might also like to try and arrange with the existing tenants to have their telephone account transferred to you, so you don’t have to pay a reconnection fee.

If you are a group renting a house, you may choose to take joint responsibility for the bills. If you do this, make sure you see the original bill and how much you owe before handing out any cash.

If you fail to pay your bills on time, you’ll receive a red reminder. If you ignore the reminder, your service may be switched off, which may be expensive to reconnect.

Council Tax
Full-time students living in private rented accommodation will be exempt from paying council tax. If you share with someone who is not a student please ensure you check your position with the council as the property may become liable for council tax.

TV Licence
The National Union of Students works with the TV Licensing Authority to determine charges applicable for students.

The bottom line is, you need a TV licence if you watch TV or use a PCTV or video recorder in your room in the halls or in private rented accommodation.

You will need to buy a television licence if you have a TV in you accommodation

A colour TV licence costs £109 a year, working out at less than 30p a day. A black and white licence costs £36.50 a year, or 10p a day.

You are likely to get caught, just like anybody else without a valid TV licence and risk a court visit and a fine of up of up to £1,000.

And just when you thought Big Brother was over, TV Licensing enquiry officers will visit student campuses and surrounding accommodation.

Enquiry officers work seven days a week using a sophisticated database of 26 million addresses, detector vans and state-of-the-art scanners to detect whether a television being used has a valid licence.

Each officer catches a licence fee evader every working hour - that’s scary stuff! To make it easier, you can spread the licence payment over the year, so you’re not hit with a big bill all at once.

And don’t forget that refunds are given on unused quarters. So if you’re not staying at university over the summer, you can claim back for the last three months of your licence.

You can pay your TV licence by debit and credit card or direct debit by calling 08705 22 66 66. You can also pay by cash or cheque at your local post office. If you receive income-related benefit you could qualify for the weekly cash payment scheme by phoning 08457 289 289.

Living with others - your neighbours
When you rent accommodation off-campus, you’ll be living among permanent residents of the area.

Try and make an effort with your new neighbours - you never know when you might need them

It’s a good idea to make an effort to get on with your neighbours as they will be more likely to keep an eye on your place while you’re away, helping to improve the security of the area and potentially stop your house from being burgled.

It’s also important to remember that your neighbours may have to get up early or may have young children. If you’re considering holding a party, warn your neighbours and keep the noise down to reasonable levels.

Security
Did you know, that student properties are targeted by burglars because they often contain a high number of attractive items like televisions and stereos and because students are more lax about security?

Before agreeing to inspect a house, look closely at how secure it is.

Security at university is very important - make sure you and your property are safe at all times

If you feel security needs improving, raise this with the landlord before you sign the contract and make sure any improvements are noted with a time-scale.

You can get more information from Leicestershire Constabulary’s ‘Student Guide to Crime Prevention Off Campus’, available from Loughborough Students Advice.

Safety - Carbon Monoxide
What is Carbon Monoxide? Carbon monoxide is produced by incomplete combustion of gas and coal and causes problems when it leaks from poorly installed or badly damaged appliances.

Known as the ‘silent killer’, it is highly poisonous but cannot be detected by sight, smell or taste.

By law, landlords are required to make sure that any gas fittings or appliance in their properties are safe. They must arrange and pay for safety checks and any necessary work to be carried out, at least once every 12 months.

Be aware of your surroundings and what plans you have in case of a fire

The checks must be carried out by a person registered with the Confederation of Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) and approved by the Health and Safety Executive.

Always make sure you see a copy of this record before agreeing to take a property. Contact the HSE’s gas safety advice Line on 0800 300 363 if you think your landlord hasn’t organised a regular inspection of gas appliances and hasn’t provided you with a copy of the inspection record.

Furniture safety
The Furniture and Furnishings Regulation in 1988 requires that all upholstered or foam filled furniture, including sofas, armchairs, cushions, mattresses and pillows) supplied by landlords in rented properties must meet fire resistance regulations and must feature labels.

Check to see if there are labels on your furniture.

Electricity
Look out for damaged plug sockets, plugs that get hot when used and sparks from electrical appliances/sockets and light bulbs and fuses that blow regularly.

Your landlord is responsible for ensuring all electrical sockets and wires are maintained in a safe condition - they should be checked every five years.