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Date Posted: 06:31:56 04/17/02 Wed
Author: adboyce (http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/review/358240.html)
Subject: Re: accommodation, Landlord licensing - where is our £11,000
In reply to: Risteard UUJ 's message, "Re: Landlord licensing - where is our £11,000" on 06:57:29 02/21/02 Thu

Private accomodation is often better than University Halls - a lot less noisy.

http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/review/358240.html

written on 21.02.02
by ADBoyce

Well as you probably will have noticed Im a student at the University of Ulster in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. And boy have I had my fare share of accomodation problems...

Firstly I would like to name and shame two of the dodgiest people I have met in my life. Brendan Diamond - he owns numerous properties in Portrush and also in Belfast. If you meet this man avoid him like the plague. His properties are shabby - the heating pathetic and numerous problems with plumbing. He will charge you for anything he can think of and as for the tenancy agreement he gives you. Its ok provided you keep your side of it. Doesnt mean to say he has to keep his side. Afterall he neglects the fact that its a legally binding contract! Oh and he is such a charmer.

Then there is Mary Kirgan. Takes in students for lodging on the pretense that she never actually lives there much and you will practically have the place to yourself. As if! She follows you around like a lap dog! When I got fed up and moved out she never returned my deposit and to date she still hasnt. And nope there was no formal tenancy agreement. She never even gave me a rent book.

To all students embarking on private rented accomodation take note of the following. ALWAYS ensure you read any tenancy agreements carefully. INSIST on getting a rent book - its a legal right and is a record of the rent you have paid. If you pay cash always get a receipt - its how many landlords avoid paying tax.

Landlords have a habit of being really friendly at first and being incredibly awkward and nasty when you get on their case. At least in my experiences anyway. Always ensure when you move in that they give you an inventory - they have a habit of forgeting those too - and check it off against what is in the place when you move in. Remember to highlight any damages because they may accuse you of them when it comes to move out. And its from your deposit they will take it!

Finally if all else fails and you do get into problems know your legal rights. Any tenancy agreement is legally binding and is a contract. If the landlord fails to carry out repairs within a reasonable time then you can sue. But only in extreme cases.

Sadly for students the legal redress can end up costing more than the value of things and there is no guarantee of success. This especially concerns deposits where landlords frequently withold them on tenants vacating properties.

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