Your keys will be ready to collect from our office from 3 pm of the effective date of your contract.
You need to contact the following organisations IMMEDIATELY and let them know the names of all the people who are living in the property. You’ll also need to give them the meter readings or you’ll end up paying the bills of the previous tenants:

  • SSE – 0345 026 2658
  • Npower 0845 070 9494
  • Southern Water 0845 272 0845
  • British Gas 0845 600 5122
  • Empass 0845 3300 889 (To find out which Utility Company was used previously)
  • Council Tax Dept. 023 8022 3855
  • British Telecom 150

Council Tax

Students in full time education DO NOT pay Council Tax! Contact Southampton City Council, Council Tax Department on 02380 223855 to advise them of your student status. It is important that you do this as proof of exemption will be required at the end of the tenancy.

Contacting your utility suppliers

You will need to set up accounts with the companies that supply water, gas and electricity to your property. Here’s how to go about it.
Southern Water on 0845 272 0845. If your water supply is on a meter, take a reading before setting up your account. Southern Water will give you full instructions on how to do this. Check our their website – www.southernwater.co.uk for more information. Gas Call British Gas on 0845 600 5122 or online www.house.co.uk. Again, they’ll need a meter reading before switching the account over to your name. If the current supplier isn’t British Gas, call Transco on 0870 6081524 to find out who is. Check www.energywatch.org.uk for more information. In case of a gas emergency (ie, if you smell gas), call the Transco Gas Emergency Line on 0800 111 999
Electricity Call Npower on 0845 070 9494 or online www.npower.com. If they are not the current supplier, call NEDL Meter Point Administration Service on 0845 6013268 to get the name of the current supplier. Call the supplier direct to set up your new account. Check www.energywatch.org.uk for more information.

Bin Collection

Please contact Southampton City Council on 02380 223855 to enquire about refuse and re-cycling information

Redecorating

Before undertaking any redecorating, you must get the written approval of Southampton Student Lettings. Please write or email the office with your request and it will be considered

Wifi / Broadband

Security

If you are away from the property for extended periods (ie. Christmas, holidays, summer break) make certain that all valuables have been removed and all security devices ARE in use. Finally, remove any food waste from the house and, if the fridges and freezers are turned off, leave their doors open.

TV Licence

If you have a TV in your house you;ll need a TV licence. For more information phone 0870 850 1202 or visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk

Noise

Please be aware that you are living in a residential area and keep noise to a minimum. It is not appropriate to have load music blaring out of open windows at any time of the day or night. If you are disturbed by other peoples noise we suggest you approach your neighbours and simply let them know that their noise is disturbing and disruptive. If you ask for a bit of consideration, this usually does the trick. However, if the noise persists, you can contact the local Environmental Health office on 0113 247 6026. They will monitor the situation and issue a fine or other legal proceedings if necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may decide you want to leave before the tenancy agreement ends, for example the offer of a better flat/house comes along etc. or maybe things just have not worked out as you had hoped. Sharing with others can often lead to disputes. Initially whilst everyone may have agreed about such things as cleaning, sharing the bills and rent etc, difficulties can and do arise. If, for whatever reason, you decide to move out before the period of the tenancy agreement has expired, the landlord will still expect and be legally entitled to the full rent agreed at the outset. In the event of any disagreements, you should seek advice from your Students Union Welfare Office/college accommodation office. One way round this could be that, with the landlord permission, you arrange a replacement tenant (either for yourself or for someone else who is moving out before the tenancy agreement expires). Provided the landlord does not suffer any financial loss because of the new arrangement, s/he MAY permit this.
Anyone can pay rent on your behalf. However, the legal responsibility lies with you.
No, in our experience it has always worked out cheaper for students to take the responsibility for themselves. We can give you a guide of what each house should cost to run so that you can budget for them.
No.