For many students, finding and moving into your student accommodation will be the first time you will have gone through the process of property searching, signing contracts, and understanding the responsibilities of being a tenant. Although it is often an exciting time with the prospect of living independently with your university friends, there is a lot of things to take into consideration before you jump straight in and agree to a tenancy. 

Here the SU, we were joined by UK housing charity, Shelter who were able to answer some of the most common questions students here at university have about their student housing, including questions around contracts, knowing your rights as a tenant, and what to do if your concerns are not being acted on.

This article focuses on utilities.

Utilities

Q. What does ‘capped’ utilities mean in my tenancy agreement?

A. If utilities are capped, for example, at £8.00 per week, it means you’ll pay a maximum of £8.00 per week for things like gas, electricity, and water. If you use more, you won’t have to pay extra — the landlord will cover it. If you use less, you’ll still pay the full £8.00. This gives you a clear limit on how much you'll pay for utilities. Just make sure you know which utilities are included in this cap. 

Q. I have received an invoice for over usage of utilities, but this is incorrect. What should I do?

A. If you’ve received a bill for overuse of utilities while you weren’t there or you believe this to be incorrect, here’s what to do: 

1. Check your contract. See if you're responsible for utility overuse even when you're not there. Your contract will set out the extent of your liability which may be significantly more limited. 
2. Gather proof. Get evidence that you weren’t at the property during the overuse period (like travel dates). 
3. Contact the landlord. Explain the situation, show your evidence, and ask them to review the bill. Ask for a detailed list of charges to make sure they are correct and try to settle the matter. 
4. Dispute the charge. If no agreement is possible, dispute the bill in writing, explaining why you shouldn’t have to pay. 
5. Know your rights. If no agreement is possible, get advice from a tenant support service if needed or refer to Shelter’s website or webchat. 

Rember to stay calm. If they threat of court action this is often a tactic to pressure you and may not be acted upon. Please contact us for support if this happens.

 Q. I have been told I have outstanding rent, but this is not correct. What should I do?

A. If you’ve paid the rent but have been told you owe money, here’s what to do: 

1. Check your proof of payment. Look at your bank statements or receipts to confirm you paid the rent. 
2. Contact the landlord. Reply to the email and show proof that you’ve paid. Ask them to check their records. 
3. Get written confirmation. Ask them to confirm in writing that your rent is up to date or to prove otherwise.
4. Stay calm. Deal with it quickly by proving you have paid. Remember if they threaten court action, the court will consider all the evidence you have. 
5. Seek legal help. If they don’t fix the mistake, consider getting legal advice. It’s likely a mistake, so keep your proof of payment and communicate with the landlord in a calmly manor.

Q. If someone in my property is using a lot more utilities and not respecting our utility cap, what should I do?

A. If you're being careful with your utility use and your housemate is using the tumble dryer and heating a lot, here’s what you can do: 

1. Talk to your housemate: explain your concern about their high energy use and how it’s pushing the bill over the cap.
2. Agree on a solution: suggest using the tumble dryer and heating less or on certain days. Try to come up with a fair plan to split the costs. 
3. Consider energy-saving options: recommend using the dryer less or turning down the heating to save energy. 
4. Revisit the bill split: if the usage is uneven, talk about splitting the bill based on how much each person uses, rather than just equally. 

Q. Do I need contents insurance?  

A. You don’t have to have contents insurance, but it can be a good idea. Here’s why: 

1. Protect your belongings: contents insurance covers your personal items, like your clothes, electronics, and furniture, if they’re damaged, stolen, or lost due to things like fire, flood, or theft. Furthermore, contents insurance can include legal indemnity insurance which covers your legal costs if you are taken to court 
2. Landlord’s insurance: your landlord’s insurance will cover the building itself (walls, roof, etc.) but doesn’t cover your personal belongings. If disrepair occurs that’s not foreseeable and damages your belongings they won’t be covered. 
3. Affordable option: contents insurance is usually fairly cheap, and you can choose a plan based on what you need to cover. 

In short, you don’t legally need it, but it’s worth considering protecting your stuff.