Latest decisions of the Code of Practice complaints Panel

Complaints raised by students regarding breaches of the Liverpool Student Homes Code of Practice has resulted in the following action being taken against registered landlords. Ms Dana Toma will not be able to register properties through LSH again whilst MGM Estates will be able to continue to advertise through LSH as they complied with the recovery plan as laid down by the complaints panel. For full details of the decisions please see the attached.

2011 10 12 decision - Toma 19 Botanic Road.docx

2011 10 04 decision - MGM 76 Holt Road.doc

Housing Rights - Student Advice Service

Liverpool Student Homes (LSH) is offering a new service to Liverpool students. The service offers free, confidential, independent and impartial housing rights advice.

Some of the issues LSH can now help with include;

• Contract checking.
• Tenancy deposits.
• Disrepair.
• Handling rent arrears.
• Illegal eviction and harassment.
• Homelessness.
• Negotiating with landlords.
• Complaints and legal action.

Our new Housing Rights Adviser is Rich Broome. You can contact him by email on advice2u@liverpool.ac.uk or by telephone on 07970 247209.

Rich is available for drop sessions and appointments at different sites across Liverpool.

HOUSING CLINICS
Monday	Liverpool Hope University, Hope Park
Tuesday	Liverpool Student Union Building, The Haigh, Maryland Street
Wednesday	Liverpool John Moores University, Avril Robarts Building
Thursday	Liverpool Student Homes
Friday	University of Liverpool, Student Support Services

Liverpool Student Homes Present their First Ever Find a Housemate Event

Liverpool Student Homes are proud to present our first ever Find a Housemate Event.

Are you a student looking for a room in a house or looking for other students to find a house with?

Or a student with a spare room they would like to fill?

Either way, this event is the perfect way to find your future housemates.

LSH will be offering guidance and support throughout the day about how to find your ideal house and what to do if there is a problem.

You will have the chance to start your search straight away in our office here at 140 Mount Pleasant.

Most of all this will be a unique opportunity to meet with like minded students looking for accommodation.

LSH will even be providing free refreshments throughout the day to make sure your search is as fun and stress free as possible.

The event is open to all students, who are welcome to simply arrive on the day.

However, if you are looking to re-let a room that you no longer require, then please e-mail cslsh@liv.ac.uk in order to register with LSH before hand.

Our Find a Housemate Event will take place on Monday 19th September, 9.00am – 4.30pm at 140 Mount Pleasant, L3 5SR.

For further information contact Caroline Stanley on 0151 794 3296 or e-mail cslsh@liv.ac.uk

Homestay Programme – home from home

Would you like to provide a place to stay for students?

Liverpool Student Homes, which is jointly funded by the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University with contributions from Hope University, LIPA and the Community College, has identified a need in Liverpool for a Homestay Programme. The programme provides a ‘home away from home’ for students living away for the first time or international students looking to stay with an English host to improve their language skills and learn more about British culture. Jenny McGuinness, Student Housing Coordinator at Liverpool Student Homes, said: “The Homestay Programme has a positive impact on students whilst giving the provider a rewarding and satisfying experience and is also a way to increase income at home.”

If you would like more information on being a Homestay provider contact Liverpool Student Homes.

Liverpool Student Union Landlord Awards

We are thrilled to announce that a number of our registered landlords and halls have successfully been nominated by students to receive awards through the ‘Liverpool Student Union Landlords Awards’.

This is the first year that Liverpool Student Union has embarked on assessing feedback from students in respect of their accommodation and providing recognition to those providers who received the most positive feedback. After the success of this years event and awards ceremony it is anticipated that the awards will continue next year with further recognition to those providing an excellent service in the student housing sector.

LSH would like to congratulate all the winners on their achievements.

Latest Gold Standard awards

Further properties have now been awarded the 'Gold Standard Property Mark'

We are pleased to announce that Mrs G Jacklin, Dr J Brodie and Urban Sleep have applied for and successfully achieved this status for the properties they have advertised through Liverpool Student Homes. The Gold Standard Property Mark has been created to promote and highlight properties registered through Liverpool Student Homes which offer a higher level of standards pertaining to maintenance and internal fixtures and fittings.

Mrs G Jacklin's property is a 5 bedroom flat in the L19 area of Liverpool – http://www.liverpoolstudentpad.co.uk/Accommodation-Details.asp?houseref=62056&bopt=search

Dr J Brodie's property is a 4 bedroom house in the L18 area of Liverpool - http://www.liverpoolstudentpad.co.uk/Accommodation-Details.asp?houseref=64444&bopt=search

Urban Sleep have a number of apartments within the same development next to the University of Liverpool and LJMU Mount Pleasant campus

A 1 bedroom apartment - http://www.liverpoolstudentpad.co.uk/Accommodation-Details.asp?houseref=71881&bopt=search
A 3 bedroom apartment - http://www.liverpoolstudentpad.co.uk/Accommodation-Details.asp?houseref=71882&bopt=search
A 4 bedroom apartment - http://www.liverpoolstudentpad.co.uk/Accommodation-Details.asp?houseref=71883&bopt=search

Each 'Gold Standard' property will be highlighted on the Liverpool Student Homes website with the Gold Standard Logo making it easy for students searching for accommodation to identify a 'Gold Standard Property'.

Congratulations to these landlords .. Well Done!

House Hunting Tips

1. Pick your housemates carefully - especially if this is your first time renting shared accommodation. In some circumstances landlords will ask groups of students to sign a joint contract which will make you all responsible for each other’s rent and any damage caused to the property.
2. Decide where you want to live and what budget you can realistically afford. You may need to pay a deposit now and later a retainer to hold the property until September. Damage deposits should be held in a government approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme and your landlord is obliged to notify you with 14 days of the scheme in which the deposit has been secured. A retainer is a non refundable charge that some landlords charge but it does not usually give you any rights to live in your new home over the summer period.
3. Don’t rush in. The myth that you must have everything sorted by a certain date is exactly that – a myth! You can look for your new home at a time that suits you and there is always good quality accommodation available at the start of the next academic year.
4. Have realistic expectations about where you want to live. There are very few large traditional houses located in the City Centre. The majority of accommodation available in the City Centre is found in the larger student development units with a limited number of one and two bedroom flats dispersed across the City. The choice of accommodation on the periphery of the City Centre is in abundance.
5. The first place you should visit to find your next accommodation is Liverpool Student Homes. LSH is the only university-approved agency dealing with private sector accommodation and gives you the choice from over 16,500 beds in house, flats and private halls. By using Liverpool Student Homes you will have the reassurance of renting a home which has complied with our registration process.
6. By registering with LSH, your new landlord has undertaken to manage the property in accordance with the LSH Code of Practice and:
   • Has provided a gas safety certificate and electrical periodic certificate
   • Provides appropriate fire safety precautions
   • Provides an appropriate level of security to the property

Housing Scam:

LSH has been made aware of a possible housing scam through an online advertising outlet.

Case Study:

A student made enquiries regarding a vacant flat available in Liverpool. After responding to the advert the owner/landlord requested the student to send copies of his bank statement and a deposit of £500 to be transferred through Western Union.

The student was unhappy with the requests made to send personal information and did not pursue the tenancy.

A recent BBC report (detailed on our website) highlighted the pitfalls and risks associated with sending money for advertised properties before viewing.

LSH would advise students not to send any money prior to viewing a property. We would suggest only when you have viewed the dwelling and are happy with the contract which you will be entering should monies be exchanged.

We recommend all students studying in our universities ensure that the prospective property they are making enquiries about is either registered with Liverpool Student Homes and or CLASS Accredited with Liverpool City Council.

If you are in doubt always seek guidance and information from your Student Union or LSH.

New Property Email Facility

The property email facility is available for students searching for accommodation through the LSH website. You can register your email address to receive information regarding new properties which are advertised on the site each day.

Tenancy Support Service

LSH is piloting a scheme to assist students and landlords with problems which may arise within a tenancy and to which no suitable resolution has been achieved.

The service will offer tenants and tenants or tenants and landlords to meet in a neutral venue to discuss issues which have resulted in a breakdown in communication.

All parties should be willing to engage with the process.

The service will only be available to registered landlords and tenants residing in a registered property. The service does not encompass legal action between parties and were appropriate legal expertise is required a referral will be made to Citizen’s Advice Bureaux for students and the North West Properties Owner association for landlords

Message boardHome searchStudent accountHelp & AdviceAdvertiseLandlordsLinksFor Sale