Contents - Dundee College

Rent Payment
Rent must be paid regularly, weekly or monthly in advance to maintain
security of tenure. A rent book should be presented whenever rent is paid,
and the payment recorded by the landlord. Paying rent by cheque or direct
debit provides proof of payment.
Termination
Certain fixed term leases do not include any provision for the tenant giving
notice before the date of the end of lease. A minimum of four clear weeks’
notice of termination of tenancy must be given in writing by either side. Rent
is required up to the actual date of termination of tenancy, not given notice.
Remember to arrange final meter readings for gas, electricity and
telephone.
To Share or Not To Share
One-person flats with good facilities are extremely expensive. A bedsitter is
likely to be more affordable. On the other hand, sharing a flat or house has
a better chance of success if you know the people you share it with. This
may not be possible at the start of your first year; it would be better to start
with a studio flat or student residential accommodation and then keep an
eye open for alternatives.
Sharing a flat or house can be a successful adventure, but it requires a
clear understanding of what is involved. This may seem obvious, but it is
important to be explicit from the start as to who is to live there and on what
basis. What about smoking or late night parties? If your flat mate’s partner
or friend takes up permanent residence, or another co-tenant decides to
leave after a month, there can be problems.
When Somebody Moves In
It is safest to have individual agreements for each tenant sharing a
property. If you have one joint agreement and one of your co-tenants
leaves, the rest of you will be liable for the whole rent, and each will have to
pay a bigger share. Although the person who leaves will remain liable until
a replacement tenant is found, it may be difficult to enforce legal rights.
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