Frequently Asked Questions
If your question isn’t answered here then please ask.
- Are the houses only for students?
No, I often rent to students but I’m happy to rent to non-students of mixed groups. The price and terms (including the length of contract) are exactly the same, but remember that if bills are not included in your rent then if there’s non-students in the household you will be liable for council tax. - Can you hold the house/room for me while I think about it / get some money for a deposit / find another person to share with?
I can hold the house/room for a limited time if you’re sure you want it but you have to show commitment by paying a holding deposit equal to 10% of the deposit (this is usually around £30 per person). When you sign the contract you pay the other 90%, but if you don’t sign up then you lose your holding deposit. - Can I pay my rent or deposit by credit card? Or by PalPay?
Yes, I can accept online credit card or PayPal payments. You will have to pay a few percent extra to cover transaction fees. This is useful if you are paying from overseas or if you don’t have a UK bank account or if you just don’t don’t have the money when your rent is due. See here for more details. - Can I smoke in the house?
No – all of our properties are non-smoking, but they all have gardens and a covered outdoor area where you can smoke. - Does the landlord live in the house?
No – I live elsewhere in Bristol. You normally only see me if there’s something that needs fixing in the house, if you want to pay your rent in cash. - Can we paint our rooms (or the rest of the house)?
Usually yes – but only by prior agreement so speak to me first. Generally I’ll be happy as long as the colour scheme isn’t going to put off future tenants and as long as you make a decent job of it. - Can we plant things in the garden?
Yes – as long as you don’t damage any of the trees and shrubs or the landscaping. Previous tenants have created vegetable patches, dug fire pits, etc. - Will we get our deposit back at the end?
Yes, provided you have paid your rent and left everything in an acceptable state. I’d always prefer to be able to return your full deposit, because I often have new tenants waiting to more in as you move out and I don’t want the house to need a lot of work. Your deposit will be held by The Deposit Protection Service – see here for more details. - Can I have a discount?
I aim to charge the market rate and I usually find tenants before too long. If I don’t manage to rent a house or room then after a while I might reduce the price – but that very rarely happens. Otherwise no – the advertised price is not negotiable. - Do you check references?
Yes – I’ll need to contact your previous landlord (if you have one) to confirm that I’m happy to accept you as a tenant. - Who runs Bristol Student Property?
Me!