Accommodation
Accommodation list 2008/2009 will be available mid July.
Welcome to the AITSU Welfare online Accommodation Section. Here you will find links for information on Tenants Rights. You can download a copy of our Accommodation Booklet by clicking here, and it is also available from the Students' Union Welfare Office. Please feel free to contact us anytime if you run into any difficulties.
Accommodation Booklet
Welcome to Athlone I.T. In order to help assist you in your task of finding accommodation, the students' Union have compiled this information pack to coincide with our accommodation list. (Edited by Brigid Malone SU President 04/05)
As this maybe your first time moving out of home, it is important that you the student are aware of your rights and responsibilities as a tenant and also those of the landperson. This pack has been designed to help provide you with the information you need to know when renting accommodation as a student and hopefully result in a problem free year!
Remember if you have any problems or queries do not hesitate to contact us here in the Students' Union.
Wishing you the best of luck for the coming year,
John Madden,
Vice President - Accommodation and Welfare Officer.
suvice@ait.ie
Introduction
The purpose of this booklet is to offer advice to students living away from home and to landpersons. Any material contained in this pack is by way of information/ advice to students/landpersons and does not constitute a contract between the Athlone Institute of Technology Students' Union , a student, landperson or any other third party.
Due to high levels of demand the accommodation lists go out of date very quickly. Newspapers, notice boards and the local shops are some of the most common ways of finding accommodation.
When choosing a place to live it is important to remember that this will be your home for the next nine months.
Students are advised to:
- Read this pack carefully.
- Refer to the accommodation list.
- Discuss your requirements with your prospective landpersons.
- Make any queries you have to the:Accommodation officer.
Types of Accommodation
Houses/Apartments
This accommodation is whereby the student shares a house with others. All bills are shared equally. Rent varies according to the landpersons and whether the student has a single or double room. The landperson must provide a rent book or similar document (available in students union). A deposit (usually €200-300) will be required by the landlord to insure against excess damages or unpaid bills.
Digs
This form of accommodation means that a student lives with a family. Rent includes electricity, heating, and breakfast and evening meals. Lodgings are normally for 5 days and weekends are extra if offered.
Students should discuss a number of points with potential landpersons before agreeing to move in e.g. deposits, notice, keys, use of house during the day, laundry, use of telephone, visitors, meal times, showers, absence from digs, holiday arrangements and privacy. A deposit (usually €70-200) is requested of each student to act as a guarantee against damage to the property. Before deposits are taken there should be a clear agreement between the student and the landperson regarding conditions for refunding deposits.
Self Catering
This form of accommodation is where the student lives in the house with the landpersons, however must buy and cook their own food. Electricity and Heat are included in rent. Students should discuss a number of points with potential landpersons before moving in e.g. use of kitchen, phone, showers etc.
What will it Cost?
Usual prices in Athlone range from €50 to €90 for a single room or from €45 to €70 if you are sharing a room. €80 to €90 for a single room in digs and €60 to €70 for a single room in self catering. This is a rough estimate.
Checklist for Accommodation
- Is it convenient? Check bus routes, local shops, laundrettes, etc.
- Look for dampness (check the cupboards are dry and check for mould).
- How much furniture is provided? Is it adequate? What condition is it in?
- Are sufficient wardrobe / storage areas?
- Are the windows and doors secure, with good locks?
- Try all the taps.
- Does the toilet flush or leak?
- Are pipes and cylinder lagged?
- Check all electrical sockets - what condition are they in?
- How is the house heated? What will it cost to heat and is the heating system working?
- How the electricity and gas (if applicable) is paid. Check meter readings (any arrears).
- Are all the electrical appliances in working order? Particularly in older houses check that the system is adequately fused and ask when it was last re-wired.
- Is there a smoke detector, fire extinguisher, fire blanket, escape route?
- Are the bathroom facilities adequate, working, and ventilated, etc.?
- Are the enough kitchen utensils, is the kitchen ventilated?
- Is the lighting sufficient for studying?
- Access to rubbish disposal arrangements?
- Do you have access to back garden and clothes line?
Security
- Does the neighbourhood appear safe?
- Are there public phones nearby?
- Is there a secure place for bicycles?
- Are the doors and windows secured, and who has access to the keys?
Ask landlord/landlady
- When you pay a deposit, make sure you get a receipt.
- Will payment be monthly or weekly and what does it cover, e.g. electricity, heat.
- Ask for a rent book.
- Establish in what circumstances the landlord/lady may have access.
- Ask for an inventory of what is in the house and set your landlord to co-sign it with you and keep a copy.
- Get the name, address and contact phone number of your landlord/lady or his/her agent for emergencies.
- Clarify which repairs will be the responsibility of the landlord/lady.
Rights of the Student as Tenant
- All tenants have a statutory right to quiet and peaceful possession as long as they pay the rent. Nobody (including the landlord/lady) has the right to enter a flat without permission.
- You are entitled to a rent book. Its better in the long run to have one.
- You are entitled to the means to contact the landlord or agent at all reasonable times.
- All houses rented must be registered with the PRTB.
- A "Notice to Quit" must be given in writing at least four weeks before the actual date that you must leave.
- Reimbusement for reasonable expenditure on any repairs carried out by them for which the landlord was responsible.
- Refer a dispute to the PRTB relating to the tenancy and not be penalised by the landlord for doing so.
- Non-payment of rent could result in a reduction of your rights.
- Non-payments of bills, insufficient notice of your intention to quit the tenancy and damage over and above normal wear and tear are the only circumstances under which you can lose your deposit (excluding "special circumstances")
Responsibilities of the Student as a Tenant
- The full amount of rent due must be paid regularly and on time.
- Keep the house in reasonable condition, make use of the bin.
- Keep the noise to an acceptable level.
- Avoid damaging property as you are personally responsible for any damage caused to the property apart from normal wear and tear.
- Pay and discharge all charges in respect of telephone, ESB , gas unless otherwise agreed with the landperson.
- Before leaving a dwelling you must give the landperson 4 weeks written notice of quitting in order to gain your deposit back.
- As a tenant you are entitled to a rent book. The rent book should contain the address of the house and the landpersons address, amount of rent and any other charges which may occur, amount of the deposit and its purpose etc.
- The landperson cannot take any of your belongings in lieu of rent.
- You also have the responsibility to those you live with, paying your bills promptly and respecting that it is their house as well.
General Advice
- Choose your flat mates carefully and don't share with anyone you don't like.
- Don't make any hasty decisions about renting a particular flat view a number of properties and don't go alone to view the property.
- Decide whether you want self-catering accommodation or digs. The down side of house and apartment sharing are shopping, cooking, and cleaning. The upside is independence.
- If signing a contract please read carefully. It may state tenancy dates and you will be obligated to pay rent till these dates. This especially relates to students who have placements during the academic year.
- Tenants can be evicted for anti-social behaviour. Anti social behaviour is anything that causes hassle to your neighbours or the people around you, creates damage or trouble etc. You may also be charged for anti-social behaviour. It is important to respect your landlord, house mates, neighbours and local garda to prevent this from happening.
Deposits
- Tenants may forfeit some or all of their deposit:
- If they do not give proper notice to leave before the end of the tenancy agreement.
- For damage to the landperson's property over and above normal wear and tear.
- For unpaid bills or rent owed.
Responsibilities of the Landperson
- A landperson by law must register with the PRTB if she/he intends to provide private rented accommodation to students.
- The landperson must supply a rent book. The tenant holds and looks after the book and it is signed each time a payment is made.
- The landperson has the right to give the tenant 4 weeks written notice to quit.
- The landperson must gain permission before entering a house
Conclusion
Remember you can contact the accommodation office with any queries. Problems should be reported to the accommodation officer in order to avoid reoccurrence of similar difficulties. The officers of the Students' Union are always available to assist students with any problems or queries you may have.