Welcome to Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College. International Student Guide:

Transcription

1 Welcome to Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College International Student Guide: Finding and booking accommodation Academic Year 2014/2015

2 Contents Introduction...3 What are your options?... 4 Private Accommodation...6 Checklist Know Your Rights...16 Contracts 17 Deposits 21 Tenant 23 Useful Websites and Local Estate Agents...24 About your area (Ealing, Hammersmith, Acton and Southall)...26 Booking Forms - Homestay

3 Introduction Welcome to Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College. We hope that the following information will help you to settle into College life and living in London. Please read the information carefully before starting your accommodation search and before signing any tenancy agreements. If you wish the college to book Homestay accommodation for you, please the accommodation booking form found on page to the international accommodation office at : [email protected] Alternatively, come to see the International Accommodation officer at the International Student Centre. The opening times for the International Student Centre are: Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: 9:00am 5:00pm 9:00am 5:00pm 9:00am 5:00pm 900am 5:00pm 9:00am 4:30pm 3

4 What are your options? 1. Homestay/Private Home Accommodation 2. Hostels 3. Purpose Built Halls of Residence 4. Studio Flats 5. Bedsits 6. Shared Student Houses/Flats 7. Renting a room as a lodger 1. Homestay/Private Home Accommodation This is a very popular option for students who are new to London and the British culture. Homestay providers offer accommodation (for no more than 4 guests) in their own homes and the offer can include breakfast-only or half board options. This option is a good idea if you are looking to improve your English and wish to live as part of a household. Private Home accommodation entails that you share the house with the household and more than 4 other guests. An added advantage to choosing this type of accommodation is that you do not have to commit for lengthy periods of time. Average price per week for a single room (Half Board) starts at 175 ranging to 225 dependent on zone. There are extra supplements which will apply during busy periods of the year. **PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS A BOOKING FEE OF 50 PAYAYBLE ONCE BOOKING IS CON- FIRMED** The college uses dedicated agencies to ensure that all families are properly vetted. All bookings must be made through the college (see booking form page 27). **See the Homestay Accommodation brochure for more information** 4

5 What are your options? continued Hostels There are many independent hostels catering to students in London. This is an inexpensive way to stay in London but you will be expected to share your room with other people. Many students choose this option for the first couple of weeks as a stepping stone to finding more permanent accommodation. Average price ranges from 17 p/person p/night for a shared dorm to 20 p/person p/night for a standard twin room. Check for options in the west London area. 3. Purpose built halls of residence Halls of residence are specifically tailored to students. Unfortunately EHWLC does not have its own halls of residences but many large universities do. There are also purpose built halls available to students studying at any college. The accommodation usually consists of a single or shared room with study space. Other facilities, such as kitchen and bathroom may be shared or private. These get booked up fast so allow a lot of time if you wish to book this type of accommodation. Average price per week can start from 225 per week. There are no halls of residence located close to the college but if you still wish to investigate this option further please see links below:

6 Private Accommodation 4. Studio Flats Studio flats include a bathroom and kitchen but are often small. This type of accommodation is suitable for singles or couples. Some single people find studio flats to be expensive while couples sometimes find them claustrophobic. You will be responsible for bills, cooking and cleaning. Average price per week will depend on the zone/area that you would like to live in. Studio flats can be rented privately through estate agents, or through student villages. The best internet sites are: Bedsits A bedsit is a single room which is both bedroom and sitting room. There may be cooking facilities and a washbasin or these may be shared with other bedsits in the building. Bedsits vary in size and normally you will have to pay for your electricity and water through metered payments. You will be responsible for your own cooking and cleaning. Average price per week will depend on the zone/area that you would like to live in. The best place to find bedsits is to look through local newspapers or in local shop windows. The best internet sites for finding bedsits are: 6

7 Private Accommodation continued Shared Student Houses/Flats If you would like to live with other like-minded people of similar age and views, then this is the option for you. You can choose who you wish to share your living space with. You will also have a degree of independence. The downside is that you will be responsible for preparing your own food and you will also be responsible for paying bills such as electricity and water. You will need to leave the property as you found it in order to get your deposit back. Average price per week, not including bills, depends on the zone/area that you would like to live in. The best place to find shared accommodation is to look through local newspapers. The following internet sites are helpful: Renting a room as a lodger There are advantages and disadvantages to renting a room as a lodger. Although this is generally an inexpensive way to live in London you will be living in the same house as your landlord/lady and in most cases be sharing bathroom and kitchen facilities with them. You don t always have the freedom to bring home your friends and this can lead to quite an isolating experience. Average price per week depends on the zone/area that you would like to live in. The best places to look for rooms are through local newspapers such as The Loot and internet sites such as ww.gumtree.com and You can also look in local shop windows. *Please note: prices are correct at time of going to press* 7

8 Private Accommodation What to consider... The white arrow points out our Hammersmith campus The red arrow points out our Acton campus The black arrow points out our Ealing campus 8

9 Private Accommodation What to consider... How much is it going to cost? Who do I want to live with? How far do I want to travel? When should I start looking? Where am I going to live next year? 9

10 Private Accommodation What to consider... Utility bills Socialising Rent Budget per week (?) Laundry Food Travel 10

11 Checklist What to consider... Personal Safety when viewing properties 1. What time of day should you visit the property? 2. How are you going to get there? 3. What is the area like 4. How will you keep yourself safe? We suggest that you: Always view properties in the day time Ask a friend to come along with you Work out how you will get to and the property before you begin travelling 11

12 Checklist What to consider... What to check when viewing a property 1. Condition of the property 2. Safety features ( fire alarm and fire extinguisher) 3. Electrical fittings correctly installed ( no loose wires or faulty plugs) 4. All gas appliances have a gas safety certificate issued by a registered engineer 12

13 Checklist What to consider... Keep yourself safe!!! Look out for the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. There should be a fire alarm in the property. Be sure to ask if you can not see one. 13

14 Checklist In more detail... When to start looking? Usually students book the first 2 weeks of their accommodation through the college. This allows them time to get to know the environment before finding more suitable accommodation. Some students will want to take the Homestay option after this but others will want to rent privately. Below is a basic checklist to help you when looking for private accommodations. Viewing Always take a friend along to view the properties with you. Try to visit the properties in daylight. If you go alone tell someone where you are going and what time you will be expected back. View several properties and keep notes on each property. Money How much is the rent, deposit? When is payment due and to whom? Are utility bills extra? How much can I expect to pay for utilities? When do I get the deposit back? Agreements What type of tenancy is it? How much notice is needed to vacate the property? Do you get a copy of the agreement? Do you understand the agreement? Gas, Electricity and Plumbing Have all the gas appliances been checked and have you seen a copy of the CORGI gas safety certificate? Do all the electrical appliances work and is the wiring safe? Do the taps, toilets and water heater work? 14

15 Checklist continued... Conditions and Repairs What is the condition of the property? Is the house adequately heated? Are there any repairs that need doing? What is the state of the outside of the property? Are you in agreement with the landlord about the condition of the property? Furniture Is the property being rented with or without furniture? What is the condition of the furniture? Have you taken an inventory of all furniture and its condition? Does the furniture meet fire safety standards? Security and Safety How secure is the property? What type of locks are on the doors and windows? Have there been any burglaries? Is the area safe? Is the house fitted with a smoke alarm, are there fire extinguishers and is there an easy fire escape route? Location and Services Are you situated close to the college? Are there shops nearby? What is the parking situation? Who is responsible for the outside area? When is the rubbish collected? 15

16 Know your rights: Contract/Council Tax Please read carefully before committing to anything. Contract: When renting a room, studio, flat or house you will be asked to sign a contract. This is a legally binding document which is designed to protect not just the landlord but you as a tenant. There are some landlords who will try to take advantage of their tenants so it is good to know your rights. Check the small print on your agreement. DO NOT SIGN anything that you are in disagreement with or you do not understand. Below are some things to consider when agreeing on a contract: 1. How much rent must be paid each month and when it should be paid 2. How much notice should be given to leave the property 3. What is the period of agreement, e.g. 6 or 12 months 4. How much notice will be given before any rent increases 5. What services will be provided 6. What are the restrictions regarding guests/pets/length of time property can be left unoccupied 7. How much deposit has to be paid and whether it will be returned immediately upon vacating the property Council Tax: If renting your accommodation privately, you will be issued with a council tax bill unless you are living in an exempt dwelling (dwellings inhabited by students only). It is up to you to declare yourself exempt from council tax by proving to the council that you are a full-time student. A letter from the college can be provided. In the case of you sharing your house with non-students the council tax bill will be worked out accordingly. You must still inform the council of your status. 16

17 CONTRACTS What to consider... What type of contracts are available? 1. Assured Short hold tenancy 2. Licence Please do not sign a tenancy agreement or contract if you do not fully understand it. The accommodation office is willing to assist, however, we are not able to confirm whether a contract is legal or binding. 17

18 CONTRACTS What to consider... Main contract obligations: 1. Pay the rent on time 2. Pay all the utility accounts 3. Keep the property clean and in good condition 4. Don t cause a noise nuisance to your neighbours 5. Report any repairs to the landlord or his agent immediately 6. Hand the property back in the same conditions as when you moved in. 18

19 CONTRACTS What to consider... Landlord Contract Obligations: 1. To give you an inventory of the property s fixtures and fittings. 2. To let you live in the property free from harassment 3. To comply with section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act To insure his/her fixtures and fittings within the property 5. To protect your deposit under Tenancy Deposit Protection 19

20 Know your rights: Deposits/Landlord Deposits: You will be asked to pay a deposit on most types of accommodation rented. This will usually be one month s deposit plus you will have to pay one month s rent in advance. The deposit should be given back to you when you vacate the property providing there has been no damage caused to the property during your stay. To avoid any disagreements make sure you go through the property with the landlord and document the condition of it through photographs and an inventory of the contents. The landlord is obliged to protect your deposit through a government authorised scheme (see for further information). Your deposit will be placed in either a custodial scheme or an insurance based scheme and you are entitled to the details of which scheme your landlord has used for your deposit. Your Landlord Should: 1. Give reasonable notice when visiting the property 2. Not allow other tenants to threaten you 3. Maintain the property and ensure that the structure, installations such as basins, sinks and heating are in good repair 4. Ensure that all furniture and furnishings meet current regulatory standards for fire safety Your Landlord Should Not: 1. Use violence or threaten you under any circumstances 2. Harass you to get you to leave 3. Offer you money to leave the premises 4. Shut down your utility supplies such as gas, water and electricity 5. Prevent your friends from visiting 20

21 Deposits What to consider... Why has my deposit not been returned? Failure to return all keys at the end of the tenancy Unpaid rent Missing items Damage to the property Non payment of bills Rogue landlord/ agent Property inadequately cleaned 21

22 Know your rights: Tenant/Eviction As a Tenant you should: 1. Be truthful about yourself and provide accurate details 2. Respect the contractual agreement 3. Respect the property and its contents 4. Pay your rent on time 5. Pay the landlord for any damage you cause to the property or its contents or any cleaning or removal of rubbish at the end of the agreement 6. Leave the property clean when you move out 7. Not use the house for anything other than lodging, i.e. do not run a business out of the property 8. Look after the home and behave in a reasonable manner with due consideration towards flatmates, neighbours and in particular pay attention to the guidelines relating to noise disturbance Eviction: You can be asked to leave the premises if you: 1. Break your contractual agreement 2. Are late in paying the rent 3. Have provided false information about yourself You may also be asked to leave for the following mandatory reasons: 1. The owner wishes to move back into the property 2. The property is being repossessed 3. You refuse or delay vital maintenance work to the building 22

23 Tenant What to consider... What should I do when I move in? Check the inventory thoroughly Take photographs Take meter reading for the gas and electricity Take out insurance for your own belongings 23

24 Useful Websites and local Estate Agents General Websites: Hostels: Host Household providers: Estate Agents: For a complete listings please ask the accommodation officer or visit Bushells, Shepherds Bush Lettings 70 Shepherds Bush Road Hammersmith London W6 7PH Tel: Fax: Townends, Brook Green Lettings 240 Blythe Road London W14 0HJ Tel: Fax: [email protected] 24

25 Local Estate Agents Barnard Marcus, West Kensington Lettings Shepherds Bush Road London W6 7PH Tel: Fax: Sinton Andrews, Ealing Lettings 8 Springbridge Road Ealing, London W5 2AA Tel: Fax: [email protected] Lawson Rutter, Hammersmith 192 Fulham Palace Road London W6 9PA Tel: Fax: [email protected] Northfields, Shepherds Bush Lettings 127 Askew Road Shepherds Bush London W12 9AU Tel: Fax: Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward, Hammersmith Lettings 180 King Street London W6 0RA Tel: Fax: [email protected] Black Katz, Hammersmith 24 Shepherds Bush Road London W6 7PJ Tel: Fax: [email protected] If you use an Estate Agent to help you find accommodation, a fee may apply. 25

26 About your area: Ealing Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College EALING Campus (W5) Ealing campus: The Green, Ealing, London W5 5EW Nearest Public Transport Underground (Zone 3): Ealing Broadway and South Ealing Over-ground train station: Ealing Broadway Bus routes: 65, 83, 112, 207, 226, 297, 427, 607, E1, E7, E8, E9, E10, E11 26

27 About your area: Ealing Ealing In lively West London, Ealing is a charming, green and vibrant borough steeped in a longstanding history of creative expertise and media culture. There is a lot to see and do in Ealing, as the centre is filled with cafés, pubs, bars, restaurants and galleries. Ealing has a friendly and diverse identity and there is a real sense of community in the area. Every year the Ealing festival brings life and entertainment to the area, which the College gets wholly involved in. Ealing has good access to central London via the Central, District and Piccadilly tube lines, and has easy rail access to Reading, Slough and Paddington. For more information on Ealing visit: Nearest Hospital: Ealing Hospital Uxbridge Road, Southall, Middlesex, UB1 3HW Tel: Doctors Surgery: To find your nearest GP surgeries visit LocationSearch/4 Call the surgery before visiting to find out if they are registering new patients. There are a number of reasons why you may not be able to register with your chosen GP. For example, the practice may be full or you may live too far away. If you have difficulty registering, your local Primary Care Trust (PCT) can help. Google your local PCT

28 About your area: Ealing Dentist: Ealing Dental Surgery Uxbridge Road, W13 9AU Tel: Leisure Centre: Gurnell Leisure Centre Ruislip Road Ealing W13 OAL Tel: Theatre: Questors Theatre Mattock Lane, Ealing W5 5BQ Tel: (020) Restaurants : For a list of restaurants in Ealing visit: Ealing-restaurants 28

29 About your area: Hammersmith Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College HAMMERSMITH Campus (W14) Hammersmith campus: Gliddon Road, Barons Court, London W14 9BL Nearest Public Transport: Underground (Zone 2): Barons Court and Hammersmith Over-ground train station: Kensington Olympia Bus routes: 9, 10, 27, 33, 190, 209, 211, 220, 266, 267, 295, 391, 419, H91 29

30 About your area: Hammersmith Hammersmith Hammersmith is an excellent place to study. It is a lively hub for business, culture and recreation. Conveniently situated between Heathrow and Central London, Hammersmith is the ideal location for conferences and business activity, particularly at the Olympia and Earls Court Centres, which host exhibitions and events all year round. Hammersmith is renowned for being the focal point for numerous popular and highprofile concerts and extravaganzas at the Hammersmith Apollo and is also host to the Lyric Theatre, which offers a diverse range of exciting theatre productions and live music performances. Whatever your taste, from art shows, musicals and plays to stand-up comedy, poetry readings and puppetry, you will never be lost for something to see. With over 80 languages spoken in the area, Hammersmith is rich in diversity, which is reflected in the bountiful variety of shops and restaurants available. Nightlife is also plentiful as the area has several lively bars and nightclubs to choose from. Excellent travel links make it easy to visit London's popular museums, in nearby Kensington, and art galleries found on the South Bank. For more information on Hammersmith visit: Nearest Hospital: Charging Cross Hospital Fulham Palace Rd London W6 8RF Tel:

31 Doctors Surgery: To find your nearest GP surgeries visit: LocationSearch/4. Call the surgery before visiting to find out if they are registering new patients. There are a number of reasons why you may not be able to register with your chosen GP. For example, the practice may be full or you may live too far away. If you have difficulty registering, your local Primary Care Trust (PCT) can help. Google your local PCT. Dentist: The Care Dental Practice Hammersmith Road, Hammersmith, London, W6 7JP Tel: Theatre: Lyric Theatre King Street, Hammersmith W6 0QL Tel: Cinema: Cineworld 207 King Street, Hammersmith W6 Bookings tel: About your area: Hammersmith 31

32 About your area: Acton Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College ACTON Campus (W3) Acton campus: Gunnersbury Lane, Acton, London W3 8UX Nearest Public Transport: Underground (Zone 3): Acton Town Over-ground train station: South Acton Bus routes: 70, 207, 266, 427, 440, 607, E3, H40 32

33 About your area: Acton Acton Acton has a rich construction and manufacturing history, making it the ideal place for a College that offers industry-focused training and links to employers. Acton is also a great place to spend some recreational time. Host to a diverse local community, you ll find a lot of choice of restaurants and shops with authentic Eastern European, Middle Eastern and Far Eastern themes and produce. You can choose from cinemas, bowling and much more at the Royale Leisure Park in Acton, Park Royal or head to the High Street for an exciting choice of bars and eateries. As if that's not enough, Acton has excellent transport links with other popular areas in London including Ealing, Chiswick, Kensington, Hammersmith and Richmond. For more information on Acton visit: Nearest Hospital: Central Middlesex Hospital Acton Lane, London, Greater London, NW10 7NS Tel: Doctors Surgery: To find your nearest GP surgeries visit LocationSearch/4 Call the surgery before visiting to find out if they are registering new patients. There are a number of reasons why you may not be able to register with your chosen GP. For example, the practice may be full or you may live too far away. If you have difficulty registering, your local Primary Care Trust (PCT) can help. Google your local PCT

34 About your area: Acton Dentist: Acton Town Dental Practice 15 Hanbury Road, W3 8RF Tel: To find other practices, you can visit: LocationSearch/4 Leisure Centre: Acton Swimming Baths Salisbury Street Acton W3 8NW Tel: Theatre: The Bush Theatre Shepherd's Bush Green, Shepherd's Bush W12 8QD Tel: (020) Cinema: Vue Cinema Royale Leisure Park Western Avenue, Acton W3 0PA Bookings tel:

35 About your area: Southall Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College SOUTHALL Campus (UB1) Southall campus: Beaconsfield Road, Southall, Middlesex UB1 1DP Nearest Public Transport: Over-ground train station: Southall Bus routes: 105, 120, 207, E5, H32 35

36 About your area: Southall Southall Culturally rich, lively and colourful, Southall has something for everyone. The area is very vibrant with a wealth of local amenities and interesting sights. The Broadway is alive with eclectic restaurants and shops, including the largest Asian shopping centre in London. For such a relatively small region, Southall has a surprisingly large number of reputable claims to fame and local talent, being home at one time or another to numerous prominent writers, artists and musicians, particularly in the world of Bhangra sounds. Southall has also been the main location for several films including 'Acting Our Age' (1991), a documentary which gives an insight into the lives of elderly Asians living in Britain; as well as the blockbuster 'Bend It like Beckham' (2002), starring Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley. Both of these films were directed by the acclaimed Film Director Gurinder Chadha, who officially re-opened the College following our regeneration programme in September With all this to offer, in addition to the outstanding facilities provided on site at SWLC, it's the ideal place to study. For more information on Southall visit: Nearest Hospital: Ealing Hospital Uxbridge Road, Southall, Middlesex, UB1 3HW Tel:

37 Doctors Surgery: To find your nearest GP surgeries visit LocationSearch/4 Call the surgery before visiting to find out if they are registering new patients. There are a number of reasons why you may not be able to register with your chosen GP. For example, the practice may be full or you may live too far away. If you have difficulty registering, your local Primary Care Trust (PCT) can help. Google your local PCT. Dentist: Southall Dental Centre 4a South Road, Southall, UB1 1RT Tel: To find other practices, you can visit: LocationSearch/4 Leisure Centre: Dormers Wells Leisure Centre Dormers Wells Lane Southall UB1 3HX Tel: Cinema: Himalaya Palace 14 South Rd Southall UB1 1RT Bookings tel: About your area: Southall 37

38 ACCOMMODATION BOOKING FORM: HOMESTAYS PERSONAL DETAILS: Title (please circle): Mr Miss Mrs Ms Family Name: First Name(s):... Date of Birth: Nationality:... Course:.. EHWLC Data Number:. . ROOMS REQUIRED (please tick): **PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS A BOOKING FEE OF 50 PAYABLE ONCE BOOKING IS CONFIRMED** Only once payment is made will the full details of the homestay be released **NEW PRICES AS FROM AUGUST 2014** Accommodation ZONE 1&2 ZONE 3-4 Half Board (Breakfast & Dinner) Bed & Breakfast Self-Catered 165 Not available Half Board Zone 2 Bed & Breakfast* Zone 3-4 Self-Catering *Please note that the Breakfast-only option does not include the use of the kitchen. Use of the kitchen is 17 extra per week (per room). If you do not want to pay this extra fee, please tick here but note that by doing so you will have no access to the kitchen. Date of first night at accommodation: / / Number of weeks required:... Other Requirements (i.e. allergies/dietary restrictions/no pets/non-smoking):

39 All prices are for 1 week per person and for hometays in zones two/three/four Supplements apply for short term bookings ( 20) or bookings during the summer months: Jun - Aug ( 20 p/week) and Christmas period: Dec ( 35-40). Confirm when booking. All extensions booked through the College will cost an additional 20 extension fee. Note: Part of the experience of studying away from home is living independently alongside people from a wide variety of backgrounds. You are expected to have the necessary level of maturity, skill and responsibility to be able to adapt to living away from home. You must be able to look after yourself in all practical matters and are expected to behave like a responsible adult. EHWLC does not accept applications from people who will be under the age of 16 at the start of their stay. Accommodation should only be booked once your tuition fees have been paid and a visa to enter the UK has been approved. The College will pass your details onto the Homestay agency who will find you a suitable family. You will not share your sleeping accommodation with another person unless booking with a friend/family member. The College will not be responsible for finding you a roommate. Your booking will not be confirmed until accommodation fee and booking fee payments have been received. You are advised to carefully read the terms and conditions supplied by the Homestay agency as a strict cancellation policy applies. See: (for London Host Families) Once payment is made no refunds will be given. All our host families are vetted, as per British Council regulations. All students will be expected to come in and speak to the International Accommodation Office shortly after their arrival to ensure that they have no complaints. The person with parental responsibility for under 18 students must provide EHWLC with their contact details (address and telephone number) Please scan and it to our International Accommodation Office at: [email protected] I confirm that I have read the above information, have understood it and agree to abide by it. If I have not understood the above information, I agree that it is my reponsibility to check with the International Accommodation Office for clarification. Signed by student:... Date: 39

40 Contact International Accommodation Office International Student Centre Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College Gliddon Road, Barons Court London, W14 9BL United Kingdom Tel: Website: