Important information about renting

Oxford City Council has a webpage with useful advice and information for private tenants at http://www.oxford.gov.uk/PageRender/decH/Private_Tenants_guide_occw.htm

Organising viewings

In order to arrange a viewing you need to contact the landlord directly and make an appointment. Don't forget to ask for the house number which we don't give to avoid people turning up to the property without a previous appointment.

If you are going to be travelling by bus we suggest that you check the different types of bus passes (one day travel card, weekly pass, monthly pass ...) and get a map with all the local bus services as it shows all the bus stops.

When you visit a property take a checklist with you. If you are unsure of the property do not sign a tenancy agreement or hand over any money.

The most important thing is safety. The property should comply with Health and Safety Guidelines and be in good repair. Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) should satisfy certain minimum standards set by the Government and Local Authority. A Guide to Personal Safety & Crime Prevention is available from Oxford University Security Services.

Arranging housing from abroad

If this is your only option we advise you to get as much information as possible about the house/flat and the area that the property is in from the landlord/lady. Sometimes photographs are available by request and this is specified in the property details. If you have any friends in Oxford you could ask them to go to view the property on your behalf and to report back to you.

If you have any doubts on whether or not the accommodation that you have chosen is the right one for you we suggest that you don't take it to avoid disappointment and that you opt for temporary housing (B&B, short let) to start with, while you look for more permanent accommodation, once in Oxford.

Formalising a let

Tenancy agreements

Whatever type of home you rent whether it is a room or a house/flat you should have some form of written agreement, a tenancy agreement, which should cover certain points.

The agreement should be signed before you move in and should cover as much as possible all the issues that affect the way you want to live.

Huge amounts of time and hassle could be avoided if everyone read their agreement and sorted out any queries before they sign it.

Inventory

Make sure you have an inventory (a list of all the fittings and equipment and the condition of these and the accommodation) and that this is checked and amendments recorded when you move in.

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

The Housing Act 2004 requires that all deposits taken by landlords and agents, relating to Assured Shorthold Tenancies created in England and Wales after 6 April 2007, must be protected with a government authorised tenancy deposit scheme.

Insurance backed Tenancy Deposit Scheme - www.mydeposits.co.uk.
Custodial Scheme - Deposit Protection Scheme.
Agency - ARLA or thedisputeservice.co.uk.

Any disputes about deposits will no longer be handled by the Accommodation Office.

Council Tax

If you have questions or queries relating to Council Tax, including exemptions from the tax and the definitions of a full-time student, call the Council Tax help line on 01865-252870 or visit the Oxford City Council website.

Letting agents

If you approach a letting agent be aware that they usually charge a fee if they find a suitable property for you. There may also be a fee for drawing up the inventory and/or the tenancy agreement. Therefore you should check first the charges that you might encounter before you contract their services.

You should also check whether the agents are registered with ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents) or with NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents). Membership is only granted upon consistent proof of best practice and can therefore be an indicator of quality of service.

Note that landlords on our lists , unless specified, do not charge any fees as they don't pay fees for our services and this is reflected in their rents.