“There are a number of things you should bear in mind when looking for a flat:

It is important to find out if you can get along with the person you are sharing the apartment with. In the long run, you will have more opportunities to meet your flatmates than others and there will be many opportunities for friction. Next, whether you are renting through an agent or on your own, be sure to read the contract carefully before you sign it, so you are clear about which terms are in your favour and which are your legal rights.

2. Beware of shady landlords. There are still many very bad rentals on the market, and those greedy landlords are always trying to squeeze the most profit out of the industry. Finally, look for areas with better surroundings. In recent years, the embassies have received more and more reports of violence against Chinese students. You should check whether the roads to the nearest train, underground and bus stations are safe, and never choose a less secure area for the Leeds student accommodation.

3. Change your dormitory. After a while, you may want to change your residence. First of all, you should check the contract you have signed, which may be for a semester or a year. You can go to the person in charge and explain to them why you are moving and where you are moving to, and see what they say.

You may be able to cancel the contract, and then you may not get your deposit back. Apart from the price factor, student accommodation in Leeds usually change halls of residence because they have made new friends since arriving in the UK and want to move into a flat. When you are away from home, you do not have parents to take care of you, so you have to take care of your own rent agreement and utility bills, which you will need to get used to.

4. Other matters: I have often heard of cases where students have ended up living with their landlords, and signing a contract is a very important part of the process. Before you decide to move in, please make sure to get a written tenancy agreement. In the UK, the legal provisions on tenancy agreement are relatively better than those in China, and generally adopt a fixed standard form clause.

This is not a mandatory requirement of the law, but if the landlord is unable to provide it, you should ask why. If you are not living with the landlord, the landlord will normally be required to include the following in a document to be signed by both parties: date of commencement of the tenancy, price of the tenancy, date of expiry of the tenancy, whether the tenant’s tenancy is fixed, date of review of the rent, frequency of payment (weekly, monthly or yearly), relevant furniture and services that the landlord can provide, such as appliance repairs, etc., and if either party wishes to terminate the contract early, the period of notice required. If your landlord is unable to provide the above statement of terms, the landlord is required by law to settle within 28 days or, if you take legal action, the landlord can face a fine. If you are in Scotland, you can terminate this tenancy directly at Sheriff Court.

It is also your responsibility as a tenant to keep the house clean and not to disturb the neighbours by partying too often. Many landlords are very hard on student tenants when it comes to the wear and tear of the house and do not refund the deposit without reason. For us, we can only do a good job of cleaning our own house, for example, once every ten days, and it helps to have a good relationship with the landlord in order to get a full refund of the deposit at the end.”