Updating post from Reddit.
I plan to go to university (Stirling University in Scotland) in the fall as a grad student and I visited in January just to take a look around the campus/city.
I plan to do the university housing accommodation option, but just on the chance that I’d would have to do an off-campus living situation I wanted to inquire about the possibility.
Because visas and their rules are kinda wonky (can’t enter once visa is administered, etc.) I won’t be able to visit again until basically my term starts. In addition, I’m assuming not many places are going to be advertising so far in advance.
I feel like this isn’t an entirely uncommon situation and I would think this would be doable if all my fees/deposits were paid ahead of time.
I would strongly advise that you don't rent anywhere in the private sector (ie not university owned) without seeing it in person first.
There are far too many properties with damp and black mould - and you can't smell damp on Rightmove.
No yeah, that is definitely the smart and best decision. I was just curious with my options. I moved states without seeing the place I rented in person and I think I lucked out, definitely probably isn’t the norm. Thanks!
Especially in Stirling, grew up there and a lot of tenant properties will be damp / poorly maintained at the top of the town. Uni accommodation is decent, and as above person says stick with Uni properties.
Bridge of Allan, Causewayhead (under the Wallace monument) and Riverside are stunning wee places.
And the Raploch (suburbs) has been redeveloped over the last decade. This was formerly a scheme (or project in the states) but much like the rest of Stirling everything is getting a revamp.
I think right to rent checks means the landlord or agent needs to actually see you. It's a legal requirement that id/documentation passes the checks and I would assume cross checking your id with you in person is quite a key part in verification process.
yeah but this can be done on the day of move in.
The post says never meeting the landlord so you would assume there was no face to face move in.
Also, a "Right to Rent" check should be conducted before a tenant moves in; ideally, within the 28 days prior to the start of the tenancy, and not on the actual move-in day, as it is a legal requirement to verify a tenant's right to live in the UK before they start their tenancy.
"In the 28 days before the start of the tenancy." from gov website, so on the doorstep before you hand them the keys is before the start.
The face to face is to make sure fraud hasn't taken place. As a landlord I wouldn't want the shit that comes with someone that hasn't got the right to rent even if you do all your checks from what they send you the only way to confirm it is them is in person. Apparently you can't do checks on the day of move in it's 'days before move in' so 1 day at least.
Nah, not true, I forgot once and did it a week after move in. Also - Student accommodation, you do not need to check anyway.. See here. https://www.gov.uk/check-tenant-right-to-rent-documents
Wording on the gov site
You must conduct checks on those with a time-limited right to rent no sooner than 28 calendar days ending on the day before the day on which the tenancy agreement is entered into.
So it's actually the day before the day as per the wording. Which means on the day is not right/allowed.
Another point is the LL only get fined for renting to someone who does not have the right to rent, you don't get fined for not doing the check...
Landlords do get fined for not doing the check
Also what happens if you rent to the tenant on the day they move in? In reality nobody gives a damn about timings etc there are no sanctions or punishments unless you rent to an illegal immigrant, end of story.
So at worst, check scans of docs in advance via govt checking service. Do a final check on day of move in to make sure T is same as on docs.
> Landlords do get fined for not doing the check
Nope, only if the tenant is illegal, read the pages you refer to, the fine is for renting to someone without the right to rent.
Any reports in the press "LL fined for not doing checks" actually mean LL fined for renting to illegals.
You are making a mountain out of a molehill.
I would probably be able to meet with them in person no more than 30 days before my term starts but then the other issue of that would be, where do I stay in the interim.
Thanks for everyone’s comments though, very helpful!
It is within 28 days, so 1 day before you move in is fine (if the LL agent is pedantic as the other guy) but most will be happy to doing right to rent on the day you move in.
It's not being pedantic it's reading and understanding legal wording and protecting yourself as a landlord. If you ever have to go to court for landlord reasons you soon understand how important knowing this crap is. Judges take no shit whatsoever.
I have not seen any of my tenants. Need credit.background checks and deposits.
Definitely makes sense!