Wednesday 15-11-2023 - 11:30

Welcome to the "Take Time Before You Sign" campaign, a student-led initiative aimed at advocating for a change in the release dates of rentals for future academic years. This campaign focuses on urging Chester West and Chester Council, as well as letting agents and landlords, to move the release dates to 1st December each year. The goal is to provide students with more time to review contracts, secure funds, and make informed decisions about their living arrangements.

Why Change Is Needed:

The current trend of early release dates for student rentals often puts undue pressure on students, leaving them with limited time to thoroughly examine rental contracts, gather necessary funds, and make well-informed decisions about their housing situations. By pushing for a change to the release dates, the "Give Us Time to Sign" campaign seeks to address these challenges and create a more student-friendly rental process.

How Students Can Get Involved:

Sign the Petition:
The easiest way for students to support the campaign is by signing the official petition. This petition will serve as a powerful tool to demonstrate the collective voice of the student body, urging local authorities, letting agents, and landlords to consider the proposed change in release dates. By signing, students actively contribute to the movement and help bring attention to the need for a more student-friendly approach to housing. Sign the petition here

Share Your Story
Record a Video: Another impactful way for students to get involved is by sharing their personal experiences with housing through recorded videos. By detailing the challenges, they faced due to early release dates, students can illustrate the real-world implications of the current system. These videos not only add a human touch to the campaign but also create a platform for students to connect and empathise with each other's struggles.

Scan the QR Code or click the link

https://record.shoutout.social/chesterstudentsunion/wwo8lz0

How The Campaign Benefits Students:

• More Time for Contract Review: Shifting the release dates to 1st December allows students ample time to carefully review rental contracts, ensuring they understand the terms and conditions before committing.
• Increased Opportunity to Secure Funds: With an extended timeframe, students can better plan and secure the necessary funds for their housing, reducing financial stress and uncertainties.
• Better Decision-Making for Housemates: A later release date provides students with the opportunity to discuss living arrangements with potential housemates, fostering better communication and decision-making processes.

The "Take Time Before You Sign" campaign is a call to action for students, urging them to join the movement for a more student-friendly rental process. By signing the petition and sharing personal experiences through recorded videos, students can contribute to a positive change that benefits the entire student community.

Together, let's make housing decisions a less stressful and more informed experience for students in Chester.

 

Our Top Tips

1. Choose compatible housemates: Ensure you choose housemates that you can comfortably live with for a long period of time.
2. Budget wisely: Chose a budget and only look for properties that are within the budget and confirm if bills are included in the deal.
3. Location convenience: Choose a house near your study location to minimise community time to lectures.
4. Inspect the property: Full examine the house, including locks, doors and windows. Seek input from current tenants if possible.
5. Avoid rushed decisions: Don’t succumb to pressure from letting agents or landlords to sign quickly, bear in mind that there are other available housing options, and you are entitled to ask for more time to consider your options.
6. Compare options: Explore multiple houses, letting agents, and landlords before making a decision.
7. Review the contract: Take time to carefully read the contract, even have someone else read it though with you who has experience renting.
8. Ensure rent protection: Check what the contract states about rent rebates in terms of disrepair. If you have had personal items damaged or suffered a large amount of inconvenience due to disrepair, you may be able to request a rent rebate from your landlord or letting agent.
9. Report disrepair: if you do suffer a house disrepair that the landlord doesn’t address, you can contact Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Environmental Health department.
10. Legal Advice: Utilise the Student’s Assistance Program (SAP) for legal advice and to understand your housing rights.