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January 2011 www.unipol.org.uk/nottingham April 2011 Helping you find better student homes Spring Edition 2011 3 Another bright idea from Unipol Volunteering 4 19 16 18 Nottingham in Bloom Know where your money is going Unipol Dash Code Is your landlord on the list? See page 3 Make time for tea In the community See page 5 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Small changes, Big differences See page 19 H ousing NTU Green Week 1,000s of bedspaces available online

Unipol Housing Newspaper April 2011

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A guide to student housing in Nottingham

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January 2011

www.unipol.org.uk/nottingham April 2011

Helping you findbetter student homesSpring Edition 2011

3Anotherbright ideafrom Unipol

Volunteering

4

19

16

18Nottinghamin Bloom

Know whereyour moneyis going

UnipolDash CodeIs your landlordon the list?See page 3

Make time for teaIn the communitySee page 5

Reduce, Reuse,RecycleSmall changes,Big differencesSee page 19

Housing

NTU GreenWeek

1,000sof bedspacesavailableonline

2 NEWSAPRIL2011

The official start of househunting 2011, on the 22ndJanuary, saw record numbersvisiting the Unipol website. On thefirst day of house hunting a total of8,639 property searches werecarried out using the site, a 31%increase on the previous year. Theincrease was even more dramaticon the second day when 5,381searches were made, more than58 % up on the equivalent day in2010. The following weekscontinued to be busy with

managing agents and landlordsreporting a busy start to HouseHunting.Sian Williams Manager of the

Students Union Advice andRepresentation Centre, at TheUniversity of Nottinghamcommented “During the first fewweeks of house hunting the Centrewas inundated with studentswanting their contracts checked.As well as talking through theirrights and responsibilities we alsomade sure students were aware ofthe Unipol DASH Code.”

CastleCollegebacksUnipolFrom the start of Februarystudents at Castle Collegehave been able to take advantageof Unipol’s services when lookingfor accommodation. Each year theCollege recruits several hundredinternational students and is keento give these students as muchassistance, as possible, in seekingaccommodation. CollegePrincipal, Malcolm Cowgillcommenting on the link up said“Unipol already accredit our ownhalls and it seemed natural thatwe should work together inhelping students looking forhousing in the private sector”.Castle College is scheduled to

merge with South NottinghamCollege in the next few monthswhich will mean that, givenUnipol’s existing links with NewCollege Nottingham, FE studentsthroughout the city will now besupported when looking forprivate sector housing.

Noticeboardprovidesmissing linkAlthough Unipol’s online studentnoticeboard has been in existencesince the service arrived inNottingham, its popularity hassurged this year with more than1,350 messages being posted sofar - 18% up on last year.The vast majority of messages

this year have related to individualrooms becoming available, eitherwhere a member of a househunting group has dropped out orwhere a group have found a houseor flat and just need to find otherstudents to fill it.Designed specifically for use by

students and moderated by Unipolstaff, the Noticeboard also hasseparate forums for “RoomsWanted”, “Forming Groups”,“Postgraduates” and “First Years”.Posters on the Noticeboard oftenuse a combination of forums to linkup with other housemates and tofind accommodation. Inparticular, the boards are useful ifyou find yourself in the trickyposition of having to find someoneto take over your contract.You can access the Notice

Board by visiting the home page ofthe Unipol Nottingham website.

Record Numbersusing Unipol website

On the firstday of househunting atotal of 8,639propertysearches werecarried outusing the site,a 31% increaseon the previousyear.

On themove

This tabloid is produced by Unipol Student Homes. It is for guidance only and is no substitute for the diverse legislation covers. Unipol Student Homes is a company limited by guarantee, registered inEngland and Wales, No. 3401440, Registered Charity number No. 1063492. VAT Registration No. 698 8456 49. Unipol Student Homes accepts no liability whatsoever in respect of the advertisements preparedby Unipol Student Homes based on the contents on Accommodation Details Forms and in no circumstances (whether caused by negligence or otherwise) will Unipol Student Homes be liable for anyconsequential or indirect damage or loss of rent or loss of profit suffered or incurred by you or any third party howsoever caused. © Copyright 2010 Unipol Student Homes

CreditsThis edition of Housing would nothave been possible without theassistance of the following people:

�Mel Futer - Manager offCampus Student Affairs,University of Nottingham

� Andy Rowe - Ucycle,Nottingham Trent University

�Catie Smith - Student VolunteerCentre, University of Nottingham

� Teddy Smith - Accommodationand Community Officer.University of NottinghamStudents' Union

� Sarah Thorp - EnvironmentTeam, Nottingham TrentUniversity

� Julie Walker - Nottingham inBloom Partnership Manager,Nottingham City Council"

� Sian Williams - Student Adviceand Representation Centre,University of Nottingham

Nottingham NG7

Nottingham NG7

Scan theQR codebelowand takeUnipolwith youwhen yougo househunting.

Note from the editorSpring is upon us and with theEaster holidays fastapproaching and deadlineslooming, no student wants to beworried about where they’regoing to live next year.Some of you will already

have found accommodationand may be making plans as tohow you can make the most ofyour new home. In this edition of“Housing” you’ll find informationon some of the ways you canget more out of your local

community whether this be througha volunteering project, taking partin NTU’s “Big Green Week” orentering “Nottingham in Bloom’s”student garden of the year award.If you haven’t found your perfect

property yet, don’t panic! Thereare still lots of great placesavailable, some are advertised inthis edition of “Housing” and manymore are available on our website.Remember to try and prioritiseUnipol accredited landlord and getyour contract checked by your

university advice and supportcentre.As prices go up for everything

from food and petrol to traveland other basic necessities,we’re all becoming more costconscious. We’ve tried to look atsome of the ways you can savemoney ranging from being moreenergy savvy student tosearching out property bargains.I hope you enjoy reading

“Housing” and if you have anyquestions feel free to contact us.

14millionwebsite hits

Over

290,000online propertysearches

Over

11,000Bed spacesadvertised (Figures based on

January toDecember 2010)

3APRIL2011UNIPOLDASHCODE

One of the most commonquestions Unipol gets asked iswhether a particular landlord isaccredited. It’s actually very easyfor anyone to find the answer tothis question as all the landlordsand agents currently accreditedby ourselves appear on a list inthe accreditation section of theUnipol Nottingham website.However, getting onto this list is

a bit more involved. Firstly,landlords have to apply to becomeaccredited. By doing so, theyindicate that they will abide by the

standards laid down within theUnipol DASH Code. They thenhave to submit a list of all theirproperties from which werandomly select a sample numberof properties to inspect. Only oncewe are satisfied that a landlord oragents properties meet thestandards of the Code do we allowthem to become accredited.So before you rent your next

property have a quick look at thelist, it could save you a lot of hasslein the long run.

Need to complain?More info...

Want to know about thebenefits of living in a UnipolDASH Code accreditedhouse? This Guide explainshow the Code works, whatyou should expect from aCode landlord and what todo if things don’t work outquite as you expected.There’s also informationon safety and security aswell as getting on withyour neighbours. Contactthe Bureau for your copy.

Your Unipol Code House

BY FAYE SWANWICK

Things can go wrong in allhouses, even if your landlord isa member of the Unipol DASHCode. Don’t suffer in silence -complain to Unipol if you arehaving problems with your Codelandlord.Once Unipol are made aware

of any issues, we will write to yourlandlord asking them to resolvethe problems. In the rare case thatwe cannot sort out the issue, thelandlord will be brought in front of

the Unipol Tribunal, anindependent panel, who will makea decision on the landlord’s futureaccreditation status. If the Tribunalfeels that the landlord hasbreached the Code and made noeffort to rectify this, they candecide to suspend or expel thelandlord from the Unipol DASHCode.Unipol has received complaints

from 24 students in the last yearwith a wide variety of problemsincluding deposit returns, mould,landlords not giving notice to

access houses, maintenanceissues and houses not being readyto move into at the start of thecontract. The vast majority of thesecomplaints have been resolved inthe space of a month once Unipolhave got involved.So don’t keep it to yourself -

complain to Unipol if you arehaving problems or if you just wantsome advice. You can download acomplaints form from the Unipolwebsite, pop into the office foradvice or send an email [email protected]

Follow Unipol Student Homes at:www.facebook.com/unipolnottingham

Whether you’re still looking foraccommodation or have

already found somewhere for nextyear, it’s well worth knowing if yourfuture landlord supports Unipol.In Nottingham, Unipol operates

the Unipol DASH code. This is theofficial accreditation scheme forstudent housing in the city. TheCode covers not only physicalstandards relating to a landlord’sproperties but also how they goabout managing their propertyportfolio. To join the Codelandlords and managing agentshave to sign a declaration formthat says they agree to abide bythese standards. Staff from Unipolthen inspect a sample selection oftheir properties to ensure that thespecified standards are beingmet. We also speak to tenants tofind out how well thelandlord/agent manages theproperty.When you search for properties

on the Unipol website it’s easy tosee which landlord’s propertiesare accredited as they are alwaysshown with a blue background.The main benefit for students of

accreditation is that it means if youare renting from an accreditedlandlord they have alreadyvoluntarily agreed to meet thestandards of the Unipol DASHCode, some of which aresignificantly higher than theirminimum legal obligations. As youmight expect, wherever possibleUnipol recommends that you rentfrom Unipol DASH Codelandlords. By doing so you havegreater peace of mind and in the

event of any problems with yourlandlord or house, you can contactUnipol and we will help you toresolve the situation.Because managing agents tend

to have larger portfolios,containing different types ofproperties, Unipol distinguishesbetween two different levels ofmembership for agents who wishto become accredited.Full members - This is when an

agent is able to declare that all ofthe properties they manage meetthe standards of the Code.

Code Supporters - A managingagent can also become aSupporter of the Unipol DASHCode. However, it is important torealise that supporters are NOTFULL MEMBERS of the Code.Instead they sign up individualproperties as accredited ratherthan their whole portfolio. Inaddition, they also agree toadvertise their Unipol DASH Codeproperties separately from non-Code properties to avoidpotentially confusing tenants.So wherever you choose to live,

try and find out whether yourlandlord or agent is registeredwith Unipol and if your agent is aCode Supporter, make sure thatthe particular property you areinterested in is covered by theCode.

The Unipol DASHCode explained

Another brightidea from UnipolPicture the scene, returning homeon a cold winter’s night you fumblein the dark to find your front doorkeyhole….well never again doesthat have to be the case. Drop intothe Accommodation Bureau orvisit your University/CollegeAccommodation services andgrab yourself a FREE Unipol DASHCode torch keyring.

Is your landlordon the list?

COMMUNITYAPRIL20114

BY EMMA STRINGFELLOW

The University experience can bemuch more than just what youlearn in the classroom. CatieSmith, Development Worker at theStudent Volunteering Centre (SVC)at The University of Nottinghambelieves that one way you canenhance your overall experience isby volunteering. Here are her top 3reasons to volunteer for a project inthe local community:

1 It will help youget the skills youneed for jobapplications andinterviews

2 It will help youdecide yourcareer path

3 It will give you awider experienceat uni

No matter what University, orCollege you attend, the easiestway for you to get involved andfind a project that suits you is tocontact your Students’ Union.SU volunteering programmes canoffer long term volunteeringopportunities as well as offeringsupport for those that want to setup their own project.

To find out more contact you localvolunteering office:

University of NottinghamThe SVC Office is located onB floor in Portland Building and isopen Monday - Friday. [email protected].

Nottingham Trent UniversityThe Volunteering office can becontacted via the ground floor ofByron House (City Campus), theSU office at The Point (CliftonCampus) and the office area ofThe Orangery if you are atBrackenhurst. Alternatively, youcan visitwww.trentstudents.org/volunteeringfor more information or to becomea member of the Initi8 program.

Volunteering

“My only regret is not getting involvedwith SVC sooner…I was more shy in thefirst and second years and feel as thoughI left all these things just a bit too late.”Chris Watson - 4th year, Geography.

There are a range of projects youcan get involved in:

Name: Student Soup RunLocation: City CentreDetails: Every Tuesday evening agroup of students go around thestreets of Nottingham to give outfood and drinks to rough sleepersas part of the Soup Run. It's agreat way to make a realdifference and you'll have somereally interesting chats too!Available: Now

Name: Nottingham andNottinghamshire Refugee ForumLocation:Mansfield Road (15minute walk from City Centre)Details: NNRF supports refugeesand asylum seekers, providingadvice services and socialactivities such as BBQs, film nightsand football matches. Studentshang out with refugees at theSquare Centre on a Tuesday nightdoing things like helping withhomework, playing games etc.Available: Now

Name: BTCVLocation: City Centre pick upDetails: This is the biggestpractical conservation charity inBritain. If you like to get outdoorsand get your hands dirty then thisis the project for you! Each week aminibus takes volunteers from thecity centre for a day of gettingback to nature. You could becutting down brambles, trimmingtrees, building footpaths, orcreating butterfly habitats.Available: Now

Name: QMC HospitalLocation: QMC and City hospitalDetails:Many of the localHospitals’ departments needregular help from volunteers. Youcan help provide a personalservice which complements theprovision of clinical care forpatients served by the QMC / Citysites. Volunteers must have goodverbal communication skills andbe flexible to meet the diverseneeds of patients.Available: Sign up now, startafter the Summer

Name: Victim SupportDetails: Victim Support is anindependent charity for peoplewho have been affected by crime.Volunteers offer free, confidential,emotional and practical support tovictims of crime or peopleattending court as a witness.Specialised opportunities areavailable for suitable volunteers toprovide support in the Coroner’sCourt. Also, if appropriate, youcould help children/young people,or victims of serious crimes.Accredited training, ongoingsupport and supervision are given.Available: Sign up now, startafter summer

Get involved...

5

BY MEL FUTERStudents at The University ofNottingham are beingencouraged to be goodneighbours as part TheUniversity’s ‘Make time for tea’campaign.The campaign, launched at

the Refreshers Fayre and run bythe University’s Off-CampusStudent Affairs Department, aimsto encourage students living offcampus to introduce themselvesto their neighbours, whether theyare permanent residents orfellow students.Teabags with the ‘Make time

for tea’ tagline have been givenout, as well as postcardsreminding students to take pridein where they live and make apositive effort to be goodneighbours.

Students are beingencouraged to:

� take an interest in where theylive and introduce themselvesto neighbours

� be considerate when cominghome late at night and keepnoise levels down

� let their neighbours know inadvance if they are planning tohave a party and agree a finishtime

The hope is that if neighbours getto know one another, thenproblems that may arise are farmore easily sorted. After all, thebest way to have a chat with yourneighbour is to make time for acup of tea.

Make time for Tea

Now a firm fixture in the localsocial calendar, the Dunkirk TeaParty is organised by the Tenantsand Residents Association ofDunkirk (TRAD) and the Dunkirkand Old Lenton Partnership Forumand supported by the University ofNottingham Community ChestFund.The Tea Parties, which are held

at the Dunkirk and Old LentonCommunity Centre provide anopportunity for students living in

Dunkirk to get to know thepermanent residents in the area,helping to build a greater sense ofcommunity.At the last party in October 2010

entertainment was provided byThe University of NottinghamBrass Ensemble whilst Arts andcrafts skills and face paintingwere on offer for the children.More than 50 students attendedthe event and had the chance tomeet their neighbours and find out

more about the variety of thingsthey can get involved in asmembers of the Dunkirkcommunity. Local MP LillianGreenwood also popped in to sayhello, as did local councillors andstaff from the University ofNottingham.The next Tea Party is scheduled

for the 30th March and all arewelcome! Telephone Fiona Corbetton 0115 915 0090/91 for furtherdetails.

Dunkirk Tea Party

APRIL2011COMMUNITY

Letting Boards – why they matterBY TEDDY SMITHIn these days of mobiletechnology (when seemingly yourevery wish is but the push of abutton away), it seems strangethat when it comes to StudentAccommodation many landlordsstill think that the best way tocontact net savvy students is tostick a board outside their house.Sure, if you opt to search for yournext property online youpotentially miss the novelty oftramping round Nottinghamstreets in the middle of winter butthere are other reasons whystudents should be wary of usingletting boards to lead their searchfor accommodation....

Areas with high numbers ofstudent properties have, in thepast, been notorious for their highcrime levels, none more so thanLenton. In the past few years,thanks to the work of bothuniversities, students’ unions, thepolice and the city council, crimefigures have gone down. Burglary,though, still remains a problemand one contributory factor islettings boards. As well asadvertising houses to students,the boards also provide an easyway for burglars to identify,without even walking down a

street, which properties are likelyto be home to a ready supply oflaptops, iPods and BlackBerries.

The boards also do little toenhance areas visually. Designedto stand out from the competitionthese colourful boards can makean otherwise pleasant street lookquite shabby. Not great if you arestudent living in Nottinghamthrough term time but even worseif you are a permanent resident.

The University of Nottingham’sStudents Union is currentlyworking with the two universities,local residents and Unipol insupport of a Council led schemethat will effectively control the useof letting boards. The scheme will

require all boards in designatedareas to be taken down duringthe first few months of theacademic year when manystudents are living for the firsttime in their own houses andaren’t as security conscious asmore ‘experienced’ students. Itwill also require boards to beflush fitting against the propertyand limit their size. Hopefully theintroduction of such a scheme willshow that students also careabout the environment they live inand will help make Nottingham asafer and happier place to live forboth students and permanentresidents alike.

6

8.Opal -full page (new artwork)

Flat 6, 2 North Sherwood Street - £141.92 Stunning one bedroom studio apartment for an individual or couple to share. This furnished apartment is well situated across from the Nottingham Trent University. The property offers security gates and intercom system. Modern furnishings throughout.

Royal Victoria Court – from £84.00 pppw

in a modern gated development ideally located in the Arboretum

spacious open plan kitchen/living room with washer dryer, cooker and fridge freezer. Bedrooms are larger than average and include double beds, desk, wardrobe and chest of drawers. Secure parking.

8 Matlock Court – Rooms from £65 pppwThis three bedroom property is only a minute from Nottingham Trent University. The house consists of three furnished bedrooms, bathroom with shower, kitchen with cooker and fridge and living room with adequate seating provided.

11 Ridding Terrace - £70 pppwA well proportioned and ideally located house for Nottingham Trent University. The house has accommodation spread over three stories with a dining room

To the rear extension lies a modern kitchen and a recently refurbished bathroom with bath and electric shower.

38 Lawson Street - £85 pppwSituated in a highly popular student

is ideal for NTU and City Centre. It has recently been refurbished to a high standard and boasts an attractive large garden to the rear.

Seeley House - £85 pppwThis new development of 6

to the highest standard with double bedrooms, open plan kitchen/diner with integrated stainless steel appliances including dishwasher and washing machine. Situated on the edge of the highly sought after Lace Market area in the heart of Nottingham City Centre.

21 Noel St - £94.00 pppwA very spacious house located within easy access of NTU and the Tram system. It has been upgraded to an excellent standard with large double bedrooms and double beds, spacious lounge with leather furniture. Modern style kitchen with two cookers and sinks.

Portland House – £77 pppw

large lounge, separate dining room, 2 kitchens and separate laundry facilities. All bedrooms are doubles with a sink in each. Rent inclusive of utility bills, Internet, Sky TV plus full membership of Fitspace gym located a short walk away from the property. Located near the Broadmarsh Centre, the railway station and all main bus routes.

Stylish & superior accommodation

for students.

Over 300 houses and �ats available, ranging from 1

to 14 bedroom.

Please contact us for more details.

Oak Student Letts

Tel: 0115 958 8787 Web: www.oakstudentletts.com

34 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham NG1 4FQ

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APRIL2011 7

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For further information pleasecontact Shields Student Homes:

[email protected]: 0115 9411177

Premier Student Letting agents in Nottingham, with over 350 student properties available.

9

To Avoid Disappointment

Student Accommodation

in Nottingham

10

Need student accommodation?Drop in for a chat at Elite LetsElitelets Property Service is a providerof QUALITY student accommodation inNottingham and has a dedicated andapproachable team ready to assist andgive advice to make your lettingsexperience hassle free.

� Large selection of STUDENTACCOMMODATION available

� Elitelets help find a property thatsuits your needs & budget

� Elitelets arrange viewing times to suityou, not us

� Simple process for group applications� Dedicated property manager� Quality fully furnished student houses

Our tenants get:

� 24 HOUR EMERGENCY HELPLINE –the only letting helpline manned by amember of staff, not a call centre callat anytime if problems arise

� PERSONALISED CHECK IN &CHECK OUT – the check in explainsthe inventory and any confusingappliances and central heating systems

� STEAMLINED RESERVATIONPROCESS – simply complete thetenancy application form with the feeand the property is yours

� YOUR OWN LETTING ANDMANAGEMENT TEAM – the samestaff act as your dedicated rentalteam throughout your tenancy so youalways know who to contact.

� DEPOSIT REFUND – we will initiatedeposit refund within 7 days if theproperty is in good order (if there aredamages it will take longer)

Drop in for a coffee and a chat at 13 Wollaton St Nottingham NG1 5FW

or call us on01159 50 74 74 or07869 036321

To view current accommodation visit:

www.elitelets.co.ukor email us at [email protected]

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purplefrogproperty.com

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UPP Broadgate ParkTurnpike Lane, BeestonNottingham NG9 2RX

VoiP and IPTV available in every bedroom

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Teversal Avenue NG7 - 5 Beds

Peter Aspinall 07968 371402

� Close Derby Rd, bus stops and Lenton� Double beds, large similar sized rooms� Kitchen/diner, separate lounge� Flat screen TV, leather sofas� Washer, dryer, dishwasher� All rooms broadband and TV points� Laminate flooring, fire & burglar alarms

Dovenby Road NG11 – 5 Beds

Roy Howard 07730 799855

� Large kitchen/lounge. TV, Broadband� Double/single beds, Unipol Registered� Secure off road parking x2, Lighting� Modern well designed quality fittings� Washer, dryer, dishwasher, new boiler� Low rent – save money, stay in Clifton� Local landlord, welcoming and friendly

Denison Court NG7- 6 Beds

Angie Field 07702 344629

� 6 Bedroom Shared House� 2 Bathrooms� Fully furnished and equipped� Colour TV with Freeview� Rent includes gas, electric, water� Free wireless broadband� Secure gated student site with parking

Denison Court NG7- 6 Beds

Sarah Saunders 07800 589322

� Modern six bed house, secure gated site� Large kitchen diner with appliances� Lounge with freeview TV and DVD player� Two shower rooms with WCs� All bedrooms have double beds� Bills and high speed broadband included� UPVC windows, gas central heating. Must be viewed

Allington Avenue NG7 – 6 Beds

Megaclose 07970 549777

� Recently built modern six bed house� Last one remaining of five� Arranged over 3 floors with rear garden� Very large open plan lounge/kitchen� Benefits from 2 bathrooms and 3/4 beds� Internet, alarm, dishwasher, washer/dryer� Great location, no agent’s fees.

Arnesby Road NG7 - 6 Beds

Kay 07973 612766

� Large detached house with garden and a drive wayaccommodating 3+ cars

� Modern kitchen with all appliances includingwasher/dryer, 2 lrg f/f and dishwasher. 2 showers

� A 42 inch flat screen TV provided

City Road NG7 - 4 Beds

Kay 07973 612766

� The house was fully refurbished to a very highstandard last year

� All large double bedrooms� A 42 inch flat screen TV provided

Bentinck Road NG7 - 5 Beds

Kay 07973 612766

� House in 10 mins walk to NTU city campus� 1 min walk to Forest Tram stop!� Fully refurbished to a very high standard last year� A 42 inch flat screen provided

The followingadverts are from

individuallandlords andarranged by

bedspaces >>

>>CLASSIFIEDAPRIL2011

Rent - £76pppw Deposit - £330pp Rent - £35-49pppw Deposit - £100pp

Rent: £79pppw Deposit - £300pp

Rent: £75pppw Deposit: £325pp

Rent: £80pppw Deposit:£347pp

Rent: £65pppw Deposit: £282ppRent: £67pppw Deposit: £291pp

Rent: £79pppw Deposit - £300pp

15Radcliffe Road NG2 – 5 Beds

Shaf 07977 017444

� All double rooms� Fully furnished with

IKEA, Separate Livingspace, excellent sizedkitchen

� Laminate flooring in allrooms

� Bath and shower facility,instant hot water

� Bus outside propertyevery 7 mins, 15 mins onbus to Nottingham Trent

Church Grove NG7 – 5 Beds

Tony 07973 833125

� 5 Bedroom House� New kitchen� New bathroom� Washing machine/dryer� Lounge/Dining Room� Fire and burglar alarm� UPVC Double Glazing� Gas central heating� Easy access university� Dash Code Compliant

Beeston Road NG7 – 7 Beds

Eve 0115 924 4882

� Newly refurbished� Double bedrooms� Fully furnished� Plasma TV in lounge� Designer kitchen� Faux leather beds� Built in wardrobes� Desk and chair� Large decking area� £250 each� Close to uni

Kimbolton Avenue NG7 - 6 Beds

Mr Manzoor 07900 907813

� Recently refurbished 6bed house

� Fully furnished to highstandard

� All double beds� Laminate flooring� Large kitchen, bathroom

and shower, 2 toilets� Close to university� Washer, fridge freezer,

microwave

Denison Court NG7 - 3 Beds

Jonathan 07970 272772

�Gated communitywith fob entry

�10 mins to Citycampus

�Virgin Mediatelephone, internet +TV incl. in rent

�Deposit £300� Jonathan.roden2@g

mail.com

APRIL2011CLASSIFIED

Rent - £62 pppw

Rent: £65 pppw

Rent: £83pppwRent: £65pppw

Deposit: £260pp

Rent: 69.20pppw

www.CunninghamLettings.co.uk

Cunningham Lettings believe in putting the student’s needs firstWe specialise in student properties for Trent University, University of Nottingham including Sutton Bonington Campus, we onlyprovide accommodation of a high standard and we work with Landlords that understand the needs of our students. We aremore flexible than most agents and have a modern approach to letting houses, you can call us, text us or email until 10.00pmmost evenings and expect a reply or contact us on Facebook, Cunningham Lettings, our student also have a list of out of hourstradesmen for emergencies and a 24 hour contact number 365 days a year.

Cunningham Lettings are also proud to have full accreditation with Unipol and follow the Unipol DASH code ofStandards. We have houses to let in Lenton, Dunkirk, Beeston, City Centre and Forest Fields. We have houses ranging from 1-10 bedrooms. Our properties are fully managed by us and we guarantee a good level of service throughout the year, everystudent in our managed houses receives FREE ENDSEIGH CONTENTS INSURANCEIf you would like to view any of our houses or would like to speak to us about the letting process please call or text Natalie07989 430 462 E: [email protected] or Lauren 07595 710 870. E: [email protected]

16 DOUGLAS ROADLENTON - 5/6 BEDROOMS

The Experts For Letting & Managing, High Quality Student Accommodation

CALL : 0115 841 8841

96 DUNKIRK ROADDUNKIRK – 4 BEDROOMS

236 QUEENS ROADBEESTON – 4 LARGE

BEDROOMS

1 BALFOUR ROADFLAT 2 – 4 BEDROOMS

84 HARRINGTON DRIVELENTON – 5/6 BEDROOMS

28 ALBERT GROVELENTON – 6 BEDROOMS

21 RADFORD BOULEVARD4 BEDROOMS

WELLESLEY HOUSELAWSON STREET

CITY CENTRE - 7 BEDROOMS

Foxhall Road NG7 - 5 Beds

Peter 07791 991163

� 5 double bedrooms� Free Sky + Broadband� 2 mins to bus stop� 5 mins to tram stop� 15 mins walk to city� Dishwasher + tumble dryer� New carpets and shower� Rent inc. phone and water� Excel street parking� Large modern kitchen� Separate lounge/diner� [email protected]

Rent: £57pppw

Lenton Boulevard NG7 – 7 Beds

Megaclose 07970 549777

� Number one studentlocation

� Very spacious 3 storeyhouse

� Large open planlounge/kitchen + largebedrooms

� Benefits include D/G,Alarm, Dishwasher

� Small garden area tothe rear

� Viewing recommended� No agents fees

Woodside Road NG9 - 6 Beds

Ian Thomas 07780 974772

� 6 bed 1 bathroom 1shower room

� Broadband, telephone,water rate included

� Centre of uni campus 15min walk

� All rooms with doublebeds

� Spacious lounge withcable TV included

� Large kitchen/diner withdishwasher

� 4 rooms available, groupsor individualsRent: £57pppw Deposit: £250pp

Rent: £68pppw Deposit: £294pp

16

KnowWhere YourMoney Is GoingBYEMMA STRINGFELLOWWhen signing for a house youmight get asked for various bits ofpaper work and also to pay moneyup front. Unipol often get askedwhat is normal and we understandthat it can all get a bit confusing!Here’s an explanation of thingsthat you might get asked for whensigning your contract.

1. DepositThis usually amounts to around amonth to a month and a half’srent. Your deposit covers anydamage you might cause to theproperty, as well as cleaning andrent arrears at the end of thetenancy. Your landlord must, bylaw, protect your deposit and youshould ask for a certificate to provethis has been done. At the end ofthe tenancy, if you have returnedthe property in a clean condition,free from any damage and withoutowing any further money for bills orrent then your deposit should bereturned to you. If deductions havebeen made and you disagree withthem you can contact the schemethat protects your deposit and takeup their dispute procedure.

2. Summer RentRetainer/ ConcessionMany contracts will start in Julyand have a Summer RentRetainer/ Concession for thesummers months when theproperty is not occupied. You maybe asked for the rent to cover thisperiod up front at the time ofsigning to secure the propertywhile it is not in use. Landlords willoften use the summer period tocarry out maintenance on theproperty which is why they don’tcharge full rent. It may be possiblefor you to store some large items inthe house during this period andhave the occasional over night stayif you need to stay for re-sits (forexample). Make sure everyoneagrees on the terms of the summerrent retainer before you sign upand it’s always a good idea to geta receipt for any money you handover outlining exactly what it is for.If you know you are going to needmore access to the house over thesummer, for example you aregoing to be working in Nottingham,you need to discuss this with yourlandlord in advance.

3. Signing/Administration FeesIt is very common for agencies tocharge some sort of fee to covertheir administration costs. The feesvary between agencies and theyare almost always non-refundable.You may also find some privatelandlords charge administrationfees too.

4. Holding FeesWe strongly advise that you takeyour contract to be checked beforesigning it. You may find somelandlords will ask for a holding feewhile you do this. Make sure youknow what this money is for beforeyou hand it over. Usually it willmean that the landlord will notshow the house to anyone else fora limited period while you makeyour decision. If you decide not totake the property you will lose thismoney and in most cases if youtake the property it will form partof your deposit. If you are notcomfortable handing over moneyat this stage plenty of landlordsand agents do not ask for this.

5. Guarantor FormsA guarantor is some one who willbe responsible for your rent if youcannot pay it. We recommend thatyou check that your guarantor isonly responsible for your share ofthe rent and not that of the wholehouse, particularly if you are on ajoint tenancy agreement. Around50% of landlords ask for a rentguarantor

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17APRIL2011FINANCE

A Bargain Hunter’s Guideto Student AccommodationIn the summer of 2010 it wasreported that the most expensivestudent property in the UK, RolandHouse in South Kensington,London, was offering studentrooms at £390 per week .Fortunately for students based inNottingham, rents are a bit morereasonable in the Midlands.However, anyone looking forstudent accommodation inNottingham will soon discover thatrents can vary significantly. Sowhat rent should you be paying?One way of judging whether a rentlevel is good value is by checkingthe average rents shown on thehomepage of the Unipol

Nottingham website. Here you willfind both the current average rentfor properties covered by theUnipol DASH Code and thecurrent average rent forunaccredited properties.Compared to other university citiesin the UK, Nottingham offersrelatively reasonable rent levels.This is largely due to the surplus ofstudent accommodation.However, price levels do still vary.The 3 main factors that causethese variance are:

1. Location2. Size of house3. Time of year

£59ClaudeStreetDunkirk

£69EdnastonRoad

Dunkirk

£53HumberRoadBeeston

£57LowerRoadBeeston

£67JohnsonRoadLenton

£71DerbyRoadLenton£60

BentinckRoad

Arboretum

Lenton - NG7 1

Utility

Percentageof propertiesthat includeutility in rent

Water Bills 12%

Electricity 2%

Gas 2%

Telephone 2 %

Old Lenton & Dunkirk - NG7 2

Utility

Percentageof propertiesthat includeutility in rent

Water Bills 20%

Electricity 2%

Gas 2%

Telephone 0.7%

Radford - NG7 3

Utility

Percentageof propertiesthat includeutility in rent

Water Bills 50%

Electricity 31%

Gas 31%

Telephone 6%

The Arboretum - NG7 4

Utility

Percentageof propertiesthat includeutility in rent

Water Bills 50%

Electricity 38%

Gas 38%

Telephone 7%

Hyson Green - NG7 5

Utility

Percentageof propertiesthat includeutility in rent

Water Bills 59%

Electricity 31%

Gas 31%

Telephone 4%

Forest Fields - NG7 6

Utility

Percentageof propertiesthat includeutility in rent

Water Bills 44%

Electricity 27%

Gas 25%

Telephone 2%

Size of propertyThe most common types ofstudent houses in Nottinghamare 4, 5, and 6 bed sharedhouses, and as these arerelatively plentiful you won’tusually pay a premium forthem. Smaller propertiessuch as one bed flats andlarger houses are in shortersupply so owners of theseproperties can sometimesask for significantly higherrents. As a result, if you arelooking for these types ofproperty it can be more costeffective to look at alternativeapproaches that suit yourneeds. For example couplesmight find taking a 2 bedroom house will increasetheir options, whilst thoselooking for larger propertiesmight find it cheaper to splitthe group and take 2 smallerhouses in the same road.

The Letting YearAs you might expect rents areat the highest at the start ofthe letting year in January.However as the yearprogresses rent levels doreduce.

LocationAnalysis of properties registered with Unipol in 2010 showed the extent to which rents varied. Properties onDerby Road in Lenton , which are in easy reach of each of the University of Nottingham’s two main campuseswere shown to be amongst the most expensive. Because of the student lifestyle in this area, properties on DerbyRoad and the surrounding streets tend to let quickly and as a consequence command significantly higher rents.

RoadName

AverageCode Rent

AverageNon-CodeRent

% let beforeEaster break

% Let beforeend of

Semester 3

DunkirkClaudeStreet

£59.04 £55.00 18 33

EdnastonRoad

£69.82 £71.67 35 50

BeestonHumberRoad

£53.67 £58.67 22 33

LowerRoad

£54.00 £57.67 14 14

LentonJohnsonRoad

£67.76 £55 60 66

DerbyRoad

£71.18 £69.79 53 53

ArboretumBentinckRoad

£60.00 N/A 54 54

In conclusion, if you are in a position to be a little bit more flexible and want to save yourself a few hundredpounds, try waiting until later in the year, explore different areas of the city and you could bag yourself abargain at the same time remember to prioritise acredited properties so that you have “peace of mind” whenyou move into you new home.

Check what your rent coversIt’s also well worth checking what exactly the rent covers. As well asoffering lower rents some areas that are further away from bothuniversities’ Nottingham campuses, such as Radford, have a higherproportion of properties offering incentives such as inclusive bills(see below).

18 ENVIRONMENTAPRIL2011

NTU’s Big Green Week

BYSARAH THORP

Nottingham Trent University(NTU) is hosting its Big Green

Week in May this year (3rd – 6thMay). The Environment Team willbe on hand to answer anyquestions you may have when itcomes to making a difference tothe environment at Uni and in thehome with the added bonus ofsaving you money.

Did you know…� Leaving your PC on over nightwastes £63 per year.

� Turning the temperature downby just 1oC can reduce theaverage heating bill by 10%.

� Every tonne of paper recycledsaves 15 average sized trees,

� Switch your light bulbs to energysaving light bulbs and save £9 ayear on energy bills per bulb.

� Every UK household uses onaverage 331 glass bottles/jars, ifevery household recycled alltheir glass bottles/jar they wouldsave enough energy to:

� Power a computer for 5 days� Power a washing machine for 2.5days

The Big Green Week is packedfull of events across all three NTUcampuses addressing topics suchas:

� How big is your carbonfootprint?

� What does 1 tonne of carbondioxide look like?

� How to travel to Uni in a moresustainable way,

� Wildlife walks/tree planting,� Low carbon food.

…And much more!

For further information visitwww.ntu.ac.uk/ecoweb or e-mailNTU’s Environment Team [email protected]

3rd – 6th May 2011

Want to know if the house youare in or are looking at is

energy efficient or an energyguzzler?All houses let on joint contracts

require an Energy PerformanceCertificate (EPC). These areindependent reports on theefficiency of a property and areinvaluable to the budgetconscience house hunter. Thereport will rate how efficientenergy use is in the propertybased on insulation, type andquality of heating system,soundness of the property andtypical weather conditions in thelocation of the property.EPCs can be found at the

bottom of all Unipol advertsrequiring an EPC and will showthe current and potential energy

efficiency and the environmentalimpact ratings. A link to the fullEPC report is located below theratings graph. This report will giveyou an estimate of energy cost forthe property based on its EPCratings. This can help in budgetingand ultimately in your decision asto whether you can afford to live ina particular house.The differences between an

inefficient and efficient propertycan be quite substantial. Forexample the graphs below showtwo five bed shared flats whereone has an estimated energy usecosting the tenants £2455 per year(Graph 1) and the other £616 peryear (Graph 2). This represents adifference of £368.15 per personper year just on energy.

How EPCs can help youbecome energy savvy

Nottingham takes the collectionrecycling of waste seriously.You can do your bit to help byensuring you sort your wasteinto the appropriate bins andputting these out at the righttimes. Further details oncollection days can be found atwww.mynottingham.gov.uk/recyclingcalendars.Remember, also, that if you

fail to take your bin in after yourwaste has been collected youcould be liable for a fine of £100so don't forget to take them inover the forthcoming Easterand Royal Wedding bank-holiday weekends.

Easter Waste Collections

19

Nottingham in BloomDo you have a winning garden?BY JULIE WALKERIf your student accommodation hasa neat and tidy garden brightenedup with flowers and plants, why notsign up to enter the Nottingham inBloom Garden Competition 2011?Student Charlotte Manicom won

last year’s competition with a‘welcoming, happy and joyful’garden in Derby Road. Judgeswere impressed that Charlotte andher housemates had grown plantsfrom seeds -taking on boardhealthy eating by growing theirown vegetables. They also scoredwell on recycling with a benchmade from wood found in a skip.Landlord Elaine Shardlow, in

her first year as a student landlord,also won with a low-maintenancegarden at her property in WalcotGreen, Clifton.

This year judges will again beon the lookout for studentproperties with gardens that makea positive impact on theirneighbourhood. There’s no need tospend a lot of money – it’s effortand a good general impressionthey are looking for. They will lookat the property as a whole, not justthe front, so you can show off theback garden too.All entrants will receive a

certificate, and the winners will beinvited to a presentation inSeptember to receive their trophyand £100 voucher. The competitionis supported by the University ofNottingham.To enter or to find out more

email [email protected] call Nottingham in Bloom on 01158764985.

APRIL2011ENVIRONMENT

Reduce, Reuse and Recyclehow small changes can make big differencesBY EMMA STRINGFELLOWIts easy to build up a mountain ofunwanted everyday items over thecourse of a year, so why not have abit of a spring clean and look atways that will benefit thecommunity and the environment.

� Carrier bags - Buy a bag forlife! Many supermarkets link upwith charities and donate moneyfor every bag for life sold. If you douse plastic bags try and use themmore than once, even if its just as abin liner. If you find that you have abuild up of bags at the end of theyear you can recycle them, mostsuper markets now have thisfacility.

� Ink cartridges - It is likely thatyou will replace your ink cartridgeat least once during the academicyear. Many companies can re-fillink cartridges, but did you knowthat age uk can get between 10pand £2 for every ink cartridgedonated? Why not visitwww.ageuk.org.uk and see if youcan donate your cartridge and howthe money gained can be used.

� Batteries - Where possible try touse rechargeable batteries, it willsave you money in the long run andbenefit the environment. Most typesof batteries can be recycled thesedays. Nottingham Trent Studentsliving in Clifton can recycle theirbatteries via kerbside collections;whilst for students at The University

of Nottingham there is a collectionpoint in the Portland Building. Ifneither of these are suitable for youdrop them off at your local HouseHold Waste and Recycling centre.If you would like to find out moreabout recycling in Nottingham visitthe ‘Environment Waste andPlanning section ofwww.nottingham.gov.uk . You canfind your nearest recycling banksby visiting www.recycle-more.co.uk

If you fancy living a bitfurther afield but don't wantto be stung by the rising costof petrol or public transport,then why not think bike.Right now NTU students

can grab themselves one ofthe cycling bargains of theyear. Ucycle, an initiativefunded by the twouniversities and Sustrans,are offering the hire of bikethrough till June for just £35.The bikes are lightweighthybrid bikes and what'smore Ucycle even throw inlights and a maintenancepackage.For more information visit

www.trentstudents.org/bike.

Two Wheels Good?