Moving In

Once you've decided who to live with and where to live, there are a few further things to consider before settling in to domestic. Inventory
Within your contract you may find that there are clauses that describe your obligations to look after and return the property in the same state as you received it, 'reasonable wear and tear' excepted. Many problems regarding the return of the deposit occur because of disputes concerning a change in condition of the property and its contents during the tenancy.
It is essential to make a detailed inventory (list) of the contents of the house and what condition they are in. Everything must be included from whether the toilet seat is on properly to whether there are holes in the carpet. Both you and your landlord should sign and date this and keep a copy each. You may also want to take photos of any damage that was already there when you arrived.

Utility Bills

Utility bills are one of the unfortunate drawbacks of living in a shared house. The bills that you pay will vary depending on which landlord/agency you decide to rent with. So check your contract. Some landlords may offer an all inclusive contract which covers bills. But check which bills are covered or any loopholes which will leave you with bills at the end of the tenancy.
Each utility company has a different system of registration and payment. It is essential that on the day you move into the property you take a meter reading and write it down. Then register with the related company / companies and give them your initial reading. This ensures that you do not end up paying for the previous tenants.
If you will be staying somewhere for a while, you can reduce your utilities bills by comparing the charges made by your utilities company with others available in your area. Put your details in to: www.uswitch.com and if you find a better deal, you can apply online and be saving money within a month.
One thing to watch out for is that you may not receive your bill until the end of the year - this means you'll be hit with the full cost at once and this could be substantial. A way around this is to keep a kitty either weekly or monthly with money set aside for bills - in theory you should have most of the cash you need come the end of the year.

Council Tax Exemption for Students

Properties where all the occupants are full-time students are exempt from council tax. You may be asked to produce a certificate giving evidence of your student status. You can get this certificate by complete the on-line Student Status form on PEGASUS and then collecting your letter from Faculty desks in Registry and Registry in Jordanhill after two working days, for Jordanhill students the letter will be posted out to your home address.
If one or more of the occupants of your house is not a student the house becomes taxable, but, as a student you are not usually legally obliged to contribute towards the council tax.
If you are unsure about your status with regard to Council Tax then seek advice from Ask.

Television License

Students are covered by the same licensing requirements as the rest of the population. A license will be needed by a student living in halls, a bedsit or a flat. If you live in a shared house one license is needed per house as long as you have a joint tenancy agreement. If you have separate agreements with the landlord you will need separate licenses. If you want more information then contact www.tv-l.co.uk