Rhinoceros by Eugene Ionesco. Directed by Kirsty Malyon. Corbett Theatre. East 15. Photo by robgooch.

Looking for accommodation in Loughton?

We manage a number of properties close to the E15 Acting School, most properties are within a 5 – 10 minute walk of both Roding House and the main campus.

We aim to provide good quality accommodation that is hassle free, so that you can concentrate on the opportunities that student life has to offer. We also have access to accommodation for East 15 short courses and East 15 Summer schools.

Our Service

We have been involved in letting and managing property in University towns since 1993. Most of the properties we deal with are owned by private landlords, although you are unlikely to ever meet them or have any contact with them as we act as their representatives and will be your point of contact for any queries or problems that you may encounter. Alternatively, have you ever thought to buy a student property as an investment?

Properties and Tenancy Agreement

All of the properties that we offer are standard “family” houses and each house is let under one Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement. (Tenancies are usually for a fixed term of a year.) Properties are let on the basis that the occupiers will live as a family would. As only one Agreement is in place all Tenants are jointly and separately liable for each other. This means that the rent has to be met in full even if one or more tenants move out.

By law, all Tenancy Agreements should be like this unless the Landlord lives in the property or the property is a licensed House of Multiple Occupation (HMO).

Tenancy Process

Reservation Fee

In order to stop marketing the property to other prospective tenants and reserve it for you are required to pay over a reservation fee of £250. You will be provided with a receipt for this payment along with confirmation that the property is held for you subject to contract and satisfactory references. Once you have been accepted under Mckinley Residential’s Terms and Conditions this amount will be deducted from your final invoice.

If you decide not to move in, some or all of the holding deposit may be forfeited. In the unlikely event that the property is unavailable for you to move into, we would, of course, refund the holding deposit to you.

Reference checks

We are required to make some checks to ensure that you are likely to be good tenants.

We require all student tenants to have guarantors. The guarantor is one who signs saying that will be legally responsible for paying your rent if you are unable to. Both guarantor and tenant complete application forms and have a credit check carried out on them by a specialist company. Some landlords may require additional checks. There is a fee of £100 per tenant to cover all administration costs for new applicants.

Please note: It usually takes a week for these checks to be made.

Before Move-In

We will draft the Tenancy Agreement and provide you with a copy so that you have time to check it through and sign it prior to the keys being handed over.

We will also send you an invoice for the funds required from you, usually comprising the first month’s rent and dilapidations deposit minus the reservation fee paid to secure the property. The dilapidations deposit is usually equivalent to 6 weeks rent.

Please note: We are required to hold cleared funds within our bank account prior to releasing the keys. (Please arrange for a cheque to be sent with plenty of time to allow it to clear, alternatively funds can be transferred into our account).

Move-In Day

Our representative will meet you at the property. An inventory detailing the condition of the property and the contents will be provided. Before the keys are handed over it is important to spend a few minutes ensuring that this is an accurate record of the property. It will require signing and will be used to decide if any of the dilapidations deposit is to be retained at the end of the tenancy. The meter readings will also be noted on the inventory. See our Handy Hints for new tenants.

Rent

We require a standing order be set up so the rent can be paid on a monthly basis.

Please note: Standing orders are now the only form of payment accepted by Mckinley Residential.

Other Costs

Council tax

Whilst on a full time higher education course it is understood that you are exempt from paying council tax. Please note that as tenants it is your responsibility to ensure that you have complied with the local authorities requirements and been issued with a certificate confirming that you are exempt.  You may find that if the council is being super efficient, they may try to invoice you for council tax for the summer holiday whilst your course is not taking place!

Utilities

In all houses the tenants are liable for all utility bills. This means that you will be liable for gas, electricity, water (which may be metered) and the TV license if required.

Insurance

The structure of the property will be insured by the landlord, but very few landlords have contents insurance and even if they do, your contents will not be covered. We strongly encourage tenants to obtain some form of contents insurance which we will be able to assist you with.

Gardening

Each house has a lawn mower and gardening tools provided. You will be expected to keep the garden maintained as stated in your tenancy agreement.

Emergency Contact

In the event of an emergency please contact our office. Out of working hours our senior partner, Simon Hayes, can be contacted on 07956 66 99 10. Please note: This number is for emergency use only.