Lyttleton House, Birmingham

Booking Deposit

• A holding fee of £250 is payable to reserve a property and remove it from the rental market.
• The holding fee (retainer) is non-refundable.

Security Deposit

• The non-refundable retainer becomes the tenancy deposit when the property moves in.
• The landlord must protect the deposit in a Government-authorised deposit protection scheme within 28 days after it becomes a tenancy deposit.
• The deposit may be registered with the Deposit Protection Service.
• Deposit deductions may apply for:
• Outstanding rent or interest charges.
• Property damage.
• Cleaning costs.
• Unpaid utilities (where applicable).
• Council Tax liabilities (where applicable).
• Other tenancy breaches.
• The deposit cannot be used towards rent during the tenancy.

Pay In Instalment

• Properties with a UK guarantor may pay monthly in advance.
• Monthly payments are due on the 1st day of each month.
• Properties without a UK guarantor must pay quarterly (termly).
• Quarterly payments are typically due on:
• 1 July
• 1 October
• 1 January
• 1 April
• Each quarterly instalment covers three months' rent.
• Properties paying in line with Student Finance must provide evidence of their Student Finance payment dates, after which a matching rental schedule will be issued.
• Before the tenancy starts, property issues a rental schedule showing payment dates, amounts, and bank details.

Mode Of Payment

• Standing Order.
• BACS (bank transfer).
• Cash.
• Credit card.
• Student loan.
• No debit or credit card charges apply for payments made within the European Economic Area (EEA).
• Additional transaction fees may apply for payments made from outside the EEA.

Guarantor Requirement

• A UK guarantor is required for monthly payment plans.
• The guarantor must be a UK resident.
• Affordability checks are carried out on the guarantor and may include requesting payslips or proof of funds.
• One guarantor is required per property.
• The completed guarantor form must be returned within 7 days of the tenancy agreement date, otherwise the landlord may rescind the tenancy agreement.
• If rent falls more than 8 weeks in arrears, the guarantor becomes responsible for both the outstanding arrears and the remaining rent until the end of the tenancy.
• If a property does not have a UK guarantor, they may:
• Pay rent quarterly; or
• Use Housing Hand as a third-party guarantor by paying a one-off service fee.

Additional Fees

• £100 Novation fee if the property finds the replacement tenant.
• £150 Novation fee if SLC finds the replacement tenant.
• Late payment interest charged at 3% above the Bank of England base rate from the payment due date until payment is received.
• Maintenance call-out (during office hours, user error): £18.50 (one hour's labour).
• Out-of-hours maintenance call-out (user error): £45.00.
• £5 reminder letter fee.
• £25 key replacement fee.
• £50 access card replacement fee.
• £25 overdue rent fee (or other applicable late payment charges under the tenancy agreement).
• Cleaning, lock replacement, removal of abandoned belongings, flea treatment, debt recovery costs, and other end-of-tenancy charges may apply where the property breaches the tenancy agreement.

Cooling Off Period

• A 14-day cooling-off period is available from the date of booking.
• If the tenancy agreement has already been signed and the property wishes to terminate the tenancy after the cooling-off period, they must find a suitable replacement tenant to take over the tenancy.

Early termination by students

• Once the tenancy agreement has been signed, the property is bound by the tenancy for the full fixed term.
• Early termination is only possible if a suitable replacement tenant takes over the tenancy through a Novation agreement.
• The outgoing property remains liable for rent and tenancy obligations until the replacement tenant takes over.
• A Novation administration fee applies.

Replacement Tenant Accepted

• The outgoing property may find a suitable replacement tenant to take over the tenancy.
• If the property finds the replacement tenant, a £100 Novation fee applies.
• If SLC finds the replacement tenant, a £150 Novation fee applies.
• The replacement tenant must take over the tenancy before the outgoing property's liability ends.

Other cancellation policies

• The booking is completed after the required deposit (or part deposit) is paid, the application form is returned, and the tenancy agreement has been signed.
• If false information is provided in the tenancy paperwork, the landlord may immediately cancel the tenancy agreement.
• The tenancy is a fixed-term contract and cannot be terminated early by either the landlord or the property except as permitted under the tenancy agreement.

Delayed Arrivals & travel restrictions

• If you are unable to travel due to government-imposed travel restrictions, please contact the team with the relevant supporting documentation. We will facilitate the request to review your circumstances and explore the possibility of cancellation/contract amendment. Requests are considered individually, and any outcome will depend on the property's review and applicable booking terms.

University Course Cancellation/Modification

• If your course has been cancelled by your university, please reach out to the team with the relevant supporting documentation. We will liaise with the property team to review your request on a case-by-case basis for cancellation. The resolution will be subject to the property's assessment and the terms of your booking.

Deferring Studies

• If you have deferred your studies, please contact the team and share your updated university documentation. We will notify the property team to review your request for cancellation/contract amendment. Requests are assessed individually, and the final outcome will be subject to the property's review and booking terms.

Room allocation

• Students can indicate specific room number or location preferences during the booking process, and the team will accommodate these preferences wherever possible, based on availability.

Check in guide

• Approximately 2–4 weeks prior to the scheduled move-in date, students will receive check-in instructions via email. This communication will include the steps required to select a check-in date and time slot, complete necessary documentation, and settle any outstanding payments prior to arrival.
• In case of any questions or queries, please feel free to contact the team, and our team will assist to ensure a smooth check-in process.

Renewal policy

• Students who wish to extend their stay can contact the team for renewal or rebooking at the same accommodation. Our team will support the renewal process and help students secure a suitable room of their choice. Students are encouraged to reach out early to ensure they can rebook the same room or another room of their choice at the same property.

Early check in policy

• Early check-in requests can be shared in advance with the team. Our team will do a feasibility check to facilitate early check-in requests based on room readiness and availability. Additional charges may apply where applicable.

Smoking

• Smoking is not permitted inside the building. Smoking is allowed only outside in designated areas, where permitted by property rules and local regulations.

Guest policy

• Guests may stay with you where permitted by the property. Always notify the property 1 to 2 weeks in advance to complete the required formalities.

Minimum age

• You must be 18 years or older on your move-in date to stay at this property. Please ensure you meet the age requirement before booking. In case you do not meet the minimum age requirement, inform the team while enquiring with us, and we can suggest you accordingly.

Student eligibility

• This accommodation is exclusively available to students. Non-students are not eligible to stay at the property.