Accommodation

Help them with the move from halls to house by making them aware that there are over 100 unlicensed letting agencies operating in Cardiff. Anybody can set up a letting agency, with no training or qualifications. An unlicensed or unaccredited letting agency is more likely to fall short of best practice standards; there is no guaranteed financial protection or official complaints procedure.

Regulatory bodies and accredited landlords are more likely to adopt best practices such as ensuring gas certificates are in place, your bond is protected, landlord finances are protected, basic living standards are met, maintenance issues are dealt with efficiently, your issues are dealt with and an official complaints procedure is in place.

The following organisations are recommended. When they are looking for a property check that:

The agent/landlord/house you are dealing with is registered with one of these bodies.

That your landlord is accredited through Landlord Accreditation Wales

And/or is a member of the National Landlords Association

And/or is recommended through your university housing list or Cardiff Student Letting/UWIC student letting service

Association of letting and management Agents (ALMA – SW Based)

Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) 

National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS)

Royal institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA)

More information and tips for helping students avoid the pitfalls can be found here:

http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/hallstohouse.htm