Question 1

Can I rent just one room?

Accepted Answer

We rent on a room-by-room basis. If you are renting a room in one of our shared houses or flats you will be given your own tenancy agreement for that room and shared use of the communal rooms.
Unlike many letting agents and other private landlords we do not expect you to sign a joint tenancy agreement with people you do not know.

Question 2

Can my partner and I share a 1-bed flat?

Accepted Answer

Yes.
Our 1-bed flats have a double bed and are suitable for occupation by a couple.
The advertised rents for our 1-bed flats are for the flat and not per person.
Please note however that if you are renting a room in a larger house or flat the advertised rent is for occupation strictly by one person only and sharing is not allowed.

Question 3

How long will my tenancy be?

Accepted Answer

All of our properties are available long term under assured periodic tenancies.

Question 4

I need accommodation long-term; is this possible?

Accepted Answer

Yes.Your assured periodic tenancy is open-ended and will continue until you choose to give notice to end it, unless we give you notice to end your tenancy under the limited list of grounds allowed. Please tell us your exact requirements and we will be happy to accommodate you.

Question 5

Can I move out before my tenancy end date?

Accepted Answer

Your assured periodic tenancy will not have a fixed end date.You can give notice to end your tenancy at any time, but you must continue to pay rent up to the end of the notice period.

Question 6

Do you charge administration fees?

Accepted Answer

No, we do not charge registration fees, administration fees, inventory fees or make any other charges when renting our accommodation.
We are not a rental agent or property management company and only rent houses and flats that we ourselves own.

Question 7

Will I have to pay a deposit or bond?

Accepted Answer

Yes.When you reserve a room in one of our houses or flats we require a reservation deposit equal to one week's rent. Under The Tenant Fees Act 2019 it is illegal for anyone to charge more than one week’s rent before you have signed a tenancy agreement.The same law allows you 15 days to sign a tenancy agreement. So long as you pass right to rent checks, complete referencing checks and sign the tenancy agreement within 15 days of paying your reservation deposit the reservation deposit becomes part of your first rent payment at the start of your tenancy. So the only circumstances in which you will lose the reservation deposit is if you fail right to rent checks or do not sign a tenancy agreement within the 15 days allowed by the Tenant Fees Act 2019.Please note that we send the tenancy agreement to you by email but it must be printed, signed and returned to us by post.At the start of your tenancy we require payment of a tenancy deposit equal to five weeks rent. This tenancy deposit will be protected in a government approved tenancy deposit protection scheme. The government approved tenancy deposit protection scheme that we use is the insurance-based scheme run by Deposit Protection Service.

Question 8

How much should I budget for water, gas & electricity bills?

Accepted Answer

Council tax is included at all properties except 1-bed flats.If you are renting a room in one of our shared houses the rent includes all utility bills, subject to a fair usage limit of either £15 or £20 per person per week.So water, gas, electric and broadband are included.Although broadband is networked through every property and is included in the rent, if you are renting one of our 1, 2 or 3-bed flats, water, gas and electricity charges are not included. In our flats we recommend that you budget around £15/week per person for these bills.

Question 9

Do you offer accommodation with bills included?

Accepted Answer

Council tax is included at all properties except 1-bed flats.We offer bills inclusive rents to every tenant renting a room in one of our shared houses, where the rent includes water, gas, electricity and broadband up to a generous maximum of £15 or £20 per person per week.In the event that this limit is exceeded any excess will be divided equally between all tenants.In our flats council tax and broadband are included but our tenants make their own arrangements for paying for the electricity, gas and water that they use.

Question 10

Will I have to pay Council Tax?

Accepted Answer

Council tax is included in the rent at all properties except our 1-bed flats.

Question 11

Will I be able to get an internet connection installed?

Accepted Answer

All of our properties have superfast broadband (Most have Virgin Media superfast 1 Gig WiFi) already connected from the day you move in.Most properties also have a wired (Ethernet) network in addition to Virgin Media WiFi.

Question 12

When must the rent be paid?

Accepted Answer

Rent must be paid monthly in advance by bank transfer direct to our bank account.
Your first rent payment (minus the reservation deposit) PLUS your tenancy deposit must be paid direct to our bank account on the first day of your tenancy.
Payment must be received in our bank account before you can move in.
Monthly payments must then be paid every month on the same date as your tenancy start date.

Question 13

How must rent payments be made?

Accepted Answer

We do not usually accept cash payments.
Payment by bank transfer is the most efficient way of paying your rent. It is also the cheapest for us, which helps us to rent rooms at affordable rents. And payment by bank transfer also ensures that there is a record of every payment you make and every payment that we receive, so there cannot be any disputes.
You will be able to arrange a bank transfer very easily via telephone or internet banking or using your banking app. There is rarely any reason why the rent cannot be paid this way. Once you have set up the payments (usually set up as a regular bill payment or standing order) your rent is paid directly from your bank account into our bank account automatically on the day it is due.
If there is a genuine reason why you are unable to set up these payments we will be happy to try and help you, but please discuss this before you reserve a room.
Please don't confuse these payments with a direct debit. The rent payments that we ask you to arrange with your bank are an instruction that you give to your bank to make regular monthly rent payments of a set amount on a set day every month.  Unlike a direct debit, it is not an authorisation for us to dip into your bank account to take whatever money is owed to us whenever we wish.
So, even if you are nervous about signing a direct debit, there is really no reason why you should not set up fixed monthly payments by standing order.

Question 14

Can I pay my rent weekly?

Accepted Answer

All tenancy agreements require rent payments to be made monthly, one month in advance.Please discuss this further if this is an issue for you.We will never request more than one months rent in advance.

Question 15

Do I need a guarantor?

Accepted Answer

Unlike most letting agents and many other private landlords, we do not usually expect our tenants to provide a rent guarantor.

Question 16

Can someone else pay my rent?

Accepted Answer

Anyone can pay your rent on your behalf. Just tell us who is going to pay your rent and we will send them our bank account details so that they can arrange the payments with their bank.
But please remember that you will be signing the tenancy agreement, not someone else, so it is your responsibility to ensure that the rent is paid on time.

Question 17

What happens if I can't pay my rent?

Accepted Answer

If for some reason you cannot pay your rent on the due date please speak to us before rent day.
We will be far more sympathetic if you speak to us before rent day than if we have to chase you for payment because your rent has not been received.

Question 18

I work during the week.  Can I view your properties at the weekend?

Accepted Answer

We can arrange viewings most days but to minimise disruption to our tenants we try not to do any viewings on a Sunday. 
We always give our tenants at least 24 hours notice before showing people around their home, so please be sure to call us before you arrive in Plymouth.

Question 19

How long in advance do we need to book if we want to view some of your properties?

Accepted Answer

We need a minimum 24 hours to inform current tenants of any viewings. Please arrange viewings before travelling to Plymouth.  To arrange viewings please call Jeremy on +447971 431121.

Question 20

Do we meet you at the property or should we come to your office?

Accepted Answer

We will normally ask you to meet us outside the property.

Question 21

Are your properties all fully furnished?

Accepted Answer

Yes.All of our houses and flats are furnished to a good standard.All bedrooms have a double bed, bedside cupboard, wardrobe, desk, chair and bookcase plus fitted carpet, curtains and lampshade. Some of our larger bedrooms also have a sofa.

Question 22

Do you provide kitchen utensils or do I need to bring my own?

Accepted Answer

Our properties are fully furnished, and kitchens are equipped with essential items.All of our properties have just one kitchen, with at least one oven and hob, a microwave oven, fridge/freezer, kettle, sink and draining board. The kitchens in all of our shared houses have 2 ovens, 2 hobs, 2 sinks and 2 fridge/freezers, so that everyone gets a fridge shelf and a freezer drawer. All kitchens have enough cupboards so that everyone has one base cupboard and one wall cupboard. In some properties we provide pots, pans, cutlery, crockery, tea towels and just about everything you will need except sharp knives; please check this information before reserving accommodation if this is important to you.

Question 23

Do all houses and flats have a washing machine?

Accepted Answer

Yes.All houses and flats with two or more rooms have an automatic washing machine.All of our 1-bed flats have a washer/dryer. All properties have an outside washing line.

Question 24

Can I bring my own furniture instead of using yours?

Accepted Answer

We do not usually remove any of our furniture from the property but if you want to supplement what we provide (for example, your own desk chair), you may do so as long as the furniture you bring meets the appropriate regulations (fire retardant covers and cushions etc.).
However, you must get our written permission before you bring any furniture into the property. 
Please also make sure that you take your furniture with you when you move out.

Question 25

Are pets allowed?

Accepted Answer

It is rarely possible to keep a pet in shared accommodation, but please discuss this before you reserve accommodation.

Question 26

What happens if something in the property stops working?

Accepted Answer

We are professional full-time landlords.
You will be given an emergency contact number, which is available 24/7, to report anything that requires attention.  So whether it's a noisy washing machine, blocked loo or just a light bulb that needs to be changed, you can contact us immediately and we will deal with it; and as we live in Plymouth ourselves we are able to deal promptly with any issues that arise.

Question 27

Can I paint my room?

Accepted Answer

We do not allow our tenants to paint their rooms. You can decorate your room with pictures and posters but painting is not permitted.

Question 28

How long does it usually take to get my tenancy deposit refund?

Accepted Answer

We always repay tenancy deposits as quickly as possible after the tenancy end date.We aim to repay all tenancy deposits within 4 weeks of the end of the tenancy; most tenants who rent  a room with bills included receive their tenancy deposit refund in their bank account much sooner than this (because we do not have to wait for them to sort out their final utility bills). All tenancy deposits are protected in a government approved tenancy deposit protection scheme.

Question 29

I do not currently live in Plymouth but am coming to Plymouth to start a new job. Can I reserve a room now and move in immediately I arrive in Plymouth?

Accepted Answer

Yes.
If you are happy to reserve accommodation without coming to Plymouth to view our houses & flats, you can do a 'virtual viewing' and we can deal with all of the paperwork before you arrive. However, rooms are only reserved once we have received your reservation deposit.
You will need to complete an application form, pay your reservation deposit and sign your tenancy agreement before you can move in.
Payments can be made direct to our bank account by bank transfer and we can deal with everything else via email before your arrival in Plymouth.

Question 30

Does your accommodation have fire detection systems?

Accepted Answer

All of our accommodation complies with the standards required by Plymouth City Council.
As a minimum standard every shared property has mains powered interconnected smoke detectors on each floor and a heat detector in the kitchen. 
Some properties have a full fire alarm system.
All properties also have a carbon monoxide alarm and a fire blanket in the kitchen plus also a fire extinguisher on every floor.

Question 31

Can I have a friend to stay?

Accepted Answer

As long as your housemates don't mind, you can have a friend to stay from-to-time. But you cannot let someone else move in with you on a permanent basis.

Question 32

Where can I keep my bike?

Accepted Answer

Many of our properties have an outhouse where bikes can be securely stored (see the detailed property description on the properties pages).
You will have to provide your own padlock.
Bikes must not be stored indoors or wheeled through the house or flat (bike stores, where they are provided, are accessed from the rear lane – we will provide you with keys for the back gate and back door if you have a bike and therefore need to come and go through the back door).
Please contact us if you want any further information about bike storage at any of our properties.

Question 33

Do you provide off-street parking?

Accepted Answer

Very few properties so close to the centre of Plymouth have off-street parking. All of our houses and flats are in streets where on-street permit parking is available.You will need to buy a permit from Plymouth City Council; the cost is currently £63 per year.  As the parking restriction applies for just three hours each day (12:00 - 15:00 Monday - Saturday) it is possible to park your car at most times of the day without the risk of a parking ticket. However, as the minimum fine for parking in the street without a permit is £35 and the annual permit is £63, we strongly urge our tenants to buy a permit.To buy a permit from Plymouth City Council must have your V5 vehicle registration document and your signed tenancy agreement.We will be happy to advise you further if you have a car and need to arrange a permit.Follow this link to find more information about Plymouth City Council parking permits http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/parkingandtravel/parkingpermits/residentparkingpermit .Plymouth City Council exclude many HMO properties from their permit parking scheme. All of our properties are eligible for parking permits and all of our tenants can obtain a parking permit.Before renting accommodation from another landlord you should first check that the property is not on Plymouth City Council's list of excluded properties https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-08/RPS-Exclusion-2026-08-05.pdf .

Question 34

Is smoking allowed in your rental properties?

Accepted Answer

Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the premises in all of our rental properties.
In HMO properties it is illegal for anyone to smoke indoors.
We do not tolerate smoking in our properties.
We always deal promptly with any complaints, which thankfully are very rare.
It is a term of all tenancy agreements that smoking is not permitted and any tenant who does so will be served with a Notice and then, if necessary, will face eviction through the Courts.  Thankfully, this has never been necessary.

Question 35

What if I've got a question not answered here?

Accepted Answer

Please contact us if you have any further questions or use the contact form.

FAQ's