Posted 95 Months Ago
What you need to know...
Originally written by Shelter Scotland. You can read the original Blog here http://blog.scotland.shelter.org.uk/2017/05/17/hmos-and-sharing-rented-accommodation-what-you-need-to-know/
If you’ve taken your first steps as an independent adult, been a student, or needed to cut down on your living costs, you’ll probably have spent some time in shared accommodation. For various reasons – be it social or financial – some people prefer to share their household with other tenants for a large part of their adult life.
There’s a chance, therefore, that those of you who are house-sharing might also have heard the word ‘HMO’ come up at some point.
…So what is an HMO?
An HMO (House in Multiple Occupancy) is a property inhabited by more than 3 people who aren’t from the same family. These properties are usually shared houses or flats, bedsits, hostels or B&Bs.
The reason an HMO is different from other forms of housing is that it needs to be licensed. This licence is completely separate from your tenancy or your landlord’s registration; it simply shows the property has undergone a series of checks by the local council before it’s deemed fit for multiple tenants to live in. The checks make sure that:
It’s a good idea to find out about the responsibilities of an HMO landlord before you move in, as well as your own. Read over your tenancy agreement thoroughly, so that down the line you can be sure that you aren’t taking responsibility for a repair that should be down to your landlord (or vice versa)!
Check out the video below for a brief guide to HMOs and shared accommodation:
What’s it like having multiple housemates?
There are both perks and pitfalls of house-sharing. From my experience both as a student off-campus and as a tenant in more recent years, shared accommodation has its distinct advantages:
When I moved to Edinburgh, my first home was an HMO and I shared with 4 people. It certainly had its ups and downs; living with several sets of opinions and habits isn’t always easy, so it gives you some serious lessons in patience. Still, we did have some really great times – I loved the movie nights and communal dinners, and we did really look out for each other when things were a bit tough. A fairly frequent turnover in tenants meant I also got to meet people from a spectrum of cultural backgrounds, most of whom I’ve stayed friends with for years. So here are my top tips for a happy shared household:
We have plenty more information if you’d like to know more about renting a room in an HMO. If an HMO doesn’t sound like the right thing for you, consider sharing with one or two other people instead – you can still save money!
Still feeling unsure about something? Check out the top 10 questions on renting we get asked at Shelter Scotland – you may find the answers you’re looking for.
Posted 95 Months Ago
Your Student Union has worked hard for you to secure better study space across the Edinburgh Campus. Working in co-operation with the University, we're excited that loads of new study space developments are underway.
Find out more and view the timeline at https://www.hwunion.com/change-things/the-journey-for-better-study-space-
Posted 96 Months Ago
Written by Andrew Thornton
Our annual Learning & Teaching Oscars are an opportunity for students to
The winners of the 2017 Learning & Teaching Oscars are...
Feedback Award - Andrea Sneddon (MACS)
Refreshing Award - Pauline Thompson (EGIS)
Thinkers Award - Henry Bock (EPS)
Guiding Hand Award - Kendra
Support Staff Award - Brian Hutton (EPS)
Switched On Award - Paul Dalgarno (EPS)
School Officer of the Year - Christina Kunz (SoSS)
And a special award was presented to Jennie Hansen (MACS).
Congratulations to all the winners!
Posted 96 Months Ago
The current Student Union building was opened in 1991 and a lot has changed since then. Our student population has continued to grow and the needs of today's modern student have changed dramatically. That's why we're taking an opportunity to look to the future of our Union building and we'd like to get your views on what we should do next.
Refurbish our existing home or start from scratch and build a new one?
During the survey, we'd also like to find out what your priorities are for the new/refurbished building. We'll use your feedback to take our proposals further. We'll keep you up to date with our progress.
Join the conversation #hwunionspace