1. Art and Diseño

ACCOMMODATION
in Aberdeen
ACCOMMODATION
Aberdeen is a vibrant cosmopolitan city with a large student population. It is important to note however
that accommodation in the city is in high demand and generally expensive - you should therefore begin
your search for accommodation as early as possible.
North East Scotland College does not have its own accommodation for students, but there are a number
of student accommodation providers plus a substantial amount of private rented accommodation
available within Aberdeen city centre.
UNITE
UNITE are widely renowned for their fantastic student accommodation, located in various areas that are
perfect for those studying at the Aberdeen campuses of North East Scotland College. Whether you’re
looking to move in with friends or arrange something individually, UNITE will have something suitable
available, whatever your year of study.
If you would like to book a viewing in one of our show flats, or for more information about the rooms
available, please visit our website: www.unite-students.com
You can also get in touch with any questions or queries by calling our contact centre on 0800 783 4213
- we’re open Monday-Friday from 8am to 8pm. Alternatively you can pop in to one of the properties and
have a chat with one of our team.
Spring Gardens
60 Spring Garden
Aberdeen, AB25 1GN
Mealmarket Exchange
Mealmarket Street
Aberdeen, AB24 5SW
The Old Fire Station
256 King Street
Aberdeen, AB24 5BU
King Street Exchange
600 King Street
Aberdeen, AB24 5SX
CENTRO COURT STUDIO APARTMENTS
A leading Aberdeen leasing firm has recently adopted a contract to manage a new development involving
56 new studio apartments specifically designed and built for students in the North East.
The apartments range in size and all include their own kitchen area, en-suite, shower room and study/
living area. The apartments come complete with a microwave/grill, a fridge with a small freezer
compartment, and oven/hob and a double bed. All have access to high-speed broadband.
There are three apartments suitable for disabled access, and top floor apartments include an open
balcony. Rent varies depending on the size and position of each apartment, ranging from £165-£195 per
week on a fixed 51 week contract. Rent includes contents insurance and utility bills.
These apartments are ideal for a mature student or a student looking for a focussed year of study.
For more information you can contact the Sales Team at [email protected] or visit the website:
http://www.centrocourt.co.uk/
ONLINE SEARCH
Often the easiest way to find out about opportunities for accommodation is to have a look online. Below
we’ve listed some helpful websites which may be of use when looking for somewhere to stay:
www.studentaccommodation.org
This website has a lot of great advice about renting
accommodation, and has a “Student Notice Board”
where students across the region can post adverts
in a bid to find a suitable flatmate.
www.citylets.co.uk
CityLets is an up-to-date accommodation database
listing properties available for rent. It’s compiled
by real-time contributions for solicitors and letting
agencies, and hosts a comprehensive letting
database focusing on properties in Scotland.
www.letting-in-scotland.co.uk
This website is for property letting and
accommodation rental throughout Scotland.
www.gumtree.com/aberdeen
Gumtree is a very useful site where people can
advertise rooms or properties to rent, or issue you
a request/advertisement for a flatmate.
www.irentaberdeen.co.uk
This site aims to make rental as easy as possible,
operating strictly in the Aberdeen property rental
market.
www.roomsforlet.co.uk
This is a comprehensive nationwide website
advertising various private properties for let in
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
Where else can I look for accommodation?
1. Newspapers – Local newspapers such as The Press & Journal and The Evening Express often print
advertisements for rented accommodation.
2. Notice Boards – Check out the Students’ Association notice board on campus, as it often has
adverts from students who are looking for others to share a flat with.
3. Word of Mouth – A lot of student housing changes hands on an informal basis, so it’s always worth
asking other students in your classes if anybody knows of a property to lease.
Before you agree to take on any accommodation, be sure to:
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View the property. Ensure it is well maintained, secure and doesn’t suffer from damp/draughts
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Make sure the location of the property is in a safe area
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Ask for a rent or tenancy agreement which clearly sets out the terms and conditions of your lease.
This should include what is covered in the rent, amount of deposit required, the length of lease and
who is responsible for any repairs that might need done whilst you’re staying there.
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Ask for an inventory of all the materials that are left in the accommodation (i.e. tables, chairs, cutlery,
plates, etc.) and check that it is correct. Report any missing items to the landlord immediately, or
anything that was already damaged when you moved in. Keep the inventory in a safe place and
check again carefully before you move out.
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Get a rent book or some form of receipt for all monies paid to the landlord
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Establish what bills you will be responsible for to get an accurate estimate of monthly costs
Living away from home
Moving out for the first time can be very exciting, but there are quite a lot of responsibilities that you need
to take into consideration, including:
COUNCIL TAX
Full time students do not have to pay Council Tax during their academic year; however there are still
occasions when some students may be asked to prove they are exempt. There are a number of issues to
be aware of:
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You must be a full-time student
Only full-time registered students are eligible for Council Tax exemption
If there is a non-student living with you (at the same address) then you will be eligible for
exemption and they will be eligible for a 25% Council Tax discount.
You will be expected to pay Council Tax during summer holidays unless you are on a continuing
course (e.g. having just completed year one of a two year HND course). In this case the Council
should give automatic exemption, but if you do not continue into year two then exemption will
be revoked.
If you withdraw from your course, at any time, your exemption will no longer apply.
More information can be found by reading:
Aberdeen City Council’s guidelines for Council Tax
Aberdeenshire Council’s guidelines for Council Tax
TV LICENSING
If you watch TV, you should have a TV Licence! Every household in the UK is legally obliged to have a TV
licence. Your parent’s licence will not cover you whether you are in a flat with friends or staying in Halls
of Residence and you can be fined if you are caught operating a TV or equipment for watching TV – this
even applies to streaming television or films online. Fines can be as must as £1000, but a licence only
costs £145.50.
There are a number of ways you can pay for your TV licence:
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Direct debit (the payment is automatically taken from your bank account)
Debit or credit card via www.tvlicensing.co.uk or by calling 0844 800 6790
Paypoint payments available in shops and Post Offices
Cheques (please see the website for the appropriate address)
The full payment does not have to be paid up front; you can choose to pay quarterly or monthly to spread
out your costs. If you move flat you can take your TV licence with you - simply change your details on the
website.
ELECTRICITY AND GAS
If you are living in a flat or student residence then you must check whether your monthly/weekly rent
covers the cost of utilities, too. If not then you must find out who your supplier is and ensure that your
bills are paid on time. This can be a considerable cost, so be sure that you have budgeted for this expense.
Nobody wants to be without hot water and heating during an Aberdeen winter! The most common
suppliers in the UK are Scottish Power, British Gas and NPower. If you want to do a bit of research
and find out which supplier can offer the best deal, the uSwitch website can be extremely helpful:
www.uSwitch.com – please bear in mind that you might have to check this is ok with your landlord first.
INSURANCE
Look after your possessions! A recent report from the Home Office stated that:
“Students own more expensive goods per hears than the rest of the population. It is no surprise
that 1 in 3 students becomes the victim of a crime each year. Added to that fact, young people (ages
16-24 year old) are around three times more likely to be victims of burglary than people in other age
groups, with makes students all the more vulnerable.”
Read more from the Home Office about how can you prevent crime and how to stay safe
It is important to consider your possessions and what they mean to you. There are a number of insurance
companies who specialise in student insurance – the most well know is Endsleigh. You can also use some
comparison websites such as Compare the Market or Money Supermarket to check current rates and
deals.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For any help regarding any of the information provided,
please contact NESCol Student Services:
Tel: 01224 612284
or Email: [email protected]