We're pretty laid back when it comes our tenants, and we prefer to let you do your own thing. With this being said, there are a few no go's that we do not allow in our properties for safety reasons;
X Pets. We know we know, sorry.
X Candles. Fire risk.
X Drugs or any other illegal substances.
X Portable heaters.
X Mini fridges. All electronics must be PAT tested.
X Weapons, of any kind.
All of our tenants are given a unique account on our app, Student Swipe, and on here we can do practically everything you can think of! We can send you messages and notifications for things like viewings, inspections and rent due dates, or even a weekly reminder to put the bins out. Theres also a group chat feature so you can chat to all of your housemates, and you can pay your rent, report maintenance issues and view safety certificates on here too.
When it comes to renewing your house or picking your next Abbey Address, theres also a section for virtual, 360 tours of the houses so you can have a mooch before committing to a viewing!
All of your bills are included within your weekly rent, so the price you see advertised is the price you pay. No sneaky extra fees for wifi! Water, gas, electric and internet are all included, however please note that we do not arrange TV Licence's so you'll need to do this yourself if you have one.
As students are exempt from paying council tax, we'll also need you to send over you exemption forms (which you can get online from uni) but dont worry, we'll ask you for these when we need them!
Yes. Private renting differs to university halls as the house is yours for the full year, meaning you can come and go as you please! Some halls require you to completly move out over term breaks, but with an Abbey Address you can stay the whole way through. Much less stress, and means you can get a job in Chester for the holidays and stay with your mates!
Every property has a valid gas safety certificate and is checked every 12 months by a registered gas engineer. Fire extinguishers are checked annually together with the Fire Alarms, and all electrical items are PAT tested regularly. All certificates are available via the Student Swipe app for you to access!
All maintenance issues can be reported to us via the Student Swipe app, which is available for all of our tenants. When logging an issue on the app you can even upload a picture to make things even easier! Once it has been logged, our on-site handyman can assess and will pop round as soon as possible to fix it for you. For emergencies, such as burst pipes and powercuts, please ring the office on 01244560910 and let us know straight away!
After the first months rent has been paid prior to moving in, the standard schedule for rent payemnts coincides with your student loan payment dates; 4th October, 10th January, and 1st May. Payments can also be made monthly where a standing order has been set up from your guarantors bank.
Payments can be made directly through the Student Swipe app via the tenant area, but if you encounter any problems with this then get in contact with the office and they'll be more than happy to help!
No! We dont charge you for any fee's or deposit's, all you have to pay is your rent. We ask for your first months rent before you move into the property as a security, but this can be split into smaller chunks when you sign up.
All of our Abbey Addresses come with most things you'll need as standard. In your room youll have a bed (obviously), wardrobe, desk, chair, mirror and cabinet, and in the kitchen youll find a microwave, oven, fridge freezer and washing machine. We dont supply pots, pans, cutlery, bedding, plates etc, so you'll need to bring these with you. Check out our blog 'University Essentials' for some more abstract ideas of what we personally found useful at uni!
We also provide you with a basic cleaning kit to help you keep the house tidy. This includes a hoover, mop and bucket, broom and dustpan and brush!
Yes, the house will be cleaned professionally before you move in. Throughout your tenancy we will conduct general inspections just to check the condition of the house, so it's important to make sure you're keeping the house clean and tidy and it will make it much easier for you in the long run. At the end of your tenancy you are expected to leave the house in the same condition that you got it in, so get your rubber gloves at the ready!
Our move in date is the 3rd August and the tenancy ends on 29th July the following year. You can move in from 9AM on the 3rd, just let us know when you're planning on popping into the office to pick your keys up!
After 20+ years in the student lettings game, we've noticed a few trends! The letting season in Chester tends to start October/November time for the following academic year, and there's usually a bit of a mad rush before christmas to secure your dream Abbey Address. We have our experienced lettings team available and ready to go, and can even do evening viewings if you're really struggling to get your whole group together, just ask!
If you miss the rush or are still undecided, don't worry. We have a wide range of houses and can even mix and match indivuduals into houses, so we'll always have something perfect for you.
So you're looking for a house? Great, you've come to the right place!
Before you get in touch with us to book some viewings, its super handy for us if you already know what size group you are (we have 1 beds up to 10 beds!), what your weekly budget is and what area you ideally want to be living in. Once you know these, have a gander on our property search tool and choose a few that you like the look of, or give one of our team members your criteria and we'll hand pick some out for you!
You can contact our dedicated lettings team to book a viewing either by phone on 01244560910, emailing info@abbeyrentals.co.uk or maddy.dunning@abbeyrentals.co.uk, or by sending us an enquiry on this website and we'll get in touch.
Please note that house viewers will need to wear face masks and gloves for all viewings, these can be provided in the office if necessary.
See you soon!
A guarantor is someone who acts as a back up in case you dont pay your rent. They sign the contract as well as you, and act as a guarantee that your obligations will be fulfilled (the clue is in the name!). They can be a parent, family member or close friend, but we do ask that they are over the age of 25 and are either a homeowner or in full time employment.
All of our tenancies require you to have a guarantor, with the exception of students who are paying their full term rent up front. Make sure you ask permission before putting someone down as your guarantor!
Choosing where you're going to live for the next year or more of your life can seem like a daunting task, especially if it's your first time, but the experienced Abbey team are on hand to help you make the right choice!
Knowing the answers to these types of questions can really help us to narrow down your search, and can save lots of time!