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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do I pay an admin fee?
We don't charge an admin fee when someone rents a room. To cover administration costs we just claim the interest that is earned from your security deposit during the term of your tenancy. This isn't very much, but it means that we do not need to charge you directly for administration.

  • How much do I need to move in?
There are two things you need to pay now you have decided to rent a room in one of our houses.
  • Deposit - The deposit is used to protect both you and b3Homes. The security deposit covers any damage, which is not considered normal wear and tear, which may occur within the room or damage to any common areas which is deemed jointly owed. When you start a tenancy with us, your deposit will be paid into the government approved The Deposit Protection Service (depositprotection.com). See Is my deposit protected? for information. The amount of deposit is set according to the amount of furniture and type of beds in the accomodation. The description of the property or room will show the deposit required. If the accomodation comes back to us in the same excellent state as we handed it to you, then the deposit is always fully refunded, which in 9 out of 10 cases it does.
  • Rent Payment - You will pay your rent in advance. On the day you move in we will need one month rent for the room. All of our rooms have a weekly and monthly price. If you wish to pay weekly, you will still need to pay for one month in advance, after that the rent can be paid weekly.

  • Is my deposit protected?

Since 6th April 2007 is has been a legal requirement for all deposits taken by landlords to be covered by in one of three schemes which have been awarded by the UK Government. b3Homes has been registered with these schemes since before it became a legal necessity. There is some good information on Deposit Schemes on the Government Website (www.direct.gov.uk).

We know that people who rent maybe nervous about their deposit money, and would not condone any Landlord unlawfully keeping deposit money. That is why we support the use of Tenancy Deposit Schemes. There are two types of Deposit Scheme, custodial or insurance based. b3Homes uses the custodial scheme run by The Deposit Protection Service. Your deposit will be paid directly to the scheme by b3Homes once you have paid it to us. You will get a notification from the scheme within a set period of paying it. This is your proof that the deposit has been protected in the scheme.

  • Why isn't the monthly price 4 times the weekly price?

Because people can pay their rent weekly or monthly, we give two prices for all our rooms. A weekly price, and a per calendar month (pcm) price.

There are, on average more than 4 weeks (28 days) in any calendar month. To make things simpler for people who want to pay monthly, we work out the average amount for a month by using the following formula; Price per week x 52 (weeks in a year) ÷ 12 (months in a year)\r\neg. If a room is £69 per week you get £299 per calendar month. NOT 4 x 69 = £276

  • Do I have to stay 6 or 12 months?

We prefer at least 2 months, but we are flexible about the length of your tenancy, some people who require a short tenancy can contact us for help in arranging special cases.

  • What does my rent include?

* All utility bills paid - Electric, Gas, Water, Sewer
* Council Tax
* Wireless Internet Connection
* Weekly cleaner for common areas - Kitchen and Bathroom(s)
* Freeview box and TV aerial point in all rooms (TV License not included)
* Fully equipped kitchen. (See property information)

  • What doesn't my rent include?

The only cost not included in your rent is for the washing machine and tumble dryer facilities. All the houses included a washing machine and tumble dryer, which operate with timed coin meters. The cost is fixed at 1p per minute for each machine. The point of installing the timed meters is to ensure that people do not take too much time with their washing. We find that people think this makes sense as there can be frustrations for people waiting to use the machines if people don't take care.
The cost for a load of average washing is 40p-£1 dependent on your choice of cycle. We also provide airers both indoor and outdoor for people to use to dry their clothes without needing to use the dryer facilities.