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Accommodation |
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| Other Accommodation Options |
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| The following options are also available for students to arrange independently |
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| Homestay Accommodation: |
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| his arrangement is ideal for students who want to practice their English and learn about lifestyles and cultures in England. Most unmarried students coming to stay in England for the first time choose to stay with a host family. We carefully select our home stays to ensure that they are friendly, helpful and offer a high standard of comfort. Average travelling times vary but all are within central London. The homes will provide rooms and meals as booked by the student. The families will ensure that the students feel at home and are treated as a member of the family. Students will have a clean and comfortable room with both study and storage facilities. The rooms are cleaned regularly and bed linen and towels are provided by the family. Most of the families offer students bed, breakfast and an evening meal (half–board). The families can provide full board (three meals a day) and for the more independent student bed and breakfast plus use of kitchen is offered. Laundry service is also available. Minimum stay is 1 month. |
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| How to do it: |
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| TASMAC recommends the following website to help you arrange accommodation: |
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| http://www.hosts-international.com/ |
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| http://www.britbound.co.uk/index.php |
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| http://www.homestaybooking.com/ |
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| What are the costs? |
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| Be prepared to pay between £130 to £190 (per room per week), depending on the services provided. |
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| International Student House |
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| Many international students choose to live in an International Students House, where they can interact with other students from all over the world and lead a great social life. ISH offers a variety of rooms in a fantastic central location with great transport links, late and cheap bars and internet access. Its Central London location means a very short distance to well known areas and attractions such as Oxford Street, Madame Tussauds, the British Museum and British Library and good connections on the public transport system. ISH provide accommodation in combinations of single, twin, triple, quad and dormitory rooms all with single beds. All rooms have wash basins and telephones and all linen is included. There are toilets and showers on every floor and fridges in private rooms. All rooms have wash basins and telephones and all linen is included. There is no curfew (but there is 24/7 security) meaning you can come and go as you please. Facilities usually include: restaurant, Internet access, laundry, linen, bar, towels, luggage storage, telephone/fax facilities, 24 hour reception, travel desk/travel info, key card access and a gym. Minimum stay is 1 month. |
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| General Hostels |
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| There are many private hostels in London. Costs tend to vary greatly according to location, size and facilities offered. Hostels in particular have few single rooms and you should expect to share at least initially. For some of these hostels you will need to fill out an application form so contact them well in advance of your arrival in London to find out their acceptance procedure and booking details. |
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| How to do it: |
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| When you are making enquiries, you should ask whether the charge includes electricity, heating, lighting, meals, baths and VAT and whether there are any extras you will be asked to pay for. If the hostel has non-student residents you should check to see whether you will have to pay some Council Tax as well. |
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| TASMAC London recommends the following websites offering hostel accommodation: |
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| http://reservations.bookhostels.com/britbound.co.uk/ |
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| http://www.ymca.org.uk |
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| http://www.indianymca.org/ |
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| The nearest hostel to TASMAC London Campus is: |
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Metro House,
1/3 The Mall, Kenton,
Middlesex HA3 9TF
Tel: 02082045988 |
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| What’s the cost? |
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| To give a rough idea, you should expect to pay, at least, £70 per week, although for newer residences in more desirable neighborhoods, £120 to £200 is not unusual. |
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| Privately Rented Accommodation |
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| Private Rented Shared Flats/Rooms – can also be arranged independently by students. This type of accommodation is usually preferred by married students or students wishing to live on their own. This type of accommodation is usually arranged upon arrival; however, many of our students would only rent such accommodation in their second term. |
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| How to do it: |
| To rent a flat, a house, or a studio independently please contact local estate agents prior to your arrival. You will be required to provide a bank statement, a letter from the college or your employer, copies of your passport and most importantly a deposit equal to one or two months of rent in advance. Many estate agents will only let accommodation when the tenant can pay by a direct debit – an automatic payment from your UK account. |
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| Here is a list of agents in the local area and their telephone numbers: |
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| Kingsbury: |
Andrews 020 8204 2277 |
| Kingsbury: |
Haart Ltd, 0044 20 8204 0033 |
| Kingsbury: |
MAC, 020 8205 2400 |
| Colindale: |
Lowcost Estate Agents, 0044 20 8969 9696 |
| Willesden Green: |
Golden Pyramid Ltd, 0044 20 7604 3371 |
| Harrow: |
Northwood Limited, 0044 20 8420 0420 |
| Wembley: |
Daniels Estate Agents, www.danielestageagents.co.uk, 020 8900 2811 |
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| Here are some useful websites: |
| http://www.homesforstudents.co.uk/ |
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| What are the costs? |
| There are many options available in our local area and the following prices reflect just some of them. The cost given is per month within this geographic area ( travel zones 3-6) will look something like this |
Studio £550 - £650pm
1 Bed £700 - £900pm
2 Bed £900 - £110pm
3 Bed £1100 - £1600pm |
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| GENERAL INFORMATION |
| Accommodation for Families and Dependants |
| Although our students do not usually come here with their families and dependants it may happen that you will want to bring your family to the UK once you feel settled. In that case you will have to find accommodation for them by renting private flats or rooms. |
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| Deposits |
| Whichever accommodation type is suitable for you, you will always have to pay a deposit in advance. This is usually a one or two month’s rent money which will be used towards your accommodation costs or will be held as a security fund until you leave. This type of deposit is refunded on your departure if the place you have been living in is returned to its owner in an original state. From 6 April 2007, all deposits (for rent up to £25,000 per annum) taken by landlords and letting agents for Assured Shorthold Tenancies in England and Wales, must be protected by a tenancy deposit protection scheme. |
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| Information on what the schemes provide for tenants can be found here: |
| http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TenancyDeposit/index.htm |
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| International Students and Council Tax |
| Full time International Students do not have to pay Council Tax if they are living with other full time students. If you live with your partner who is not a student they will be disregarded for Council Tax purposes if they: |
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are not a European Economic Area National |
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have Limited Leave to Remain in the UK (i.e. are not permanently settled here) |
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are restricted or prohibited from working by their immigration conditions OR are not allowed to claim Public Funds |
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(Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Family Credit, Child Benefit or |
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housing as a Homeless Person). This regulation does not apply to spouses permanently settled in the UK |
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