Student Solution: Renting your property to the University Of Sussex, by Laura King (Manager, Private Sector & Headlease Residences)

The University of Sussex has been around for 56 years, one of the first purpose-built campus universities in Britain. Yet people are still often surprised to learn that we run a Headlease Scheme for our students, where we lease properties from landlords and sub-let them to our students, providing a full management service and guaranteed rent for 52 weeks.

Our portfolio currently runs at 75 properties and we are always interested in quality new additions. Many of our landlords have been renewing with us for many years.

So what properties and areas do we cover? Any furnished property in good condition from three-bedroom upwards in Brighton, Hove and Lewes with good transport links.

What do we pay? Properties can vary widely in terms of size, quality and facilities so we consider each property on a case by case basis. We offer a free, no-obligation, rental quotation following a viewing appointment where we also like to meet you, as our potential landlord, to ensure you are going to be happy with the scheme and fully understand how it works as we are a bit different to the commercial lettings world.

Providing a full management service and guaranteed rent for 52 weeks

Our service offers landlords a hassle-free option with property inspections every semester, gardening once a month, communal cleaning once a fortnight and deep cleaning at the end of contract. In addition we take care of all tenant allocations and issues, including any damages at end of contract, and ensure any neighbour or other reported concerns are swiftly dealt with.

We have a number of landlords who live abroad or out of town and many who have just decided they want to take a step back from direct property management after many years or even have a late ‘gap year’, whilst enjoying the benefits of a continued (and now guaranteed) rental income and peace of mind.

The feedback from communities is that they like houses rented by the University as they know we abide by UUK housing standards and will look after the properties and that any issues reported will be dealt with quickly. Moreover we have greater jurisdiction over our tenants, who are also our students, if there are any problems.

So why not contact me for further details?
www.sussex.ac.uk/internal/housing/students/privatesector/landlord
Tel: 01273 872660 (*scheme subject to terms and conditions).