WESP uses individual tenancy agreements within a shared house. Two bedroom houses are let differently, and the second section below explains what changes.

01 · WHAT YOU SIGN

Your own agreement, your own room

You sign your own agreement, and you have sole right to your bedroom, which has a lock for privacy and security. You are responsible for your own rent and charges, and nobody else’s.

You are jointly responsible with your housemates for the care and cleanliness of the communal areas: cleaning up after yourself in the kitchen and the shared bathrooms, and sorting the rubbish and recycling between you. That is a practical obligation rather than a financial one.

  • Your own agreement
  • Lock on your bedroom door
  • Responsible for your rent only
  • Communal areas shared
02 · WHY IT MATTERS

Individual, not joint

Plenty of student houses are let on a joint tenancy, where the whole group signs one agreement and the tenants are jointly and severally liable. In plain terms, each tenant is legally responsible for the entire rent, so if somebody stops paying or disappears in March, the rest of the house can be pursued for their share, and so can their guarantors.

With an individual tenancy that cannot happen. Your agreement covers you, your guarantee covers you, and a housemate’s arrears are between them and their own guarantor. It is the single question we would tell anyone to ask a landlord before signing, wherever they are looking, and our parent’s guide to guarantors explains why it matters so much to whoever signs the guarantee.

Two bedroom houses are the exception. A two bed is not a house in multiple occupation, so different rules apply and we let these on a joint tenancy. A joint tenancy places joint liability on both tenants for everything to do with the house, the whole rent included. We do not think that is fair, so we issue a written addendum that limits what you owe to a half share of the rent for the house. Neither you nor your guarantor will be held responsible for any payment due from your housemate.

  • No liability for housemates
  • Guarantor covers you only
  • Two bed houses differ
03 · YOUR GUARANTOR

The Letter of Guarantee

Each application for tenancy must be supported by a Guarantor who is at least 25 years old, and who lives and works in the UK. The Guarantor undertakes to pay your rent and any other charges if you are unable to do so.

  • At least 25 years old
  • Lives and works in the UK
  • Covers rent and charges
BEFORE YOU SIGN

Read it, and ask about anything you do not follow

The Tenancy Agreement contains the terms and obligations of the tenancy, and sets out the legally binding obligations placed on both the tenant and the landlord. Read it carefully to make sure you are prepared to agree to it.

  • If anything in it is unclear, ask us for an explanation before you sign. Nobody has ever annoyed us by asking.
  • Feel free to seek independent advice.
  • Keep your copy. It is an important document.

We would far rather spend time going through it with your group beforehand than have you sign something you are not sure about. Ring the office on 01522 589970 and ask.