Booking Terms
1.1. The Provider agrees to conduct background checks or verifications on customer information immediately upon payment of the booking fee (if required).
1.2. The Customer agrees that (subject to approval by the Provider), upon signing and returning the booking and accommodation agreement to the Provider, constitutes authorization for the Provider to immediately countersign and complete the accommodation agreement once the first part of the accommodation request is fully satisfied and the Provider has notified the Customer that the booking has been accepted. This accommodation agreement shall constitute a binding legal contract, a copy of which can be accessed on the guest portal website.
1.3. If the Tenant is a UK citizen and chooses not to pay the total rent before the start date, or if the Tenant is under 18 years of age at the time of signing the lease, the Tenant agrees to provide a qualified and acceptable guarantor, who shall complete a guarantor agreement, whether the Tenant is a UK citizen or not. If the Tenant is a non-UK citizen, the Tenant agrees that, as an alternative to a guarantor, they must prepay the entire rental amount. The Landlord has provided the Tenant with a Landlord's Privacy Policy (the full policy can be found at novelstudent.com/privacy-policy website) and the MHCLG "How to Rent" checklist. The Landlord advises the Tenant to read these documents before submitting a booking.
1.4. The Landlord reserves the right to request payment of a statutory deposit as required for the booking. The statutory deposit shall be determined at the time of signing this agreement.
Cancellation Policy
2.1. Either party may terminate this booking (and the lease if completed) by emailing the other party within 7 days of the booking date ("7-day Cooling-Off Period"), unless the check-in date has occurred before this period. If the booking is canceled during this period, the Landlord will not charge the Tenant any amounts due under the lease, and any deposit, booking fee, or prepaid total rent paid to the Landlord will be refunded to the Tenant.
2.2. If the Tenant is a prospective undergraduate first-year student and the Tenant's university admission notice is revoked for one of the following reasons:
2.2.1 Due to the Tenant's failure to meet the required admission grades, the university revokes the admission; or
2.2.2 The Tenant chooses another university due to exceeding expectations; or
2.2.3. The Tenant's student visa is rejected, and the Tenant's enrollment at the university is revoked; the Tenant is eligible to cancel this booking (and the lease if completed), but the Tenant must provide the Landlord with the following evidence:
Regarding clause 2.2.1, a copy of the university's written rejection letter or the Tenant's UCAS screenshot confirming the grades not meeting the university's requirements; or
Regarding clause 2.2.2, a copy of the acceptance letter from your new university after UCAS adjustment; or
Regarding clause 2.2.3, a copy of the written rejection letter issued by the university, confirming that the Tenant did not obtain the relevant visa, and a copy of the relevant rejection letter.
2.2.4. The Tenant must email the documents to the Landlord within 7 days of the announcement of the Tenant's results or within 7 days of receiving the relevant visa rejection letter. The Landlord will verify the documents, and the Tenant is obligated to provide any additional information requested by the Landlord. If the Landlord is satisfied with the documents provided, this booking (and the lease if completed) will be canceled, and any deposit, security deposit, or prepaid total rent paid to the Landlord will be refunded to the Tenant.
2.3. The Landlord may terminate this booking (and the lease if completed) if the Tenant:
fails to provide the documents listed in the "Renting Requirements" Part Two; or
fails to occupy the unit within 7 days after the check-in date (except in cases where arrangements have been made in advance between the Landlord and the Tenant).
2.4. To the extent permitted by law, if the Landlord is unable to transfer ownership of the unit to the Tenant on the check-in date due to reasons beyond the Landlord's reasonable control, the Landlord shall not be liable to pay damages to the Tenant. In this case, the Tenant shall not be liable to pay any portion of the total rent, or any obligations of the Tenant until ownership of the unit can be transferred. If the Landlord is unable to transfer ownership of the unit to the Tenant within 90 days after the check-in date, the Tenant may terminate this booking (and the lease if completed), and any deposit, security deposit, or prepaid total rent paid to the Landlord will be refunded to the Tenant.
2.5. Upon cancellation of this booking (and the lease if completed) under this clause, the Landlord shall have the right to immediately remarket the unit to other potential tenants.
Security Deposit
3.1. The booking deposit shall be paid on the day of booking, equivalent to one week's rent.
3.2. The Landlord and Tenant agree as follows:
During the period in which the Landlord conducts background checks and reviews the documents required by Part One of the "Renting Requirements," the deposit shall be held by the Landlord for a maximum period of 14 days.
Prior to payment of the deposit, the Landlord shall provide the Tenant with a draft lease agreement.
If the Landlord cancels or retains the booking in accordance with clause 3.3 below, the deposit shall be used as a deduction towards any portion of the total rent due, or refunded to the Tenant, in accordance with the cancellation policy terms in this booking.
3.3. If the deposit has been paid to the Landlord, but the lease agreement is not completed within 14 days after receipt of the deposit, and the Tenant does not meet the cancellation conditions specified in this booking, the deposit shall be forfeited:
if the Tenant provided false or misleading information when deciding to rent;
if the Tenant fails to undergo the rental rights inspection mentioned in the booking;
if the Tenant fails to take all reasonable steps to sign the lease, while the Landlord has taken all reasonable steps.
3.4. If the deposit has been paid to the Landlord and the lease agreement has been signed, but the Tenant withdraws from the rental in accordance with clause 2.3(b) above, the deposit shall be forfeited by the Landlord.