Yes, that's right. All bills including high speed broadband, electric, gas as well as washing machines and dryers are included. We operate a reasonable use policy for the laundry services, so please don't just wash one sock :-). We also provide a weekly cleaning service, and regular garden maintenance. It really is fully inclusive hassle free living.
In our warm modern contemporary rooms, we provide an ottoman bed for extra storage, a comfortable mattress, wardrobe, chest of drawers and bedside table or shelf unit. Most rooms also have a desk and chair. Most rooms are en-suite, or you will have a bathroom just across the corridor. Each room has plenty of power sockets, an aerial point for Freeview TV and a hardwired Cat 6 Ethernet point (hard wired internet) in addition to high speed WIFI throughout the properties. Your room has its own lock for privacy and security. There is plenty of shelf space, and picture shelving to make the room your own.
All our properties come with a sleek contemporary kitchen with double oven, microwave, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer as well as fridge freezers. They are fully equipped with cooking and eating utensils, pots and pans, mugs and glasses. Every home-sharer has their own designated food cupboard and fridge/freezer space. There are inside and outside social areas. Inside there is space to eat and drink as well as watch TV. The private gardens are a perfect place to sit and relax in summer, or eat al-fresco with your housemates.
Our properties have parking for at least 2 cars, plus unrestricted on street parking.
We do not provide accommodation for couples. Our rooms are designed for professional individuals who want to live on their own in a shared house of like minded people.
The majority of our home-shares are young professionals aged 25 - 35. They mainly work in Didcot, Milton Park Business Park, Oxford and Reading.
6 months is the minimum but most of our home-sharers stay a lot longer. This tells us our home-sharers are happy, which is our goal. After 6 months, you don't need to do anything, your tenancy rolls into a Standard Periodic tenancy with no further paperwork required. If moving on after 6 months, we would only need you to give one month's notice. If moving to another part of the country, we can often help you find suitable accommodation through the Platinum Property Partner network.
One month's notice is all we need if you decide to move on.
Once you confirm you want to take the room, we ask for references from your previous landlord and current employers. We use an external tenant checking agency, but do not charge you anything for reference checks. This is unlike lettings agents where there are often fees for referencing, inventory, and drawing up contracts.
We would like to meet you first, and for you to get to know us. We are always on the lookout for the right people to become home-sharers, and to fit in with the other home-sharers. After a chat on the phone, we will meet you at the house to show you around, to make sure the accommodation meets your needs. To move forward, we ask for a £100 - £150 (but no more than one weeks rent) holding fee - this secures your room, and will be refunded from your first months' rent if you pass the reference checks and move in. If you change your mind, then the holding fee is not refunded.
Yes, we are part of the government backed Deposit Protection Scheme, and take a deposit equivalent to one month's rent. This is held in the government backed Deposit Protection Scheme and returned directly to you by them at the end of your tenancy. We ask that rent is paid monthly in advance by Standing Order. Please note, you cannot use the deposit to pay for your last month of rent - this is returned once we have checked your room, and no damages are found.
Your security and safety are our number one concern. Our properties are all in good residential areas with security motion sensor lights at the front, side and back of each house for dark evenings. We take our home-sharers safety very seriously and have fitted unobtrusive fire doors and hallway lighting, smoke alarms in all bedrooms and living rooms and carbon monoxide alarms. We regularly test our safety systems and all our certificates are available for inspection. We also use a secure key system which means that spare keys cannot be cut without authority and so we can be confident that the only person (other than us) who has access to your room (and house) is you.
Our properties are about 10 minutes walk to the railway station. You can also get the shuttle bus to Milton Park. Trains run regularly to Oxford, Reading and London. The shortest train journey to Oxford and Reading is around 15 minutes. The shortest route to London Paddington is 39 minutes. There are also plenty of bus routes nearby. The A34 provides direct access to the M40 and M4.
We have chosen houses with local amenities just around the corner. There is a Sainsbury Local and a Co-operative within a short walking distance, as well as many takeaways on your door step including Chinese, Indian, Pizza and even an authentic Turkish take away (also an excellent restaurant).
Just a 5-10 minute walk, or 2 minutes in the car.
Didcot offers many facilities including a Cineworld cinema, excellent shopping, fabulous chains (Nandos, Prezzo), and local restaurants (we recommend the Zigana Turkish Kitchen), well equipped gym and large swimming pool. There are also plenty of sports clubs and local things to see and do. Didcot is in an excellent location for access to Abingdon, Oxford, Reading, London and every part of the country through the train network and road links. Any other questions? Please contact us.